LARNED — Four Pawnee County teenagers will vie for $6,000 in scholarships and an invitation to the 2012 Miss Kansas Pageant.
The Miss Fort Larned Pageant will start at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Larned Community Center. 
Entrants are Nicole Gabel, Courtney Towery and Tylisha Calkins from Larned High School and Tristen Galliart from Pawnee Heights High School.
Pageant Director Bethany Skelton said the event is one way for young women to develop confidence in a public setting and help pay for part of their college education.
Skelton has seen how the pageant can have a positive impact in the past two years. Miss Fort Larned was resumed three years ago after a 35-year absence.
“One young woman has blossomed into a wonderful young lady after the pageant helped her develop her confidence,” she said.
Scholarships are being provided by Barton Community College and Fort Scott Community College, which is offering a two-semester package. Fort Scott’s scholarships can be used on campus or on-line.
Rehearsals have been conducted this week to learn the opening number and practice on stage. Each teenager is accompanied by a princess between the ages of 3 and 8. A similar Sunflower Princess program is run by the Miss Kansas program.
Gabel will recite a personal poem. Her princess is Alivia Haney.
Towery will sing, “A Thousand Miles.” Her princess is Kaelin Millan.
Galliart will dance to “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” Her princess is Madison Polson.
Calkins will perform a Tae-Kwon-Do sword performance. Her princess is Isabella Poyner.
Each entrant will have eight-minute interviews and will be judged on their talent, personal introduction, on-stage question and in evening wear. The quartet will perform to an opening number,” I’ve Got a Feeling.” 
Co-emcees will be Kate Brennan, 100.7-FM; and Garfield’s Stan Aldrich, who will sing a Miss Fort Larned rendition of “Here She Comes, Miss America.”
Judges will be Shay Maclin, McPherson College education professor; Shane Britt, Cloud County residence life director; and Kristen Teows, Miss Kansas Intercontinental.
Featured guests are Becky Hagerman, 1968 Miss Fort Larned contestant; Kinsley’s Brandi Putter, 2010 Miss Midway; and Meredith Rogers, Miss Fort Larned 2010.
“Miss Rogers will do her final farewell that night,” Skelton said,