PITTSFIELD — The annual Central Maine Scholarship Pageant will take on a new look this year as the Egg Festival joins forces with the Maine Academic Scholarship Program to increase scholarship opportunities for central Maine youth and teens. This year’s pageant will take place at 7 p.m. July 13 at Millennium under the direction of Deb Landry, president of MASP and Cheryl Gifford who will produce and direct the event.

The program’s primary responsibility is to award scholarships to young women and men of Maine, and provide opportunities for personal growth, community service, and academic achievement through volunteerism, social awareness issues and scholarships. They also partner with the Miss Collegiate America and Miss High School America Organization that represents today’s young women and have the mission to assist young women and men in scholarship achievement and personal growth through a national pageant every March.

If you are interested in participating in this year’s program, applications are available at www.missmainepageant.com, e-mail editor@breathemaine.org or call 838-2146.

The program day will consist of contestants arriving at 9 a.m. for registration and practice, with the actual competition beginning at 7 pm. A talent, essay and photogenic competition will be held on the same day. Applications are due by May 9 to be included in the program, however applications will be taken up to July 1. Tickets to the event cost $10 for adults and $5 for children 5 and younger.

The CMEF is accepting applications in the following grade levels as of Sept. 1: Grades 1 to college or ages 7 to 21. Divisions are divided by, primary, elementary, junior high (princess), high school (queen), and collegiate. Judging criteria for the program is 40 percent personal interview, academic achievement, and community service; 30 percent fashion runway (personality) and 30 percent evening gown (poise and elegance).

The event will be hosted by Miss Collegiate America, Shannon Folsom, Miss Maine Collegiate, Kristy Huff, a former participant in the Egg Festival Pageant, Miss Maine High School Samantha Clark and national choreographer Dr. Christine Blake.

For more information, visit www.missmainepageant.com; e-mail editor@breathemaine.org or call 838-2146.