PITTSFIELD — The 40th annual Central Maine Egg Festival Scholarship Pageant will return in conjunction with the Maine Academic Scholarship Program to increase scholarship opportunities for central Maine youth and teens. This year’s program will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 15, at Millennium, under the direction of Deb Landry, president of Crossroad’s MASP.

Contestants should arrive at 9 a.m. for registration and practice, with the actual competition, open to the public, beginning at 2 p.m. A talent, essay and photogenic competition will also be held that day. Applications are due Friday, June 1, to be included in the program. However applications will be accepted up to Sunday, July 1. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for children 5 and younger.

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 and Jr. High 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 and international pageant.

If interested in participating, applications are available at missmainepageant.com, email editor@breathe maine.org or call 838-2146.