The Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant will return to Zionsville for its fifth year with a full week of events beginning Sunday, June 21.

When Frank Ricketts and Aren Howell, pageant co-directors, were awarded the state franchise, they were looking at several places to locate the pageant. Zionsville and the Miss America Program have one important thing in common — the belief in community service. Zionsville is also centrally located and is absolutely beautiful, Ricketts said.

Ricketts said, “We knew it had the environment our pageant family would love coming to every year and we have never regretted our choice of Zionsville. We are so appreciative of everything everyone has done to make us feel welcome.”

The Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant is the official state preliminary for Indiana in the Miss America Scholarship Pageant. The Miss America Organization awards more than $40 million in scholarships every year.

“That is a great thing to be associated with,” said Frank Ricketts, pageant co-director. “I also personally believe the Miss America Program is like a finishing school for young women. They refine their communication skills, develop and cultivate their talents, they work on being in great physical shape, and they become involved in community service. The young women focus on being the best person they can be, and not on becoming a mold of someone else.”

Ricketts said that there are 28 Miss Indiana contestants and 15 Miss Indiana’s Outstanding Teen contestants this year.

“We will have almost 50 Miss Indiana princesses this year,” he said. “We are so excited for the growth of this program. We have more and more young girls return every year to be princesses. When we see the young girls return, it makes us feel great, because we know it is a successful program for everyone involved.”

Ricketts said he is anticipating the talent competition most because Indiana has a reputation at Miss America for always having talented young women. As far as pageant week, Ricketts is looking forward to the parade.

“What’s not to love — Miss America, Miss Indiana, Miss Indiana’s Outstanding Teen, the princesses, and downtown Zionsville,” he said.

Katie Stam, Miss America 2009, is the first Miss American from Indiana. She was crowned Miss Indiana at last year’s Miss Indiana Pageant and was crowned Miss America in January 2009 in Las Vegas.

“It will be an amazing year,” Ricketts said. “Miss America will be here all week and she is our girl. She was crowned Miss Indiana at the PAC last June which shows that dreams do come true.”

Ticket prices are $18 for Miss Indiana preliminaries, Miss Indiana Gala and Teen Pageant. The cost is $32 for Miss Indiana Finals. Call Pam Farm at (574) 527-7795 or visit www.missindianapageant.com for more information.





Miss Indiana 2009 Pageant week schedule

Call Pat Farm at (574) 527-7795 or visit the Box Office at the PAC for tickets unless otherwise indicated.

Sunday, June 21

1 p.m. - Contestants arrive and participate in the Zionsville Merchants’ Association’s Pet Parade on Main Street. Miss Indiana Megan Meadors is dressing her dog up as a King for the parade.

3 p.m. - Opening reception at the Sanctuary Art Gallery, 75 N. Main St. Local dignitaries will welcome the contestants on behalf of Zionsville. Sam Haskell, chairman of the board of directors of the Miss America Organization, will be the keynote speaker and will be autographing his new book, “Promises I Made My Mother.”

Monday, June 22

6 p.m. - Contestant cook-out hosted by the Zionsville Lions Club, Lions Park and downtown Zionsville. This is a private event.

Tuesday, June 23 - Katie Stam, MIss America 2009 arrives

6 p.m. - Dress rehersal for Miss Indiana Competition Shows, Zionsville Community High School Performing Arts Center, 900 Mulberry St. This is a private event.

Wednesday, June 24

Noon - “Tea with the Queen, MIss America Katie Stam.” The event will be a three-course tea at the Country Club of Indianapolis, 2801 Country Club Road. Stam will speak to the group and participants will get the chance to meet her. The tea is a new event and is a scholarship fundraiser. The three-course menu includes hot and cold teas, carrot and walnut breads, almond chicken salad with mustard butter tea sandwiches, english cucumber and radish tea sandwiches, fruit sorbets, preserves, marmalade and whipped cream.

Tickets are $30 per person and may be ordered from Frank Ricketts at 432-6695. Make check payable to Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant. All proceeds go to scholarship monies awarded.

7 p.m. - First night of preliminary competitions, MIss Indiana Pageant at the ZCHS Performing Arts Center, 900 Mulberry St. The show will feature 28 contestants, Megan Meadors, Miss Indiana; and Katie Stam, Miss America.

Thursday, June 25

10 a.m. - Brunch at the Elks Club of Lebanon, 215 Lafayette Ave., for contestants, Miss Indiana Meagan Meadors and Miss America, Katie Stam. This is a private event.

1 p.m. - Contestants and Miss Indiana Meagan Meadors visit Riley Children’s Hospital at St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis. This is a private event.

7 p.m. - Second night of preliminary competitions, Miss Indiana Pageant. The show will feature 28 contestants, Megan Meadors, MIss Indiana; and Katie Stam, Miss America.

Friday, June 26

12:30 p.m. - Princess Luncheon at Zionsville Community High School, 900 Mulberry St. There will be 50 Miss Indiana Princesses. This is a private event.

2 p.m. - Contestants visit the Zionsville Boys and Girls Club, 1575 Mulberry St. This is a private event.

7 p.m. Miss Indiana’s Outstanding Teen Pageant featuring Megan Thwaites, Miss Indiana’s Outstanding Teen, 15 contestants, Miss Indiana Megan Meadors and Miss America, Katie Stam.

Saturday, June 27

8 a.m. - Miss Indiana Brunch at ZCHS, 900 Mulberry St. This is a private event.

Noon - Miss Indiana Parade, downtown Main Street, Zionsville.

1 p.m. - Contestants, new MIss Indiana’s Outstanding Teen, Miss Indiana Megan Meadors, and Katie Stam, Miss America meet the public and sign autographs at select merchants downtown and in Boone Village including Grillmasters Garden, Lilly’s Boutique, Nana’ s Village House of Flowers, Cobblestone Grill, Z Upscale Boutique, Kristeens, CCA Gallery, The Jewel Box, Kellar Mahaney Gallery, Eagle Creek Coffee, Earth Explorers Toys, Jack and Jill Children’s Shoppe, Corner Vise, Sunshine Bakery, Salem Art Gallery, Serenity, Art in Hand, Robert Goodman Jewelers, Barbara’s New Beginnngs, Village Clock Shoppe, Village Parfumerie, Ballerinas & Bruisers, Thomas Kinkade Gallery, Kern Brothers, Patrick’s Kitchen & Drink, UPS Store, Amore Pizzeria & Ristorante, Akard True Value, The Sanctuary, Browns on Main and Charisma.

7 p.m. - Finals, MIss Indiana Pageant. The show will feature 28 contestants, Megan Meadors, MIss Indiana; and Katie Stam, Miss America.

10 p.m. - MIss Indiana Gala - ZCHS, 900 Mulberry St. The show will feature 28 contestants, Megan Meadors, MIss Indiana; and Katie Stam, Miss America.