Five Hills Scholarship Program presents additional awards; sets date for 2018 pageant

The Miss Five Hills Scholarship Program has grown over the last four years into the largest community pageant in Texas and awarded more than $70,000 in scholarships and prizes this year. With 130 contestants in 2017, the volunteers who spend thousands of hours implementing the year-long program which culminates with the pageant each year are always looking to improve the program.

Volunteer program director Wendy Sledd said objectivity and fairness to all contestants is the top priority when executing the pageant. Contestants have an opportunity to request their scoresheets following the pageant.

“Very, very few pageants give copies of score sheets to contestants. But, we offer that because it is an important learning tool for those contestants who wish to improve on their performance,” Sledd said. “Plus, for the same reason that we select judges who are reigning titleholders and live 90 minutes or more away, sharing the scoresheets with the contestants maintains the pageant’s policy of transparency.”

The pageant auditors tallied 390 scoresheets for this year’s pageant. Upon sending contestants their scoresheets, it was discovered that mistakes had occurred in two of the tabulations.  One was in the score sheets of Young Miss contestant Allyssa Kimball whose scores when tallied correctly should have placed her in the top five. 

“Participating in the 2017 Five Hills Pageant was a great experience. I was disappointed when I did not place the evening of the  pageant but was excited to hear that due to a mistake in the scores that I was actually first runner up in the Young Miss Division,” Kimball said. “I am thankful to Ms. Wendy and the pageant board for presenting me with the award for first runner-up. I look forward to participating in the 2018 Five Hills Scholarship Pageant.”

Out of the nearly 400 scoresheets, a second tabulation error was discovered with Ms. contestant Bonnie Turner.

“When I noticed the counting error on my score sheet, I brought it to Wendy’s attention. She immediately recounted all of the scores in my age division and it was found that I received 2nd runner-up,” Turner said. “I was so excited when she contacted me.  I understand the mistake was human error; we all make mistakes. For that, I don’t hold anything against the pageant. I do plan on competing again next year.”

Sledd said both women were presented with the same crystal engraved platters that were given to the contestants who were awarded on stage the night of the pageant.  Both women were also given their entries paid into next year’s pageant along with additional prizes for the error on behalf of the pageant.

“We regret that the mistake happened and took immediate action to correct it,” Sledd said.  “We will be making changes to the scoresheet for the 2018 pageant where both auditors must initial the final score on each contestant once they have tallied it. It will take a little longer but will avoid future mistakes.”

The 2018 pageant is scheduled for March 24 and will be the culminating event to the City of Copperas Cove’s birthday week celebration.