VFW presenting sponsor of pageant; registration deadline Thursday, March 1

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

VFW Post 8577 in Copperas Cove makes its mark on the community by providing scholarships to students and helping others in need, and this year, the post is also giving back by being a corporate sponsor of the 2018 Five Hills Scholarship Pageant.

This year’s pageant, presented by Manning Homes and also sponsored by VFW Post #8677, is set for Saturday, March 24, with the theme “Big Dreams Under the Big Top.”

The pageant will take place at the Copperas Cove Civic Center and is open to boys ages 0-8 and girls and women of all ages with registration going on until March 1 at http://www.copperascovetx.gov/parks/five_hills_pageant/. 

Applications may also be picked up at the Copperas Cove Civic Center or access applications via the Five Hills Pageant Facebook page. 

A coronation ball will follow the evening pageant, with catering by Bits n Bites Cake Shop, Copperas Cove HEB Plus!, and Starbucks.

Sponsors like the above and VFW Post #8577 help make the event possible. The post, said Post Commander Herb Wright, raises funds through its events and fundraisers like bingo that it gives to worthy causes locally.

“There are three things that the VFW does: it helps veterans, veterans’ family and spouses, and the local community,” said Wright. “That’s the main three things. Over the past few years, we hear, buy local, sell local. For us, bingo is doing well and we have money that by state law, we have to give away. We can’t keep it for ourselves.” Wright added that the post is are also working to give to the Copperas Cove Police Department, the Copperas Cove Fire Department, as well as CCISD.

This year, the Five Hills Scholarship Pageant is added to the list.

VFW Post #8577 is just one of a lineup of sponsors who have given to the pageant. Supercuts is providing styling services on the day of the pageant for all contestants nine and older. Contestants nine and up will also be able to attend a lip color matching workshop hosted by Lips For Life by Becci.

All contestants will receive at least $200 in prizes simply for registering, such as certificates to local restaurants and salons, a week’s membership at Anytime Fitness, gymnastic, dance and taekwondo lessons and more.

In 2017, the pageant awarded more than $74,000 in scholarships and prizes to contestants and winners. WBW Development returns as the sponsor of the educational savings bonds for the winners of the younger royalty in the Baby Miss through the Pre-Teen categories while Extraco Banks is providing the scholarships for the Young Miss and the Teen Miss winners.