Union College News

Congressman Hal Rogers to Introduce First Redbud Festival Debutante
by Kristi Merida

Union College will host the first annual Miss Redbud Trail Wilderness Road Festival Debutante Pageant, scheduled to take place April 1, 2006. This pageant is an initiative to promote tourism in Kentucky, specifically along the scenic byways. “Spring blooms and beautiful scenic drives have inspired several upcoming spring festivals celebrating the natural beauty of our area,“ pageant coordinator Joetta Gaunt said.

The event will take place on Saturday, April 1, 2006 at Conway Boatman Chapel on the campus of Union College. The event begins at 7:00 p.m. The pageant competition includes high school seniors from surrounding counties along the Wilderness Road/Redbud Trail scenic byway. Each participant is selected by a committee from her high school and will compete in a written essay competition, private interview, and onstage beauty, presence and poise in her evening gown.

Union College is a very proud sponsor of this event. The college is awarding each individual contestant a $500.00 scholarship to Union and the chosen queen and winner of all competition areas will receive a $10,000.00 scholarship to Union College.

In addition to the pageant, the community is invited to attend a Queen’s Reception to meet and honor the first debutante. Congressman Hal Rogers will be attending the event and will introduce the pageant winner. The reception will be held on Sunday, April 2, 2006 from 2-4 p.m. at the Sharp Academic Center on Union’s campus.

The pageant is a part of the Redbud Trail Quilting Workshop and Festival sponsored by the First Frontier Corridor (Knox, Bell, and Harlan) and Southern and Eastern Kentucky Tourism Development Association (SEKTDA).

For more information dial 511 or contact the Knox County Chamber of Commerce at (606)-546-4300. You can also log on to www.knoxcochamber.com.

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