The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth programs offer a wealth of career-preparation activities to young people, including leadership development and learning experiences, temporary work opportunities, college preparation, job training, and education. For Melissa Mills of Barbourville the WIA program also provided help with being a pageant girl.

Melissa, 18, participated in the 2011 Miss Redbud Pageant with the help and support of WIA staff. Consisting of more than just putting on a pretty dress and walking on stage, the experience helped Melissa prepare for college by learning etiquette, social skills, and self-confidence—as well as helping with her tuition.

Melissa is a Knox Central High School senior who grew up on a family farm doing chores, fishing, and raising animals. She is a member of the Future Farmers of America, Future Business Leaders of America and a volunteer worker for her church’s food pantry. She also takes part in the WIA Youth Program that is provided locally by KCEOC Community Action Partnership under contract with Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP), Inc.

Tasha Smith and other WIA career advisers helped Melissa choose to attend Union College in the fall and helped her find scholarships and financial aid to pay her tuition. Tasha also got Melissa interested in participating in the Miss Redbud Pageant, at the request of Becky Miller, business services representative at KCEOC.

Becky wanted to see more local girls participate in the Miss Redbud Pageant, which offers a $500 scholarship for all participants and $10,000 for the winner.

“In addition to helping pay for college, the pageant helps prepare girls for work, college and life, so I wanted to give our girls an opportunity to take advantage of it,” Becky said.

Melissa was interested in the pageant and her natural girl-next-door beauty and intelligence made her an ideal candidate, so Tasha set about raising funds from private donors to pay for Melissa’s dress and other expenses and started working closely with Melissa to prepare her for the pageant.

With Tasha’s help Melissa studied current events, politics, and other subjects related to the importance of tourism, which she chose as the topic for her opening statement at the pageant. She also practiced walking in her pageant dress and observing proper etiquette in preparation for the interview and tea party that are part of the pageant process.

Melissa discovered there was much more involved in preparing to be a pageant contestant than she had expected.

“I thought they just went out and walked and talked,” she said.

Her training included an etiquette class sponsored by the Knox County Chamber of Commerce, in which Melissa learned lots of dos and don’ts. One of the don’ts was “don’t chew gum, and if you do don’t spit it out.”

“I had to swallow my gum,” Melissa said, laughing.

After a month of preparation, the day of the pageant arrived. Tasha met Melissa at 9 a.m., fixed her hair and makeup, and helped her get ready for the tea. After the tea Melissa headed to the pageant, where she successfully gave her opening statement. Then backstage, Tasha helped her change into the long green evening gown donors had helped her buy.

“I was really nervous,” Melissa said, but as the pageant went on she discovered that it was a challenge she could meet.

“I was happy I survived it,” she said with a smile.

“I felt like a proud mom,” Tasha said.

Melissa did not win the pageant, but she was glad she took part. She came away with a $500 scholarship, experience in interviewing and public speaking, training in etiquette, and an appreciation for the importance of working hard and preparing to meet personal goals.

Becky said Melissa’s dedication to her pageant preparations is proof she’ll do well later in life.

“I was really impressed with the level of commitment on her part,” Becky said.

Melissa said she would encourage other young people to take advantage of the opportunities provided by WIA programs.

“I’d say ‘go for it.’ It helped me in so many ways,” she said. “And I’m a pageant girl now,” she added with a laugh.

For more information about the WIA Youth Program in your area, call 546-2639. For more information about EKCEP and its services, visit www.ekcep.org or www.facebook.com/ekcep.