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LEWISTOWN - The Miss Central Pennsylvania Scholarship Organization seeks to crown a local woman this year as Miss Greater Juniata Valley. It has announced that if six young women from Mifflin, Juniata, Snyder, Centre or Huntingdon counties compete, they exclusively will vie for a local title.

John Metzger, executive director of the organization, said the six women also would be eligible to compete for the other crown awarded at the pageant, Miss Central Pennsylvania.

The 2009 pageant will be held on Nov. 9, is accepting applications from young women and teens, who will compete for two crowns in the Miss Central Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen competition. That event will be held concurrently with the adult competition.

The entry deadline is Oct. 11. No more than 25 contestants will be accepted for the combined pageants. Those whose entry materials are received first will be named as contestants. Those whose application materials are received after the 25 will be put on a waiting list.

The only fee for entry into the pageant is that each contestant is required to raise $100 for the Children's Miracle Network. That money then will be deposited into a special online account through the pageant. Details are available on the Miss Central Pennsylvania Pageant Web site, http://www.misscentralpa.org./

Last year, two winners - Miss Central Pennsylvania Erica Bristor and Miss Greater Juniata Valley Hannah Timm - were named in the pageant.

To be eligible to compete in the Miss Central Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen pageant, which leads to Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant, girls must age 13 to 17 and reside or attend school in Pennsylvania. Contestants must be no more than high school juniors. Full details on age and grade requirements should be verified by contacting the organization at 248-5576.

Winners in both categories will go on to compete in the state competitions, Miss Pennsylvania and Miss Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen, respectively. This year's state competitions will be held in June in Nazareth.

"Miss" contestants are judged in areas of talent, interview, evening wear, on-stage questions and lifestyle, and fitness in swimsuit. "Teen" contestants are judged in areas of talent, interview, evening wear, on-stage question and lifestyle, and fitness in active wear.

The Miss Central Pennsylvania Scholarship and the Miss Central Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen Pageants are sponsored by the nonprofit Miss Central Pennsylvania Scholarship Organization. Scholarships and prizes are awarded through the generosity of businesses and organizations throughout the area.

Information and applications are available by phoning Dennis or Ann Clark at 248-7396 or Metzger at 248-5576. Information and application materials also are available on online.