About Our Program

Explore this page to discover why you should sign up for the experience of a lifetime…

Since 2007, we have awarded over $430,000 in scholarships to women in Douglas County.

Expand the dropdown below to see a breakdown of the total scholarships awarded each year from 2012-2025. We are especially proud of our total for this year!

The Miss Douglas County Scholarship Program is a local preliminary to the Miss Oregon Scholarship Program and the Miss America Opportunity.

We host an annual competition and we award an average of $24,704 in scholarships each year to women in Douglas County. A large portion of these scholarships are earned through our Build Your Own Scholarship Program, which allows all candidates to fundraise for their personal scholarship fund and walk away with money for college guaranteed. The rest of these scholarships are earned through competing in our annual competition.

In addition to scholarships, each candidate is competing for the coveted opportunity to serve as one of our brand ambassadors for the upcoming year. The winners of Miss Douglas County, Miss Douglas County’s Teen, Miss Umpqua Valley, and Miss Umpqua Valley’s Teen will go on to compete for the role of Miss Oregon or Miss Oregon’s Teen at the state competitions in Seaside. If they win at their state competition, they move on to compete at the Miss America or Miss America’s Teen competitions in Orlando.

Fun Fact: Teen titleholders from Douglas County won the state competitions in 2019, 2023, and 2024. We are so proud of our talented teens!

To determine each candidate’s aptitude for scholarships and the role of a brand ambassador, all candidates compete in five phases of competition. Each phase is worth a portion of their overall score. A panel of vetted judges score each phase of competition and the auditors carefully tabulate the total scores to determine the outcome of the competition.

Leading up to each annual competition, we host an immersive mentorship program with weekly rehearsals that prepare our candidates for each phase of competition and provide fun opportunities for personal and professional development. Through our activities, all candidates gain invaluable skills that will help them succeed in college and their future careers. Other benefits of the program include meeting like-minded women, making lifelong friends, building confidence, and connecting with your community through service.

Phases of Competition

Below is a breakdown of each phase of competition. Additional guidance and resources are provided to our candidates after they have completed their registration through the Miss America website.

Private Interview - 30%

• Wardrobe: Delegate’s Choice - Stylish/Age Appropriate Interview Attire

• Timing: 30-Second Introduction/CSI Overview, 9-Minute Q&A, 30-Second Wrap-Up/Closing Statement

• Description: Each candidate will provide a Fact Sheet and Community Service Initiative (CSI) Statement for the judges to review in advance. Templates will be provided for these documents. During the private interview, the judges will ask each candidate questions.

• Purpose: The judges are trying to determine each candidate’s qualifications, intelligence, charisma, authenticity, and ability to serve as a role model, commit to their CSI, and fulfill the duties of a brand ambassador.

• Looking for examples? Watch Miss America interviews on Pageants Live.

Evening Gown - 20%

• Wardrobe: Delegate’s Choice of Evening Wear - Appropriate for Red Carpet

  Timing: 45-60 Seconds

• Description: Each candidate will present her sense of style during an elegant runway/stage experience set to music.

• Purpose: The role of brand ambassadors may include attending galas, fundraisers, and other formal events that require posing for press photographers, modeling in fashion shows, and promoting fashion designers who partner with the Miss America Opportunity.

• Looking for examples? Watch the Top 11 in Evening Gown at Miss America 2025.

Do you still have questions? Please submit them here. We would love to help!