Shining Stars

 

Photo by Angelina Marie Photography

 

Our Shining Star Program is a non-competitive opportunity for young ladies age 4-12 to join our candidates in the spotlight and indulge in a glamorous onstage appearance during our next annual program at UCC’s Jacoby Auditorium on March 1, 2026.

Each Shining Star will be paired with a teen or miss candidate to serve as her “Honorary Big Sister” and accompany her during all program activities. This experience will provide the young ladies in your life with an inside look at the sisterhood and excitement that awaits them as a future candidate in the Miss Douglas County Scholarship Program.

The next deadline for Shining Star registration is January 4, 2026 at 11:59pm.

What’s included with registration?

    • Official Miss America Little Sisters Tiara

    • Official Miss America Little Sisters Pageant Sash

    • Professional Headshot by Angelina Marie Photography

      • Tentatively planning for a weekend afternoon in January.

    • “Shining Star Party” and Rehearsal with Honorary Big Sister

      • Tentatively planning for a weekend afternoon in January.

    • Dress Rehearsal with Honorary Big Sister

      • Tentatively planning for February 22, 2026.

    • Featured Onstage Appearance in Tiara and Sash with Honorary Big Sister

      • Date: March 1, 2026

      • Time: 1:30pm-5:30pm (Show Starts at 2:00pm)

      • Location: UCC’s Jacoby Auditorium

    • Opportunities for “Shining Star Outings” with Honorary Big Sisters

      • Tentatively planning for weekends in January and February.

    • Invitation to "2026 Shining Stars" Parent Group on Band App

Featured Onstage in Tiara and Sash

Shining Stars will be escorted onstage by their Honorary Big Sisters for a glamorous walk in the spotlight and their own crowning moment with an Official Miss America Little Sisters Tiara and an Official Miss America Little Sisters Pageant Sash.

Professional Headshot

Shining Stars will have professional headshots taken by our photography sponsor, Angelina Marie Photography, in January. We will give you one print for free after we display it in the lobby on March 1, 2026. Angelina will also have photo packages available for purchase on headshot day.

People’s Choice Scholarship

One lucky Shining Star will be recognized onstage on March 1, 2026 as the People’s Choice Award winner and receive a cash scholarship worth half of all funds raised through People’s Choice voting for Shining Stars.

Shining Star Party

We will host a Shining Star Party in January 2026 for our Shining Stars and their Honorary Big Sisters to bond and have fun together. In the past, it has been a tea party, but we are excited to switch things up in 2026 with a new theme!

Shining Star Outings

Shining Stars will be invited to join their Honorary Big Sisters for group outings in January and February 2026. A couple of our ideas include going skating and getting frozen yogurt together!

The Miss Douglas County Scholarship Program is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The proceeds from your Shining Star registration will support our mission of empowering women to be leaders by providing opportunities for college scholarships, personal and professional development, and community service.

Upon completing your registration, you will be contacted by our Shining Star Program coordinator and added to a group on the Band app for parents. Additional details and all communications regarding the Shining Star Program will be shared through that group.

Do you have any questions? Please email us at director.douglascounty@missoregon.org.

 

Photo by Keri Blue Photography

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Absolutely! There is a field on the registration form where you can request a specific candidate. If you do not have a specific candidate in mind, you can leave it blank and we will find a candidate to pair with your Shining Star.

  • Each Shining Star will receive their tiara and sash during their crowning moment onstage on March 1, 2026. After the registration deadline, we will order them in bulk in January. The vendors ship them strategically, so they arrive only a few days before our program.

  • Shining Stars should wear a formal dress in a color of their choice. You may choose to color coordinate with her Honorary Big Sister, but that is not required. Please choose shoes that your Shining Star is comfortable walking in and a hairstyle that will not be messed up by a tiara with combs on each side. She will need to arrive already dressed and ready to go because we do not have dressing room space for Shining Stars.

  • We understand that unexpected scheduling conflicts may arise, especially if you registered a Shining Star many months in advance. Please contact our Board Treasurer, Stacey Rickman, at slrickman@gmail.com to inquire about a refund minus the transaction fees assessed by our vendors. We will not offer refunds after our Shining Star registration deadline on January 4, 2026.