Rachel A. Morgan, a fourth grade student at Jana Elementary School, recently won the junior talent competition portion of the 2006 Pre-Teen Missouri Scholarship and Recognition Program.
“I was overwhelmed by the contest,” Morgan said. “We learned to dance in two days. It was a lot of fun, especially the songs we listened to, like the theme from “The Pink Panther.”
She and more than 100 other girls were evaluated in seven categories, including academic achievement, volunteer services and their ability to communicate. The girls accumulated points in these topics and percentage values are assigned to each category, totaling 100 percent. Only students who have made the honor roll are eligible to attend and attendance is by invitation only. Morgan made both the Academic and Life Skills Honor Rolls at Jana.
Morgan said a narrator introduced each contestant, then each girl stepped up to a microphone and gave a short overview of themselves while on stage. The narrator provided the audience with additional information while the contestants paraded. “We had to walk around in a big circle in front of all these people,” she said.
Morgan said the contestants had to take a general knowledge test. Next, three judges interviewed the girls for about 60 seconds each. “One asked me how I felt, the next one wanted to know what I wished could happen in the competition and one asked me questions about school,” Morgan said.
For the talent competition, Morgan played the song, “Irish Wedding Dance” on the piano. Her playing enabled her to win that portion of the event. She received two trophies and a $100 educational bond.
“I was excited,” Morgan said. “At first, I thought I was in a dream because I have not won anything before. They called my name and I thought, ‘Wait a minute, that’s me!’”
“I jumped out of the seat and ran across the stage,” said her father, the Rev. C.E. Morgan, of his reaction.
The Pre-Teen America program was founded in Louisiana in 1990, with the first competition held the following year. Fifteen years later, several states have joined Louisiana.
Pre-Teen America is designed to recognize the nation’s outstanding pre-teen girls, as well as to give them a way to promote high moral standards of excellence, fellowship, family value and social development. Each year, two winners from the 7-9 age group and the 10-12 age group are chosen from the states that participate. In addition to her academic work, Morgan plays instrumental music at her church each week and she is in Girl Scouts.
The Morgans stressed that the Pre-Teen America program is not a beauty pageant. It is not about how you look; it is about your scholarship.
“If you mention the words ‘beauty pageant,’ points are deducted from your total,” explained Rev. Morgan, who attended the event in Jefferson City with his daughter.
Rachel Morgan has been invited to participate in the national Pre-Teen America Competition next year in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.