To help prepare for the Miss Ohio competition later in the month, five contestants from the Miss West Central Ohio program will present their talent, evening gown and on-stage interviews on Wednesday, June 3, at 7 p.m. in Yoder Recital Hall at Bluffton University.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the cost is $5 per person at the door. A reception will follow with time for photos with the contestants.

“This is a great opportunity to enjoy great talent of these contestants, learn about their social service work in our communities and help them in their final preparations for the Miss Ohio competition,” said Leslie Norris Townsend, of the Miss West Central program.

“This is also a great way to introduce families to the Miss America organization which is one of the world's largest providers of scholarship assistance for young women.” Bluffton University is a sponsor for the Miss West Central program and Miss Ohio.

The hosts for the evening will be Miss Ohio 2012, Elissa McCracken, and Ohio Northern University alumna and the current Miss Ohio Outstanding Teen, Rosie Westerbeck from New Bremen.

The Miss West Central team members competing for Miss Ohio this June will be Lexi Richter, Miss West Central Ohio, a 2015 graduate from the University of Cincinnati and Gabby Bailey, Miss Appleblossom, a current student at The Ohio State University.  Richter will perform on the piano and Bailey’s talent is dance. The 2015 Miss Ohio will go on to compete for the Miss American title in the fall.

Also competing for the title of Miss Ohio’s Outstanding Teen in June will be Mackenzie Fennig, Miss Appleblossom Outstanding Teen, from Celina, who will perform a piano piece. Ali Wayman, Miss West Central Ohio Outstanding Teen, from Wapakoneta, and Kylie Hohman, Miss Grand Lake Outstanding Teen from Van Wert, will both dance as their talent.

Also performing during the show will be Susan Short, Miss Michigan 1975 and executive director of the Miss West Central program; dancers from the Kim Homan school of Dance in Van Wert, and Leslie Norris Townsend, producer for the Miss West Central program.

A special tribute will be shared in memory of the late Carla Dysert, from Lima, who was a long-time supporter of the Miss West Central program.

For more information, please contact Leslie Norris Townsend at 419-852-0950.