Jun 30, 2014 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – Five young women from Greene County gathered recently at the Glass Room in Waynesburg University’s Benedum Hall to officially kick off their quest for the title of Miss Rain Day.

Guests were 2013 Miss Rain Day Stephanie Mitchell and 2014 Crown Bearer Bailey Barnyak.

The 36th annual Miss Rain Day Scholarship Pageant, sponsored by Rain Day Scholarship Inc., will be held July 27 at 4 p.m. in the Jefferson-Morgan Junior-Senior High School auditorium.

The contestants will be judged on personal interview, sportswear, talent and evening gown competitions.

Awards will be presented to those with top scores in these areas as well as Miss Personality, Miss Photogenic, the Kelly Smotzer Memorial Award, the Remo C. Bertugli Memorial Award, and returning this year, the Scholastic Achievement Award. Participation awards will also be given to all contestants.

A Rain Maker Award will be presented to the contestant who collects the most scholarships, and the John O’Hara Award will be given to the contestant who composes the best essay on what Rain Day means to them.

Westmoreland County Community College is again offering of a tuition scholarship to Miss Rain Day 2014.

The contestants had their portrait taken courtesy of Bruno and Bruno Photography, held interviews with WANB Radio and attended a special dinner and performance of “Legally Blonde” at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh.

The contestants also spent an evening at a Washington Wild Things baseball game and will volunteer their time at the Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation Golf Outing and Habitat for Humanity Rain Day 5K race.

After the pageant, Miss Rain Day 2014, her court and the contestants will participate in the Rain Day Festival July 29, and the winners will perform for the festivalgoers.

Those competing for the title and the schools they attend are:

• Kayla Pendland, 16, daughter of Kalem and Melinda Pendland of Clarksville. She is a junior at Jefferson-Morgan Junior-Senior High School.

• Nina Rivera, 16, daughter of Chad and Eryan Coss of Waynesburg She is a senior at Waynesburg Central High School.

• Caitlyn Ricco, 14, daughter of Tom and Carrie Ricco of Carmichaels. She is a sophomore at Carmichaels Area Junior-Senior High School.

• Carly Riggi, 15, daughter of John and Josey Riggi of Rices Landing. She is a junior at Jefferson-Morgan Junior-Senior High School.

• Morgan Voithofer, 14, daughter of Jason Voithofer and Heather Tokarcik, both of Carmichaels. She is a sophomore at Carmichaels Area Junior-Senior High School.