ABOUT

The Miss Morganton Scholarship Organization celebrates strong, committed young women who represent the community as a goodwill ambassador. Our titleholder become a role model of today while strengthening our communities for tomorrow. The Miss Morganton Scholarship titleholders not only work to promote their communities throughout the year, but they also spend time working on their personal community service initiatives, embracing the spirit of “giving back” to their community and our state, while mentoring our future generation through the Carolina Star Program. Our trailblazers are here as ambassadors to the Morganton community and surrounding region. While they only represent us for one year mentoring and generously giving back, they leave a lasting legacy as they prepare for their future. 

The first pageant in Morganton was held in 1938 at the Mimosa Festival. In the 1960’s, the Miss Morganton Pageant was created and overseen by the Morganton Jaycees. The winners represented our area at the Miss North Carolina pageant, and in 1962, Janice Elizabeth Barron, became Miss North Carolina. She would later go on to compete at Miss America. Miss Morganton, Kim Cozart, placed as 1st runner up at the Miss North Carolina pageant in 1983. You may also recognize a few additional forever Miss Morganton queens from our area, Sherri McGimsey (Sherri’s School of Dance), Elizabeth Bailey, Terri Fox Williams, Teresa Webb Gregory, Rhea Lineberger Ross, and Tammy Roberts. These are just a few of the many amazing women to hold the title of Miss Morganton in the past. After the 1984 Miss Morganton pageant, the competition did not place until again 2018; however, this time the competition was held in conjunction with the Historic Morganton Festival. 

In 2023, the Miss Morganton Scholarship Organization became an official competition for the Miss Miss North Carolina Organization as a festival competitor. The Miss Morganton and Miss Morganton’s Teen traveled to High Point compete for the title of Miss North Carolina and Miss North Carolina’s Teen for the first time in almost 40 years, with the hopes of continuing on to Miss America. The Miss America Organization is the largest scholarship program in the United States and our program was excited to join these amazing young ladies and organization on this journey.

At the start of the 2024 competition season, the Miss Morganton Scholarship Organization became an official local preliminary to the Miss North Carolina competition and added an additional title to their family...Miss Catawba Valley. The Miss Morganton titles are open any eligible young lady ages 13-28  in the following counties:  Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Davie,Gaston, Henderson, Iredell, Lincoln, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey. The Miss Catawba Valley titles are open to any eligible young lady ages 13-28. All eligible contestants are welcome to participate!!!

To help them excel in their future educational and career goals, the Miss Morganton Scholarship Organization is a 501(c)(3) that strives to offer various scholarships to our delegates that would allow them the opportunity to attend school and pursue their educational goals.