GMC News

Mary-Beth Martinez of Georgia Military College High School was named Milledgeville\’s Junior Miss 2006 and Blair Harshbarger of Baldwin High School was named Baldwin\’s Junior Miss 2006, meaning they will compete in the state program this summer.

Martinez and Harshbarger were among 18 girls from Milledgeville and Baldwin County who competed for a share of $7,500 in college scholarships Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 in Russell Auditorium at Georgia College & State University.

Martinez also was awarded a $1,500 cash scholarship and Harshbarger was awarded a $1,500 cash scholarship. In addition to winning their titles, Martinez received a self-expression award and Harshbarger received a talent and scholastic achievement award.

The Georgia\’s Junior Miss program will be held in July.

Martinez is a varsity football cheerleader, a member of the varsity tennis team, public relations officer on the GMC 2nd Battalion staff and hopes to attend the University of Georgia in the fall of 2006 where she will major in English and later attend law school.

Harshbarger actively participates in the Baldwin High fine arts program, Theatre Macon and is a member of Beta Club and the National Honor Society. She has also participated in the Governor\’s Honors Program and upon graduation she hopes to attend Northwestern University to pursue a major in vocal performance and writing.

The first honoree, Abbie Wood of GMC High School, received a $1,000 cash scholarship. The second honoree, Magan Cowart of John Milledge Academy, received a $750 cash scholarship.

Scholastic Achievement award winners received $250 cash scholarships and the recipients were Blair Harshbarger and Magan Cowart. Talent award winners also received $250 cash scholarships and the recipients were Mary E. Godfrey, BHS and Blair Harshbarger.

Fitness award winners received $250 cash scholarships and the recipients were Magan Cowart and Abbie Wood. Self-expression award winners received $250 cash scholarships and the recipients were Abbie Wood and Mary Beth Martinez.

Special recognition awards for the program were presented to Jessica Grant of GMC for the most sponsorships sold and Abbie Wood for the most tickets sold. Each contestant received a $100 gift certificate to the business of her choosing.

Jessica Grant also received the Be Your Best Self essay award along with a $250 cash scholarship.

National sponsors of AJM include Coca-Cola, Tyson Foods Inc., SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, the Riverview Plaza Hotel, the City of Mobile and Mobile County. National category sponsors include Mobile Gas and Regions Bank. Governmental support is furnished by the state of Alabama.

The 48th annual America\’s Junior Miss National Finals will be held in Mobile, Ala., in June. For more information on AJM, call (800) 256-5435 or visit the AJM Web site at www.ajm.org

Pictured: Mary-Beth Martinez of Georgia Military College High School, second from the left, was named Milledgeville\’s Junior Miss 2006 and Blair Harshbarger of Baldwin High School, second from the right, was named Baldwin\’s Junior Miss 2006 this past weekend. They are shown with Magan Cowart, left, second runner up; April Bragg, middle, program director; and Abbie Wood, right, first runner up.