When two local business owners decided to revive a forgotten program and help send young women to college, they didn’t anticipate their biggest problem would be money.
Until recently, Michigan’s only local Junior Miss programs were taking place in Houghton Lake, Inkster, Plymouth-Canton and Wayne-Westland.
But Debbie Wertz and Kathy Chojnowski, both of Clarkston, set out to change that.
‘We want to stress heavily, this is not a beauty pageant or a Miss America-type thing,? said Chojnowski, co-chair of the new North Oakland Junior Miss program. ‘It’s totally scholastic, the girls are never asked to put on a bathing suit or anything like that.?
Quite the opposite; America’s Junior Miss was founded in 1958 to encourage personal development, emphasize education and provide scholarships to college-bound high school girls.
Today, more than 5,000 young women participate at local and state levels each year, competing in scholastic, talent, interview, spirit, community service, fitness, self expression and ‘Be Your Best Self? categories.
Years ago, Chojnowski explained, Clarkston hosted a Junior Miss program, but the tradition ended when the chairperson stepped down.
But Chojnowski, who owns Emotions Dance Productions in Clarkston, along with friend and Co-Chair Wertz, who owns Bella Pointe Dance and Performing Arts in Clarkston, decided it was time to bring the program back.
And bring it back, they did’the new North Oakland chapter of America’s Junior Miss, which includes Clarkston, Lake Orion, Brandon and Waterford, is gearing up for its inaugural season.
High school senior girls from each community are eligible to take part’no one is turned away, and there are no fees to participate.
America’s Junior Miss programs exist on local, state and national levels. Typically, girls begin at the local level; top-finishers move to the state level’Michigan’s competition takes place in Ann Arbor’and one top finisher from each state moves on to the national competition in Mobile, Alabama, this year for the 52nd Annual America’s Junior Miss National Finals, June 25-27, 2009.
Past participants include Diane Sawyer, Deborah Norville, Kathie Lee Gifford, Kim Basinger and Debra Messing.
‘The girls get a real sense of accomplishment from taking part in this,? said Wertz, noting participants come away with new skills in interviewing, public speaking, and community service, as well as reinforced self-confidence. ‘I wish it were around when my girls were seniors in high school; unless you know you can enter at-large, you wouldn’t even know about the program.?
Chojnowski’s daughter, a Clarkston High School graduate, in fact, did enter at-large since there was no local chapter, and participated at the state level without any real preliminary preparation.
When that happens, Chojnowski said, the girls miss out on local scholarship opportunities and don’t get the ground-level experience as those who hail from communities with local programs.
‘When they get to the state program, they’re ten steps behind all the other contestants,? she said. ‘The other girls have had some coaching and some experience in to how to actually work the program.?
The inaugural competition’themed ‘Premiere?’is slated to take place at Clarkston High School on a Saturday in December, although the exact date was not yet certain.
But while plans are becoming reality and details are falling into place, Wertz and Chojnowski still have one large problem on their hands: money.
With a flagging economy taking its toll, many local businesses have been forced to scale back on charitable donations.
‘The first thing everyone says is, ‘We would love to, but times are tough,?? said Wertz. ‘It’s understandable, we both have a business, we know times are tough.?
But Junior Miss can’t fund scholarships without support from the community. Student loans are getting tougher to obtain, Wertz pointed out, and many families are having a difficult time saving for college.
‘There are a lot of kids who don’t end up going to the college they wanted to go to, or at all,? Chojnowski said, noting each sponsor will be listed on the organization’s website, as well as in the event program. ‘Every little bit people can donate will help us with scholarships.?
Wertz echoed the sentiment, and said while it’s taken some work to get the program up and going again, obtaining funding has been unexpectedly difficult.
‘It’s been a lot harder getting the support from local businesses than I thought it would be,? she said.
‘We’re not even close to any goals we had for raising money; that’s the biggest challenge.?
For more information on entering or sponsoring the North Oakland Junior Miss program, contact Debbie Wertz at (248)202-3480 or Kathy Chojnowski at (248)821-9467.

By Laura Colvin
Special to The Review