\t\t\t\tOkay ladies, the time has come. This Sunday, put down your textbooks, take a break from studying and put off your homework for a few hours. Instead, grab your friends, some snacks and tune in to see who will be crowned Miss America 2015.<\/p>\n
The final night of the Miss America 2015 pageant airs on ABC Sunday, September 14 at 8 p.m. EST. The competition has already begun and preliminary competition winners have been chosen over three days of competition.<\/p>\n
Miss Maryland, Jade Kenny was Thursday night\u2019s lifestyle & fitness winner and won a $1,000 scholarship. Miss Pennsylvania Amanda Fallon Smith took home the preliminary talent award with her vocal performance and with it, a $2,000 scholarship.<\/p>\n
Additional preliminary competition winners include: Miss Oklahoma Alex Eppler for Lifestyle & Fitness, Miss Kentucky Ramsey Carpenter for her talent on the fiddle, Miss Ohio Mackenzie Bart for \u00a0her ventriloquism talent and Miss Florida Victoria Cowen for lifestyle & Fitness.<\/p>\n
Of course, the competition isn\u2019t all about talent and fitness, Miss America is also one of the largest providers of school scholarships for women. In 2013, the organization provided more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance to participants. And while only a few women will take home awards during Sunday night\u2019s contest, scholarship assistance is open to more than 12,000 women across the country who compete in state and local competitions.<\/p>\n
Miss America also runs The Outstanding Teen program, which provides $1,000 in scholarship funds to all state pageant winners. Winners who advance to compete for the national title can also be in the running for more than just a crown and a beauty sash, they can also win up to $30,000 in scholarship and prizes.<\/p>\n
While Miss America maybe be one of the most well-known scholarship programs for young women, there are others available for those who are interested in earning money to help pay for their education.<\/p>\n
America\u2019s Junior Miss (AJM) and Cinderella Pageant are also two larger organizations that provide pageants and scholarships for participants.<\/p>\n