McLendon chosen state Junior Miss Eij Kiti FaZzonz M Senior Sue McLendon, t h i s year's ^ a r k Ridge Junior Miss, has won the t i t l e of I l l i n o i s Junior Miss and is now e l i g i b l e to compete f o r Ameri c a ' s Junior Miss next year. The Junior Miss Program is not a beauty pageant; i t is a scholarship program f o r senior g i r l s . Sue became interested i n the program when her older s i s t e r was involved three years ago. A l l Park Ridge senior g i r l s with a B average in school are i n v i t e d by the Jaycees to compete f o r the Park Ridge Junior Miss t i t l e each year. A f t e r Sue was chosen t h i s year, she went to Bolingbrook f o r the state competition which lasted a week. Twenty-four g i r l s from a l l over the state l i v e d in host homes in Bolingbrook f o r the week. There were two Junior Miss g i r l s in each home, so everyone became close to at least one other g i r l . Sue explained t h a t "everyone became r e a l l y close, good f r i e n d s , and we had a l o t of f u n . " Junior Miss is judged in f i v e d i f f e r e n t categories; a personal interview with the judges, t a l e n t , physical f i t n e s s , poise and appearance, and scholastic achievement. I The judge's interview counted f o r Ihe most p o i n t s . Sue enjoyed the physical f i t n e s s because they did a jump-roping routine to music, and she " j u s t had a l o t of fun with i t . " She said she also enjoyed the poise and appearance because they dressed up in dresses and t w i r l e d pink parasols. As well as being chosen Illi-
nois Junior Miss, Sue won three different preliminary awards in physical f i t n e s s , t a l e n t , and poise and appearance. Sue said "when they f i n a l l y announced my name as winner, I c o u l d n ' t believe i t ! " Sue now goes to national competit i o n in Mobile, Alabama. S h e ' l l be flown to Mobile f o r two weeks in May or June. The exact date hasn't been set yet because CBS, who usually broadcasts the Junior Miss competit i o n , is t r y i n g to set a date and time. The g i r l s w i l l be judged on the same f i v e categories, except the cash prizes go up to a t o t a l of 325,000, and there are many more scholarships offered to the winners. F i f t y - t w o g i r l s w i l l compete in nat i o n a l s , one from every state plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. The g i r l s w i l l stay in host houses in Mobile, two g i r l s to every house. So f a r . Sue has won a t o t a l of 51400 in cash, and eight o f f e r s of four-year f u l l - r i d e scholarships to top schools a l l over the country. She also received a copper medallion which reads: "America's Junior Miss, Emphasis on Excellence." Sue said that these words sum up the e n t i r e Junior Miss Program. Sue w i l l be going to DePauw Univ e r s i t y in Green Castle, Indiana, a f t e r she graduates. This is not one of the colleges she was offered scholarship t o , but her cash scholar ships w i l l apply there. Sue McLendon is very enthusiastic about the Junior Miss program. She says, "Junior Miss is d e f i n i t e l y a worthwhile experience, and i t ' s a
really wonderfu 1 feeling. I've made iends. The best week so many new fr of my 1ife was the week spent in Bolingbrook wi th twenty-three other girls; the bes t moment in my life was being pic ked to represent all these girls. I t was truly an honor to be chosen, I totally reccomniend the Junior Miss program to any girl'.'
Rename auditorium The Maine South auditorium was renamed Sunday as the "Dr. Clyde K. Watson Auditorium." In a surprise ceremony prior to the annual Christmas Concert, Dr. John Murphy, superintendent, announced the change and presented a special plaque to Dr. Watson, former principal. A large plaque will be mounted in the foyer of the auditorium citing the 37 years of service Dr. Watson gave to the Maine schools. An oil portrait, painted by Peggy Rushford of Park Ridge, will be a part of the foyer tribute. Dr. Watson taught mathematics, was dean of boys, was an assistant principal before he became principal at South.
'Greeks' at South Vol. 18, No. 7
Maine South H. S.,Park Ridge, IL
December 18, 1981
Senior wins national writing award Senior Julie Ann Locascio received the 1981 National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Award in writing. This program was coordinated in Maine South last year by Mr. Steven Granzyk. Each of the 7,000 nominees 3nt a sample of their writing and one hour essay to a state judging team made up of both high school and college teachers. About 850 finalists are chosen from the U.S. and American schools
abroad. The number of winners in each state depends on it's population. Only 13 percent of the students become finalists. Mr. Marian Davis, English department chairman, said, "This is excellent recognition for Julie." Julie has received many letters from colleges and universities as a result of the award. "I am really happy, even though a lot of hard work and effort was involved," she said.
The tenth annual "Sororities Today" program will be presented at Maine South during the fourth period Wed., Jan. 6, in C-100. Career Counselor Kenneth Reese will serve as program coordinator. Panel members will each discuss rush procedures, pledging, life as an active sorority member, panhellenic and alumni activities, and answer questions from the audience. All senior girls are invited to attend the panel presentation to learn what sorority life has to offer and to ask questions about college life in general. Maine South graduates participating on the panel are: Lisanne Babicz, Jodi MacKenzie, Lori Mattick, Susan Trull, Martha Tully.