The 44th annual Miss Marlboro Academy Pageant will be presented Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. in the Marlboro Academy school gymnasium. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students.

The event will take place at the Marlboro Academy at 1035 Bennettsville Fire Tower Road, Bennettsville, S.C.

Seventeen young ladies from grades nine through 12 will vie for the crown.

The contestants include: Ellie Fowler, a senior, daughter of Leith and Virginia Folwer of Bennettsville; Hannah Newton, a senior, daughter of Teddy and Pat Norton of Laurinburg; Madison Dwyer, a freshman, daughter of Gary and Winston Dwyer of Gibson; Megan Quick, a senior, daughter of Kurt and Valeriana Jute of Laurinburg; Bailey Dixon, a senior, daughter of Jean Huggins of Bennetsville; Elise Sanders, a junior, daughter of Jimmy and Sharon Sanders of Blenheim; Courtney Odom, a sophomore from Bennettsville, daughter of Garland and Beth Huckabee and Harrison Odom; Katherine Holmes, a sophomore, daughter of Boyd and Vicky Holmes of Lauringburg; McKayla Pruitt, a senior, daughter of Lee and Kelly Pruitt of McColl; Brooke Simmons, a junior from Hamlet, daughter of Rick Simmons and Jennifer Greene; Bailey Jacobs, a senior, daughter of Charles and Teresa Babb of Bennettsville; Sydney West, a sophomore from Hamlet, daughter of Sam West and Wendy Kemble; Logan Hubbard, a senior, daughter of Paul and Angela Hubbard of Bennetsville; Taylor Coxe, a junior from Bennettsville, daughter of Danny Coxe and Nicole Shortt and Alexa Boan, a freshman, daughter of Greg and Mary Boan of Bennettsville.

“Gone But Not Forgotten” serves as the theme of this year’s pageant, which features music of various artists we have lost this century. Emmie Beck and Kenneth Lynch have teamed up as producer and director, respectively, of this year’s competition. Crystal McInnis has stepped in as choreographer for the third consecutive year.

The reigning Miss Marlboro Academy Chelsea Stroud, the Crhistal McInnis Dance Company, Miss Marlboro Academy 1996 Lia Kennerly, and Latreta Kennerly will provide special entertainment during the event.