PARTICIPANTS BENEFITTED FROM ASSISTANCE WITH DEVELOPMENT OF INTERVIEW SKILLS, TALENT, PUBLIC SPEAKING, COMMUNITY SERVICE, COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, AND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS. A SEVEN DAY EVENT IS CONDUCTED (THE PAGEANT) IN WHICH SCHOLARSHIPS ARE HANDED OUT; THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 15,478 IN SCHOLARSHIPS GIVEN OUT THIS YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, WINNERS OF THE PAGEANT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VIE FOR MISS AMERICA AND RECEIVE ASSISTANCE IN THAT ENDEAVOR (EXPENSES, CHAPERONES, ETC.).