Six young women are off to great places as they begin the coming year fulfilling a longstanding tradition along the Eastern Shore as members of the 2018 Dogwood Trail Court. At the 58th Annual Dogwood Trail Pageant and Scholarship Program on Saturday, energetic dancing, colorful costumes and skits based on this year’s theme, “Ya Make Me Happy,” highlighted the participants’ creativity in the performance portion of the pageant. Thirty-four participants were scored in the categories of essay, interview, creative introduction, presence and composure and twelve finalist questions. The essay category, worth 10% of the composite score was judged prior to the pageant by a three-judge panel. The six court members join alumni who have gone on to become teachers, doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, lawyers, engineers, scientists, university librarians and faculty, broadcast journalists, accountants, small business owners and a former US Surgeon General.

JoAnn Broadus the Executive Director said “The participants in this year’s program were some of the brightest, most talented and energetic young women that I have had the opportunity to work with in my 24-year history. We had 34 winners and we are proud of each of them.”

The six young women honored with the opportunity to represent the Eastern Shore and serve a one-year term as goodwill ambassadors on the 2018 Dogwood Trail Court are: Bayshore Christian School junior Payton Robinson; representing Fairhope High School sophomores Mary Kathleen Hughes, Abby McDade, and Erin Moseley; and from Spanish Fort High School juniors Adelle Smith and Emily Vincent. Each court member will receive a $1250 cash college scholarship and period costume for public appearances courtesy of the Eastern Shore Optimist Club.

Once the preliminary components of the program were complete, twelve finalists were chosen. The twelve finalists randomly selected questions that were formulated by the judges committee. The twelve finalists were Bayshore Christian School Payton Robinson; Fairhope High School Mary Carlyn Fidler, Mary Kathleen Hughes, Abby McDade, Erin Moseley, and Margaret Nobles; and from Spanish Fort High School Cameron Cox, Sarah Elliot, Summerlyn Middleton, Cameron Ott, Adelle Smith, and Emily Vincent. Faulkner State Community College awards a Presidential Scholarship to two of the twelve finalists.

Other cash scholarships and awards presented during the program were as follows (unless otherwise noted, the awards were courtesy of the Dogwood Trail Program). A $100 scholarship was awarded to Kaitlin Murrill for being the participant who sold the highest dollar amount for ad sales. The recipient of the $500 Essay award was Abby McDade, a sophomore at Fairhope High School. Additionally, the $250 second place award was Allie Nobles, a junior from Fairhope High School and the $250 third place award was Claire Calloway, a junior from Spanish Fort High School. Courtesy of Ooh La La, the $500-dollar cash scholarship for best interview was awarded to Fairhope High School’s Erin Moseley. Courtesy of First National Bank of Baldwin County, the $500 cash scholarship for best creative introduction was awarded to Fairhope High School’s Mary Kathleen Hughes. The $500 cash scholarship for presence and composure courtesy of The Citizens Bank was awarded to Bayshore Christian School’s Payton Robinson. Also, courtesy of the Eastern Shore Optimist Club Dogwood Trail Program is the $500-dollar Crystal Kae Davis Spirit of Dogwood award. This year’s recipient was Spanish Fort High School’s Emily Vincent.

At Sunday’s Orientation/Tea the 2018 court members selected their dress colors. Mary Kathleen Hughes will be wearing peach, Abby McDade—Lavender, Erin Moseley—pink, Payton Robinson—blue, Adelle Smith—yellow and Emily Vincent—Aqua. The newly selected court will make its debut appearance during the 64th Annual Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 12 o’clock in the courtyard next to the Regions Bank on Section Street.