DOWAGIAC — The Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant, on Saturday, April 13, will present “Reds, Whites and Flights,” at Vineyard 2121. 

The early evening event, from 4 to 7 p.m., is a fundraiser for the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Fund, featuring spirits, entertainment and silent auction. Vineyard 2121 on Red Arrow Highway in Benton Harbor is one of several venues where musician and pageant master of ceremonies, Joe Jason, performs on a regular basis.

Tracy Urbanski, pageant director, said 15 percent of all wines, ciders, flights and merchandise, will be donated by Jeff and Deb Pallas, owners of Vineyard 2121, to the scholarship fund.   

“Pageantry is something close to Deb’s heart,” Urbanski said. 

In 1984, Deb Pallas was crowned Miss Coloma.

“This is a wonderful event that will provide a beautiful, relaxing venue in which our pageant committee and community can come together,” Urbanski said.  “We are so grateful to Jeff and Deb for their help in promoting the higher education of the young women involved in our scholarship program.  Our committee hopes to see many of our friends, family and supporters of both the pageant and chamber at the vineyard to enjoy a glass of wine, while listening to great entertainment.”

The silent auction will feature a family all-sports pass from the Dowagiac Athletic Department to Easter chocolates from Caruso’s, a wine basket from Vineyard 2121, gift certificates for meat and cheese trays from Manor Mini-Mart, a nail package from Valerie Marks of The Hairitage, along with specialty items from Tosi’s, Booth’s Country Florist and Gifts, and others. 

In 2000, the pageant executive committee was pleased to take the Miss Dowagiac program to new heights, as scholarships were awarded for the first time to that year’s queen, and to the first and second runners-up, Urbanski said. The reigning 2019 Miss Dowagiac Juliana Stanger and her Court of Honor, are among 82 recipients to receive scholarships totaling nearly $82,000.