08/10/2026
👑 Why Small Town Girl? 💕
I wanted to take a minute to share a little bit about the heart behind the Miss Wheeler County Small Town Girl Scholarship Pageant and why this program means so much more than simply putting on a pageant.
The Small Town Girl Scholarship began in 2017 in memory of Claudia Marion, a beloved Wheeler teacher who had an incredible gift for encouraging her students, building their confidence, and helping them see just how much they were capable of.
The scholarship was originally funded through the sale of the book Small Town Girl, compiled by Dr. Jodi Walker. Becky Hardcastle and Dr. Mindy (Hardcastle) Brashears shared their own small-town stories in the book and generously donated the proceeds to establish the scholarship in Claudia’s memory.
Over the years, that purpose has grown into something we are so proud to continue through the Miss Wheeler County Pageant.
Because being a Small Town Girl is something special. 💗
It means growing up in a community where people know your name, show up for one another, celebrate your accomplishments, and help pick you back up when you need it. It also means learning that the size of the town you come from does NOT determine the size of the dreams you can chase.
Our goal is to give the young ladies of Wheeler County an opportunity to build confidence, strengthen their interview and communication skills, serve their communities, earn scholarship money toward their futures, and realize just how capable they are.
This pageant has never been about finding the “prettiest girl.” It’s about encouraging young women to recognize their worth, use their voices, set big goals, and be proud of where they come from.
We are incredibly grateful for everyone who has helped carry this scholarship forward and for every business, family, volunteer, and community member who continues to believe in our girls.
We hope that through this program we can continue Claudia’s legacy of encouraging young women to reach their full potential—
one Small Town Girl at a time. 👑💕
