This year, the new Miss Austin will be crowned in the summer.

The Miss Austin Scholarship program decided to change the date of the pageant from late February or March to June starting this year. The pageant will be held at 7 p.m. June 29 in the Knowlton Auditorium at Austin High School.

The change came after a year of planning and for many reasons.

"The big thing is the weather," said Mark Bliese, a committee member.

Last year the pageant was held in the middle of an ice storm. They could not cancel the pageant because judges from around the country were scheduled to come to Austin. The poor weather made it hard to draw a crowd to the pageant, Bliese said.

"These girls have prepared for months," Bliese said. "There's no canceling or rescheduling."

Without a large crowd, the pageant loses operating funds because tickets sales cover those costs.

Another factor was making it easier for Miss Austin to compete in the Miss Minnesota pageant in July. In the past Miss Austin had four months to prepare for Miss Minnesota, but many of her competitors had a year or more. Now Miss Austin will not have to compete in Miss Minnesota until the following summer. This gives her more time to prepare for the event and more experience working with the public as Miss Austin.

Amber Dolphin, the current Miss Austin, was supposed to give up her crown this March, but because of the change agreed to extend her duties until June 29, when she will crown the new Miss Austin.

"It's a transitional phase for us," Bliese said. "We're struggling with the logistics."

Ten women have entered the Miss Austin pageant. Miss Minnesota is scheduled to sing at the event and three former Miss Minnesotas will be judges. Tickets can be purchased at Main Street or Nemitz's Black Barts and are $10 for adults and $6 for students.

Miss Austin will win $5,000 in scholarship money, which she can begin to claim after her year of service. All contestants receive scholarship money for competing. The Community Service, Academic Achievement, Hostess and Congeniality award-winners also receive scholarships.

"This is the biggest local pageant in the state as far as scholarship dollars," Bliese said.

The Miss Austin pageant is also ranked in the top 10 of local pageants in the United States in terms of scholarship dollars.

"We try to fight this podunk-'Drop Dead Gorgeous' feel," Bliese said. "This is a huge step above that."

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at :mailto: cari.quam@austindailyherald.com