Anticipation will fill the auditorium of Eastside High School on Aug. 11 at 10 a.m. for the third annual Mister and Miss Covington Pageant. This year's theme is "Back to School."

There are 10 divisions of age groups for girls from 0-month-old babies to 19-year-old contestants. For boys, there are two divisions from 0-month-old babies to 6-year-old contestants.

Contestants will compete within their division, and a queen or king along with a runner up, second runner up and a third runner up will be chosen.

Four grand supreme awards will be given to participants with the highest grand total points.

In addition, contestants will compete for the photogenic, best dressed, prettiest eyes, prettiest smile, prettiest hair, cover girl for the program book and best back to school wear awards.

Participants are "judged on first impression, beauty, poise, personality and overall appearance," said Crissy Alter, the executive director for Pageants of Hope, an organization that sponsors the Mister and Miss Covington Pageant.

Girls and boys interested can register online at pageantsofhope.com. The early bird special has been extended with a registration fee of $65 which includes entries for the side awards.

The tentative schedule is 0 to 3-year-old girls and the boys divisions will compete at 10 a.m., ages 4-9 will compete at 11:30 a.m. and 10 and up will compete at 12:30 p.m.

Contestants will receive an email with an exact schedule and a sample of a judge's scoring rubric.

Pageant participants are encouraged to donate school supplies to distribute to the Newton County schools. Whoever gives the most donations will receive the Grand School Award, receiving a rhinestone tiara and a customized sash.
The pageant proceeds are given back to the community.

"We donate anywhere from 50 to 100 percent of our proceeds to organizations. We've donated proceeds to Melissa Ward, a local teacher who was affected with breast cancer; Tori Svenson, who was diagnosed with brain tumor and St. Jude's Hospital," Alter said.

"We thought we would collect back to school items this year."

Mister and Miss Covington winners of the past years participated in the annual Christmas Parade, met with the governor in Atlanta and visited the WSB TV station.