Brianon Nordhagen who has advanced to Montana's Junior Miss State Finals to be held in Cut Bank, on Saturday.

She will have the opportunity to win a portion of the more than $4,000 in cash scholarships that will be awarded, including the $2,000 title scholarship.

Nordhagen will represent Clancy in the state competition. She will be a senior at Helena High School in the fall. Brianon is the daughter of Blair and Reva Nordhagen.

Nordhagen will compete against nine other young women from around Montana for the title. Contestants will compete in five categories: scholastics, interview, talent, fitness and poise. Nordhagen will perform a piano solo, "Valse, in E Minor (posthumous)" by Chopin for her talent.

AJM is the country's oldest and largest scholarship program for girls and has awarded more than $83.6 million in scholarships to high school seniors since its inception in 1957.

The 2008 Montana Junior Miss, Jana Barros of Helena, will perform at the Aug. 2 program. Danette Deichmann, 2004's Montana Junior Miss, choreographed the program and will perform as well. Deichmann is a recent graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

The state finals will be held in the Cut Bank High School Auditorium. The doors will open at 5 p.m. for a silent auction in the gym lobby area to raise money for the scholarship program. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Those interested in obtaining advance tickets can purchase them by calling (406) 873-2303. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.

This year, the Montana Junior Miss Program is once again hosted by the Cut Bank Area Chamber of Commerce. In addition to the $2,000 cash scholarship, the 2009 Montana Junior Miss will represent Montana at the America's Junior Miss national finals, which will be held in Mobile, Ala., in June of 2009.

Next year's contest is open to girls who will be seniors in the fall of 2009. If interested, contact the new state director, Wanda Rude at rudeone@bresnan.net to request an application packet.