Eleven local girls are competing for Miss Clatsop County’s Outstanding Teen. The program will be Feb. 5 at the Seaside Civic and Convention Center. The candidates include: Abi Noel Anderson, Hannah Bacon, Jewels Carr, Haylee Dundas, Harrah Garhofer, Desiree Hollyman, Alexis Mather, Amber Eve Parada, Giselle Pincetich, Cody Sorter and Arian Swynenburg.

Candidate 1: Alexis Mather

Age: 15

School: Sophomore at Astoria High School.

Favorite Activities: Wakeboarding, snowboarding, dirt bike riding, music.

Career goal: Professional singer and musical composer.

Talent: Vocal performance, “Nel cor piu non mi sento” from L’mor contrastato.

Platform: Be a Mentor Your Way – I choose this because I enjoy helping others achieve their goals. The way I choose to mentor is through music. With music, I can make a difference while also having lots of fun. I want to encourage others to use their own personal gifts to make a difference in the lives of others. Sometimes being a mentor is just being a good role model or friend.

Candidate 2: Haylee Dundas

Age: 13

School: Eighth grade student at Broadway Middle School.

Activities: Maintain a 3.8 grade point average in school, work in my grandfather’s bakery learning the baking craft taught by his father, basketball, volleyball, softball, surfing and participating on a performance jump roping team.

Career goal: Physical therapist, helping athletes and people recover from their injuries and enjoy a higher quality of life.

Talent: Jump Rope routine to “Dynamite”

Platform: Healthier Hearts Through Jump Roping: A program through the American Heart Association that helps people learn about improving their heart health. I will be designing, developing and operating a Jump Rope For Heart fundraising event at Cannon Beach Elementary. My goal is to help kids realize the fun exercise you get from jumping rope and in the process generate funds for the school.

Candidate 3: Desiree Hollyman

Age: 16

School: Junior at Seaside High School.

Activities: Dancing, writing short stories.

Career goal: Middle School counselor

Talent: Jazz dance to “Been Here All Along,” by Hannah Montana.

Platform: Amazing! A mentoring program. Being dyslectic, I had a difficult time in middle school. This year, I have already started my program with middle school students, as a program for them to feel more like themselves around their friends and to make the right choices.

Candidate 4: Amber Eve Parada

Age: 15

School: Sophomore at Warrenton High School.

Activities: Maintain a 3.5 grade point, volleyball, snowboarding, dirt bike riding, camping.

Career goal: Architect

Talent: Vocal performance, “Paparazzi.”

Platform: Breast Cancer Awareness – in dedication of my grandmothers. Both my grandmothers and my mother have battled breast cancer so my platform is to teach young women about how to give self exams and when to receive treatment. Every middle-aged woman needs to start getting exams and once diagnosed, need to receive the proper treatment immediately.

Candidate 5: Giselle Pincetich:

Age: 14

School: Eighth grade student at Broadway Middle School.

Activities: Horseback riding, surfing, soccer, basketball and softball, school band, creative writing.

Talent: Drum solo

Platform: Equal Opportunities for All – I believe no human being male, female, or of any race should be treated any differently from anyone else. Everyone deserves a happy life and everyone deserves to be looked at and treated the same. I would like to represent anyone out there who has ever doubted themselves or has ever wished they looked or were born different, and show them it is okay to be who you are and no one should tell you otherwise.

Candidate 6: Ariana Swynenburg

Age: 16

School: Junior at Seaside High School.

Activities: Soccer, cheer club, track, tennis, baking, kayaking.

Career goal: Attorney specializing in real estate or tax planning.

Talent: Comedic monologue

Platform: Assistance League of the Columbia Pacific – I love my community and so does my platform, which serves the community especially the underprivileged youth. I believe everyone should be healthy, happy, comfortable and safe.

Candidate 7: Hannah Bacon

Age: 15

School: Sophomore at Seaside High School.

Activities: Dance, wrestling stats, cheerleading, Snow club, Paws N’ Action Dog 4-H, lifeguard and swimming instructor at Seaside pool, snowboarding, photography, camping, hiking, snowmobiling, crew member for our family drag racing team.

Career goal: Physical therapist

Talent: Ballet variation of Bejart’s Sugar Plum Fairy.

Platform: Funding for St. Jude’s Hospital.

Candidate 8: Cody Sorter

Age: 16

School: Junior at Seaside High School.

Activities: volleyball, softball, cheerleading, photography.

Career: Attend Oregon State University, eventual goal of helping young children

Talent: Vocal performance, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

Lunch Buddy Mentoring – It links together a volunteer with a child, usually between 6 and 11 years old who is having problems in school. The program was developed to help elementary school students form positive attitudes about school, encourage healthy nutrition and provide a positive role model for children.

Candidate 9: Hannah Garhofer

Age: 14

School: Eighth grade student at Broadway Middle School.

Activities: W.E.B. leader, leadership program, Mentor Aid, dance, classic soccer, basketball, volleyball and motorcycle riding, school honor roll, student of the month, President’s Education Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence.

Career: Lawyer

Talent: Jazz-Acro dance, “Viva La Vida.”

Platform: Celiac Disease Awareness – I am passionate about this disease. I was nine years old when I was diagnosed. I hope to provide teen support to help other teens and be a positive advocate for following a gluten-free lifestyle.

Candidate 10: Jewels Carr

Age: 16

School: Sophomore at Astoria High School.

Activities: Volleyball, basketball, track, cheerleading, soccer, baseball, four-wheeling, snowboarding, running.

Talent: Flag routine, “Right Round.”

Platform: Bullying – I think it has gone too far in and out of schools. It is not being handled correctly by those involved, mainly because it is so hard to catch in progress when it happens.

Candidate 11: Abi Noel Anderson

Age: 16

School: Junior at Seaside High School.

Activities: Cheerleading, singing, arts, choir, Seaside Jazz choir, theatre.

Career goal: Elementary education

Talent: Vocal performance, “Habanera”

Platform: Make-A-Wish foundation – I have a genuine passion for this cause. When my sister Rachel was 15, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was granted a wish. Through this process, we learned not only the patient benefits, but family and friends share an interlude during difficult times. Health care providers report a better response to treatments and volunteers are fulfilled by their mission.

Six candidates are competing for the Miss Clatsop County Scholarship County 2011 or Miss North Coast 2011. The candidates are: Valeena Hearing, Jessica Humble, Kimberly Murry, Rachel Porter, Rebecca Quijano and Alyssa Sanders.

Tickets for the program are $10 per person. A benefit dinner will be Feb. 4 at the SurfSand Ballroom. Tickets for the dinner are $50 per person and include a reserved ticket to the program on Feb. 5.

For additional information or ticket information, contact Sandy Newman, program director at (503) 717-3501.