HELPING GIRLS MOVE CONFIDENTLY INTO THE FUTURE BY NIKKI HOFFMAN

Service. Scholarship. Determination. What connects these attributes? Jackie Croft can tell you. She is the director of the Miss Lake County Florida pageant. The non-profit pageant promotes community service and helps develop the skills needed to become tomorrow’s leaders. Under Jackie’s guidance, the pageant has grown in prestige and scope. “The most important benefit of the competition lies in community service, raising awareness and inspiring others,” Jackie said.The reigning Miss Lake County Florida, Kate Mehr, graduated from Leesburg High School and will attend the University of Florida in Gainesville. She is majoring in Nutritional Sciences and has dental school in her future.Along with her court, Kate represents Lake County at charity events, local festivals and fairs. The girls have helped with the Clermont Lake clean up, the Phantom Airborne Brigade, the Hometown Heroes program and various food drives. Other outreach events included Read Across America, Lake Cares bag drive for the homeless, the Fruitland Park Derby Race and the Diaper Drive for Clermont Women’s Center. They threw out the first pitch at the Leesburg Lightning game on July 21. The girls will have worked over 100 hours of community service at the end of their reign. They will be presented the Presidential Volunteer service award for their selflessness and service.On Saturday, September 3, Harbor Hills Country Club is proud to host the Miss Lake County Scholarship Golf Tournament. All proceeds are designated for college scholarships. Registration opens at 7 a.m. with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. The cost of $75 per golfer includes tournament and lunch. Awards, prizes, chance drawings and a 50-50 drawing are included. Call the Pro Shop at 352-753-7711 to register or visit misslakecountypageant.com.