Jordyn Leininger, Miss South Bend Outstanding Teen (left), and Chloe Bollinger Miss Kosciusko Outstanding Teen (right). Photo provided by Whitko Community School Corporation.

SOUTH WHITLEY — Two Whitko Jr/Sr High School students will be heading to the Miss Indiana Outstanding Teen competition in Zionsville in June.

This past Sunday, Chloe Bollinger was declared Miss Kosciusko’s Outstanding Teen, crowned by Former 2019 MKOT and now 2020’s Miss South Bend’s Outstanding Teen, Jordyn Leininger, said a news release from the Whitko Community School Corporation.

Miss Kosciusko Outstanding Teen and Miss South Bend Outstanding Teen are local competitions within the Miss America Organization. Each local competition consists of four areas: interview, fitness, talent and an on-stage question. The candidates have a six-minute interview with a panel of judges.

The two competed on stage with a fitness routine, a 90-second talent showcase and responded on-stage to one randomly selected question.

The winners of each of the 28 local competitions, including Bollinger and Leininger, will compete for the title of Miss Indiana’s Outstanding Teen in Zionsville, June 17-20. From there, the state titleholder will compete nationally in August for Miss America’s Outstanding Teen in Orlando, Fla. The next stop for Bollinger and Leininger will be Miss Indiana Outstanding Teen, but before they arrive in Zionsville, they’ll be honing their interview skills, talent, and fitness to prepare, said the news release.

Bollinger and Leininger share a unique relationship. Leininger introduced Bollinger to the Miss America Organization. Their unique friendship began when their schools merged together after elementary school. While Leininger was attending Pierceton Elementary, Bollinger was a county away at South Whitley Elementary. Their paths converged during the pair’s sixth-grade year at Whitko. In the melting pot of junior high, they founded a friendship. Today they encourage one another while competing against each other.

“I couldn’t be prouder of these two young ladies for representing their school and community at the Miss Indiana Outstanding Teen competition,” said Whitko Jr/Sr High School Principal Jake Everett. “I wish them success as they compete against students from around the state and look forward to sharing their results in June,” he said.

Many local contests award monetary prizes and sponsorships.

In Kosciusko’s competition, Bollinger won $100, free teeth whitening from Danielle Stutzman Dentistry and a $100 discount from Ashley-Rene’s for her state gown. Overall, the Miss Indiana organization gives away approximately $45,000 annually in scholarships. Schools regularly partner with Miss Indiana to offer in-kind scholarships to contestants.

At the state competition, there will be opportunities to earn additional honors. Bollinger and Leininger will have an opportunity to earn preliminary awards in fitness, talent, and interview. All candidates will vote on a Hoosier Spirit winner. Contestants will also work to earn the Quality of Life Award. Academics are important as well. Academic efforts are recognized through an Academic Scholarship. Both Bollinger and Leininger are eligible to write an essay and apply for the Hoosier Leadership Scholarship, the Joy of Life Scholarship and the Best Friends Scholarship. Their fundraising efforts for the Children’s Miracle Network will qualify them for Miracle Maker honors.

Fundraising is also an important part of each contestant’s journey, and with that in mind, both students have set up donor sites that we have listed below in their bio. Local businesses interested in sponsoring the girls may provide goods or services or even purchase an ad in the Miss Indiana Program book. Their fundraising efforts for the Children’s Miracle Network will qualify them for Miracle Maker honors, said the news release.