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Community Corner

Date Festival Searching For Its New Queen

The National Date Festival is taking applications for the Queen Scheherazade Scholarship Pageant to reign over the 2012 festival in Indio.

Here’s some news that may make some young woman’s Arabian night – The National Date Festival is accepting applications for the Queen Scheherazade Scholarship Pageant.

Applications are available through Riverside County high schools, the Riverside County Fairgrounds Administration office and the Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival website, festival spokeswoman Veronica Casper said.

The pageant is open to young women who “exhibit exceptional character” and are Riverside County residents, who will be at least 17 by the day of the pageant – Nov. 19, 2011 – and will be younger than 22 by the fair's opening day of Feb. 17, 2012, Casper said.

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Queen Scheherazade and her court will reign over the 2012 Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival, Feb. 17-26, act as the event's goodwill ambassadors and make promotional appearances.

“The queen and court will benefit from experiences with public speaking and media relations,'' Casper said.

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The queen will be awarded a scholarship for $3,500, and princesses Dunyazade and Jasmine will each be awarded $3,000 scholarships, Casper said.

Applications for the pageant will be accepted until Oct. 12 at 4 p.m. For more information about the pageant or for an application, call (951) 955-9020 or visit www.datefest.org.

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