The Miss Greater Hazleton Scholarship Organization (MGHSO) was invited to the state Capitol by state Reps. Dane Watro and Mike Cabell.

During the visit, the organization’s executive director, Dr. Sherri Homanko, received a citation honoring MGHSO on its 10th anniversary, and titleholders received certificates of recognition for their volunteerism and community impact. The titleholders also learned about government and service from Watro, and were recognized on the floor of the House of Representatives.

MGHSO was established in 2013 and leads a service-oriented scholarship program that empowers youth, teens and young women through education and opportunity. By providing a platform for tomorrow’s leaders to express their opinions, talents, character and intelligence, the organization seeks to aid in personal development, better the community and state at large, and display the importance of service before self. Titleholders on hand for the visit, included Miss Greater Hazleton PreTeen Alexa Brace, a student at Drums Elementary Middle School; Miss Commonwealth PreTeen Bella Drasher, a student at Valley Elementary Middle School; Miss Pocono Teen Aryanna Brace, a student at Drums Elementary Middle School; Miss Commonwealth Teen Emily Fancher, a student at Hazleton Area High School; Miss Keystone Teen Gracie Youngcourt, a student at Hazleton Area High School; and Miss Northeastern Pennsylvania Teen Josephine Kropp, a student at Shenandoah Valley Jr./Sr. High School and the Schuylkill County Technology Center Criminal Justice Program.