Reporter staff

A field of 17 contestants competes for the crown at the Miss Auburn Scholarship Program on Saturday at the Performing Arts Center.

The program – Miss Auburn & Co. “Blinging in the New Year” – begins at 6 p.m.

Tera Sabo, of Maple Valley, will pass the crown following the final round of competition.

Celebrating its 50th year, the Miss Auburn showcase has generated more than $58,000 in gifts, awards and scholarships for its contestants in 2012.

In addition, eight contestants vie for Miss Auburn Outstanding Teen at 7 p.m. Friday at the PAC. Auburn’s Allison Arthur, a student at Jefferson High School, topped a field of 11 other contestants last year to qualify for the Miss Washington Teen Pageant.

The Miss Auburn Scholarship Program is one of the largest and most successful community-based scholarship competitions of its kind in the state. In 1997 the Miss American organization proclaimed the Miss Auburn Scholarship Program to be the largest in the entire Miss America local pageant system continuing to provide more than $40,000 each year to local young women pursuing educational goals.

The Miss Auburn pageant, an official preliminary to the Miss Washington and Miss America Pageant, is open to young women of the Auburn community who are interested in serving in a leadership role that fosters community service.

The Miss Auburn Outstanding Teen Program was added three years ago.

The program will again support the Auburn Food Bank. Those who donate $1 can vote for their favorite contestant on both nights. Votes will go toward a scholarship for the winning contestant, with all proceeds from the voting benefiting the food bank.

For tickets or more information, visit www.missauburn.org.