Chamber Notebook Article:

Miss Harbor Cities Organization, Inc.

The Miss Harbor Cities Scholarship Organization was formed in 2014 as a local preliminary scholarship competition to Miss Wisconsin and Miss America. The Miss America Organization is the largest provider of scholarship assistance to women in the United States, awarding millions of dollars annually in cash awards and in-kind scholarships. MHC also provides a Professional Development Series.

The Miss Harbor Cities Organization, a recognized 501(c)3, provides scholarship assistance to young women ages 13-27, fosters mentorship and professional development opportunities, and supports social impact initiatives in the communities we serve. The important pillars of the Miss America Opportunity include Scholarship and Community Service.  

Each year, young women ages 13-27 from our community and across the state of Wisconsin come to Manitowoc to compete for the titles of Miss Harbor Cities and Miss Harbor Cities’ Teen. In 2020 & 2022, the title of Miss Maritime Bay’s Teen was also awarded. The winners not only receive scholarships to continue their education, but also go on to represent the Manitowoc-Two Rivers area at the annual Miss Wisconsin and Miss Wisconsin’s Teen competitions held in June, in Oshkosh, WI. They promote the Lakeshore communities throughout their year of service.   

This year’s competition will be held Saturday, September 21, 2024 at the Capitol Civic Centre at 5 p.m. and is open to the public. The show will feature former Miss Wisconsin, Kylene Spanbauer; television journalist and Miss Harbor Cities 2023, Gabriella Premus; Kaleidoscope Dance Studio; and the organization will also host a raffle to fundraise for scholarships. Tickets are on sale through the Capitol Civic Centre Box Office.

Miss Harbor Cities and Teens have gone on to place in the top 10 and top 5 of both Miss Wisconsin and Miss Wisconsin’s Teen. 

In 2017, as Miss Harbor Cities’ Teen, Grace Stanke won the title of Miss Wisconsin’s Outstanding Teen; Tianna Vanderhei (Miss Harbor Cities 2016) won the title of Miss Wisconsin 2018 (and placed Top 15 at Miss America), and Alyssa Bohm (Miss Harbor Cities 2017) won the title of Miss Wisconsin 2019. Grace Stanke went on to win Miss Wisconsin and then Miss America 2023. As the important first runner up, Kylene Spanbauer (MHC 2022) took over as Miss Wisconsin 2022 when Grace won Miss America.

The Miss Harbor Cities Scholarship Organization is always open to collaboration and partnerships within the community. If you are interested in sponsorship, partnering, volunteering, donating, judging, having Miss Harbor Cities at an upcoming event or virtual appearance (including virtual classrooms), or have any ideas you want to discuss, please reach out to the Miss Harbor Cities Scholarship Organization at directors@missharborcities.org.

To learn more about the Miss Harbor Cities Scholarship Organization visit www.missharborcities.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/missharborcities or on Instagram. 

Photos: Katherine Vadney, Miss Harbor Cities’ Teen 2024, engages youth with reading through her CSI: Early Literacy in the Digital Age.

Ellie Krohn, Miss Harbor Cities’ Teen 2020/2021 delivers care packages to the residents of Shady Lane in fulfillment of the mission of her Community Service Initiative. 

Miss Wisconsin 2022 Kylene Spanbauer and Miss America Grace Stanke at the crowning for Spanbauer. Photos courtesy of MHC Organization.

Natalie Popp, Miss Harbor Cities’ Teen 2023, attends the Badger Honor Flight and meets with veterans as part of her CSI: Teens for Heroes.