The Today's Girl Youth Organization is set to host a preliminary pageant at Murchison Independent School District on Nov. 15.

Girls up to 18 years old are invited to compete in six age divisions. Those who are awarded titles in the preliminary will be eligible to attend the Texas State Today's Girl Finals in June at the Southfork Hotel in Plano.

The national finals are scheduled for July.

Girls will also collect teddy bears for "Teddy Bears for Troopers." The bears are distributed throughout the state and placed into the Texas state troopers' patrol cars for use in crisis situations.

Teddy Bears for Troopers has collected over 1,200 bears for troopers and other police organizations.

The competition divisions include Today's Baby (0-3), Today's Doll (4-6), Today's Miss (7-9), Today's Junior (10-12) Today's Teen (13-15), and Today's Girl (16-18).

Girls compete in party dress/evening gown, casual wear, interview, beauty, and talent, not to exceed three minutes. The younger age divisions through age 6 are not required to present a talent. Participants can enter the beauty competition only if they have not yet developed a performance talent.

Participants in the Today's Girl Youth Organization are required to complete eight hours of community service each year.

Today's Girl is a certifying organization for the President's Volunteer Service Award. Girls who perform at least 50 hours of community service are awarded bronze awards, and silver and gold awards are also available at various activity levels.

Participants logged over 10,800 volunteer hours during the 2006-07 competition year.

Today's Girl offers a positive environment that allows girls to develop poise, self-confidence and character. It participants are active in their communities, perform at various events and form new friendships.

The organization is a scholarship-based program that encourages the development of talent, academic achievement and awareness of the need to improve their social environment through community service. Over $5,000 in educational scholarships were awarded last year.

For information and an entry form for the competition, call Director Sharion Beard at 903-714- 9943 or 903-852-3812, or e-mail questions to b9shr@aol.com.

A schedule of activities can be found at the organization's Web site at txtodaysgirlonline.com.