By GAGE WILSON
For GlasgowNews1
Two Caverna students recently had the opportunity to take the stage at one of Kentucky’s premier scholarship competitions, serving as Rising Stars during the 2026 Miss Kentucky Teen competition in Bowling Green.
According to Caverna Board of Education’s Chairwoman Jennifer Briggs, Caverna Middle School seventh grader Carlee Briggs and Caverna Elementary third grader Elainna Barker participated in the Rising Stars program, a mentorship initiative connected to the Miss Kentucky Teen competition that gives young girls ages 5 to 13 the chance to experience the pageant stage while building relationships with peers and mentors through the Kentucky Scholarship Organization.
Carlee, 12, is the daughter of George and Jennifer Briggs of Cave City. Elainna, 8, is the daughter of Ryan and Sarah Barker of Horse Cave.
The Rising Stars program serves as an early introduction to the Miss America system, emphasizing confidence, poise, public speaking and personal development while allowing participants to interact directly with titleholders and scholarship competitors.
This year’s Miss Kentucky Teen competition was held at SKyPAC in Bowling Green, with preliminary competitions taking place throughout the week leading up to the final competition on June 12.
As part of their experience, Briggs and Barker performed in the opening number alongside fellow Rising Stars, current Miss Kentucky’s Teen Blakey Callahan and Miss Kentucky Ariana Rodriguez. Each Rising Star was paired with a teen contestant, offering participants a closer look at the competition and mentorship opportunities within the program.
Among the contestants were Miss Corvette City’s Teen Harper Gearlds and Miss Wilderness Trail’s Teen Aleah Stigal.
Gearlds, daughter of Justin and Dr. Amy Gearlds and a student at South Warren High School, centered her platform on “The Wildflower Project: Blooming Where Planted,” a service initiative aimed at raising awareness for neurodivergent disabilities such as ADHD. Her talent performance featured an acoustic guitar and vocal rendition of Brandon Lake’s Gratitude.
Stigal, daughter of John and Dana Stigal and a 2026 graduate of Boyle County High School, focused on her initiative “Disconnect to Connect,” encouraging both teens and adults to step away from digital devices and engage in more meaningful face-to-face conversations. Her talent performance featured a tap dance routine to Smooth Criminal.
Contestants in the Miss Kentucky Teen competition are evaluated in five categories: an eight-minute interview, on-stage conversation, fitness, talent and evening gown.
Jennifer Briggs said the Rising Stars experience gave both Caverna students a memorable opportunity to build confidence while sharing the stage with accomplished young women from across the state.
The Miss Kentucky Teen program is directed by Jessica Hogue, with the Rising Stars program led by Robynn Landherr.
