The Miss Gainesville Scholarship Program is affiliated with the Miss Florida/Miss America Organization. Rich in history and social significance, the Miss America Organization is a not-for-profit corporation that has maintained a tradition of empowering American women to achieve their personal and professional goals, while providing a forum in which to express their opinions, talent and intelligence. This wonderful program is the largest scholarship provider for young women in the world, making available over $45 million in scholarship each year. Our titleholder advances to the Miss Florida Scholarship Program with the chance to increase her scholastic earnings.
As a not-for-profit organization, the Miss Gainesville Scholarship Program relies on businesses and individuals in our community to make our program possible. We are proud to bring this opportunity to the young women of North Central Florida. The women involved are deeply committed to community service as well as their educational goals. Please contact us to find out how Miss Gainesville can help your business today!
The Miss Gainesville Executive Board
Ross Amkraut, Merissa Amkraut, Jason Curchy, John Mathews, and Cindy Mathews
Executive Directors
Merissa Amkraut
Ms. Amkraut is a graduate from the University of Miami with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Violin Performance and a Masters degree from Florida International University. After teaching middle school for four years in Miami, Merissa moved to Gainesville to finish her Ph.D at the University of Florida where she is a Graduate Teaching Assistant. Merissa currently performs as a violinist with the Central Florida Symphony, Gainesville Chamber Orchestra and the Miami Symphony Orchestra and is a violinist with recording artist Kanye West. Merissa is no stranger to pageantry. She has held five titles in the Miss Florida America system and was a semi-finalist at the Miss Florida Pageant in 2003 and 2004. Merissa has judged many pageants including Florida Cinderella, Miss Florida America and Miss Florida USA preliminaries. Previously she was a mentor for Miss Heart of Florida and currently assists with the Florida Princess program. She is proud to be the Executive Director of the Miss Gainesville pageant, a new preliminary to the Miss Florida family.
Jason Curchy
Jason Curchy is a native of Florida and a graduate of the Baptist College of Florida with degrees in Christian Education and Theology. He was a church pastor for 12 years where he worked primarily with middle, high school and college students. During his time there he also served as a worship leader and spent many years volunteering at local high schools as team chaplain for football, basketball, and volleyball teams. A career change took Jason to the Gainesville area where he lives and works as a pharmaceutical sales representative. Jason has been involved with the Miss Florida pageant for 2 years and is proud to be the Executive Director of the Miss Gainesville Pageant, a new preliminary to the Miss Florida family. Jason enjoys sports, cooking, playing the guitar and spoiling his Miniature Yorkie – Hawley.