Local women win awards at Miss Nebraska Pageant

UPDATED 11:18 AM CDT Jun 09, 2016

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NORTH PLATTE, Neb. —Three women were honored with awards and cash scholarships Wednesday night at the first Miss Nebraska pageant preliminary competition for 2016.

• NEBRASKA WOMEN HONORED FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
  

  Five young women from across the state were honored for community service Sunday at the Opening Ceremonies for the 2016 Miss Nebraska Pageant.

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Miss Nebraska State Fair Payton Merritt and Miss Twin Rivers Jenni Wahonick tied for the Preliminary Talent Award Wednesday night. 

Merritt, a Lincoln native and Creighton University student, sang "House Of The Rising Sun." 

Wahonick, a Papillion native and student at the University of Central Missouri, performed a slam poetry piece highlighting teachers.  The two women will split a $500 cash scholarship.

Miss Queen City Lianna Prill won Wednesday's Preliminary Evening Gown Award and a $100 cash scholarship. Prill, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student and Kearney native, wore a red, off-shoulder ball gown by designer Ashley Lauren.

16 young women are competing in this year's Miss Nebraska Pageant, a preliminary to the Miss America Pageant on ABC this September.

RELATED: Photos of the 2016 Miss Nebraska contestants

Miss Queen City Lianna Prill

The second night of preliminary competition will take place Thursday, and Miss Nebraska 2016 will be crowned Saturday.

KETV's Brandi Petersen is this year's co-host.

For more information, visit the Miss Nebraska Pageant HERE ON THEIR WEBSITE, or HERE ON FACEBOOK.

http://www.ketv.com/news/local-women-win-awards-at-miss-nebraska-pageant/39977174