At week’s end, Indiana will have a new Junior Miss representative that will go on to compete for the national title in America’s Junior Miss scholarship program.

Three Hendricks County girls are hoping to earn that title, but each says they’ve had the experience of a lifetime, regardless of whether they win.

Courtney Kepler of Avon, Cindy Bondy of North Salem, and Emilee Arnold of Plainfield each won their respective local competitions and have been in Frankfort this week, preparing for the state competition.

They have been undergoing interviews, practicing their talent routines, and spending time in the community.

For the talent portion of the event, Kepler is tap dancing, Arnold is singing, and Bondy is doing a comedic dance.

“It has been a blast so far,” Kepler said. “We’ve been treated like princesses. They open all the doors for us, we aren’t allowed to carry anything, there’s food all the time. We’re either working on our routines or doing stuff in the community. We went to the schools yesterday and did a ‘Be Your Best Self’ presentation, and today we ate lunch with the Kiwanis Club.”

The participants are also staying with host families for the week, which Kepler said was strange at first.

“One of us and another girl stay with a family in Frankfort,” she said. “It was kind of weird going and staying with complete strangers, but we moved in to their houses on Sunday and they’ve taken us in as their own kids.”

Kepler is hoping to go to Butler University in the fall to study pharmacy. She is a senior at Avon High School, where she is a member of the Avon Gold Dance Team.

“Of course I’m nervous, but I just want to go out there and have a good time and just show the judges my personality,” she said.

Arnold and Bondy ended up having the same host family.

“Cindy Bondy and I are roommates,” Arnold said. “I knew who she was from playing sports, but other than her, I didn’t know anyone. Now it doesn’t feel like it’s only Tuesday. It feels like we’ve known each other for a long time.”

Arnold, who plays golf, basketball, and softball, is a Cascade High School senior. She is planning to attend the University of Indianapolis, and hopes to become a secondary math teacher.

“I’ve always loved math and I never knew what I wanted to do, but I always like helping people and it’s really good to see the difference you can make in people just by helping them out,” Arnold said.

She said she is enjoying her time in Frankfort.

“I’m really nervous, and I’m anxious and excited,” she said. “There are a lot of really talented girls here. I was scared, but now I’m really glad that I’m here, and the girls are really great. It’s so much fun.”

Bondy said she was initially apprehensive about spending so much time with people she didn’t know, but has already made some lasting friendships.

“It has been so fun,” she said. “I was nervous about not getting along with the girls, but I formed a friendship with everyone. It doesn’t feel like I’ve known them for (just) three days. I’m going to be friends with these girls for a long time.”

Bondy is a senior at Tri-West High School and lives in North Salem. She plays volleyball and softball, is a member of National Honor Society, FCA, freshman mentors, and “the list just goes on and on,” she said. She’s planning to attend Indiana State University to study interior design.

Though Bondy admits she’s no dancer, she’s planned a comedic dance routine that she hopes will have the audience in tears — of laughter, that is.

“I’m not a dancer in any way, and the fitness routine and opening number are what I’m so afraid of,” she said. “But my talent is to make people laugh and it should be fun, no matter what. My talent is a Romanian song made popular by YouTube and I’ve choreographed a dance to that.”

All 23 of the Indiana participants will perform today and Friday and from there the field will be narrowed to the top 12, who will perform on Saturday.

There are five judges and the participants are judged in the categories of scholastics, interview, talent, fitness, and self expression.

For more information on the program, visit the website at www.ajm.org.

charlee.beasor@flyergroup.com