FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The Dogwood Trail Pageant and Scholarship Program marked its golden anniversary Saturday evening with a few added embellishments during the selection of the 2010 Court. Kenny Graves, who has served as the event emcee since 1988, kept the packed auditorium entertained throughout the evening.

Four teens from Spanish Fort High School and two from Fairhope High School were named to the court, which will make its first official public appearance March 20, at the Arts & Crafts Festival in Fairhope. They are: Andrea Cockrell, daughter of Tim and Chrissy Cockrell; Rebecca Farnell, daughter of Ray and Mary Farnell; Allison Floyd, daughter of Lang and Debbie Floyd; Michaela Merold, daughter of Mike and Rosie Merold; AnnCarter Sasser, daughter of Danny and Camelle Sizemore; and Rebecca Womack, daughter of Bill and Lisa Womack.

Each of these young women, selected from a field of 35 participants, will receive a complete antebellum costume and a $1,000 cash scholarship to the college of her choice from the Eastern Shore Optimist Club, which sponsors the program. Additional scholarships are available to them through Faulkner State Community College and Troy University.

Rounding out the Top 12 participants, from which a panel of five judges selected the six named above, were: Anna Tapia, Kyndel Tarziers, Daphne Gautier, Sarah Hirschfeldt, Emily Harper and Whitfield Broughton.

Other cash scholarship awards presented during the festivities were: (Unless otherwise noted, the awards were courtesy of the Dogwood Trail Program.) $250 for Presence and Composure, courtesy of Iberia Bank, Rebecca Farnell; $250 for Creative Introduction, Allison Floyd; $250 for Interview, Michaela Merold; $250, courtesy of the Eastern Shore Optimist Club, Allison Floyd as recipient of the Crystal Kae Davis Spirit of Dogwood; $250 for Junior Scholastic Achievement Winner, Madison Schneider; $250 for Sophomore Scholastic Achievement Winner, Emily Harper; $100 for Best Essay, Megan Long; and $100 for Highest Dollar Ad Sales, courtesy of Horton Instrument Co., Ashton Hudnall.

Baldwin County Commissioner David Bishop read and presented a proclamation to the group for “their distinguished years of service.”

Fairhope Mayor Tim Kant, Spanish Fort City Councilman Dennis Dismuke and Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Darrelyn Bender presented certificates of appreciation to the 2009 Dogwood Trail Court for their year of service as Eastern Shore Ambassadors. The outgoing Court is comprised of: Morgan Roney, Mary Katherine Shoemaker, Terra Reeves, Gracen Gaddy, Kathleen Wainwright and Ashley Pettaway.

Also present for the festivities were: Roberta Urbanek, 1962 Dogwood Trail Queen; Rochelle Nelson McKee and Robert McKee, who served on the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce special events committee, which originated the idea of naming a Dogwood Trail Queen in 1960; and John and Nancy Falck, who provided leadership for the Dogwood Trail program for 17 after the Eastern Shore Optimist Club took up the reins in sponsoring it.

The Eastern Shore Optimist Club raises funds for the Dogwood Trail Program each year through its annual live Christmas Tree and Wreath sale. The 2010 sale will begin Friday, Nov. 26 at the corner of School Street and Magnolia Avenue, just north of the Fairhope Public Library.

Later this year, an exhibit celebrating 50 years of Dogwood will open at the Fairhope Museum of History on North Section Street.

Several former members of the Dogwood Trail Court and program committee members were asked to look ahead and anticipate changes that might come to the pageant over the next 50 years. Here are three of their responses.

• Cheryl Broadus Robinson, 1978 Dogwood Trail Queen. “I believe the next 50 years will bring continued incredible growth for the program. The number of maids will increase to 10. There will be increased support from academic institutions for scholarship opportunities. The program will be held in the new Fairhope Civic Center and the number of contestants will increase from the 30-40 we currently usually have to 50-60. Then fundraising by the Optimist Club will expand so the club can significantly increase the scholarships awarded. Judging will be completely done via computer. National recognition will lead to a televised program.”

•Laurie Kelly, executive committee member.

“A car will be awarded as a prize. The dresses will be able to be solar-powered to illuminate the maids at night.”

•Angela Cocke, former Dogwood Trail Maid.

“There will be an active ‘has-been’ program that will continue community service activities.”