2026 Standards of Conduct Contract
Due on/before January 11, 2026.
Miss or Teen:
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Please Select
Miss
Teen
Name:
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First Name
Last Name
Email:
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example@example.com
MSSO = Miss Spokane Scholarship Organization
GENERAL RULES & REGULATIONS
CONDUCT
A contestant in the MSSO shall conduct herself with a professional attitude at all times.
If a contestant's conduct is deemed unsatisfactory by the MSSO, the following procedure will be followed: A member of the MSSO will issue a warning to the contestant. If the condition causing this warning is corrected, no further action will be taken. If the condition is not corrected, the MSSO will review particulars regarding the infraction. The determination of MSSO as to the appropriate action shall be final and binding.
Social media: A contestant will make sure posts, comments, and photos of her are appropriate.
Communication: When submitting forms, etc. to the MSSO email, if a contestant does not receive an email back within 24 hours, the MSSO did not receive your email. All contestants must respond timely to communications with the MSSO. Timely communication is considered within 24 hours of a phone call, text message, or email.
Contestants are not to contact or approach local sponsors and donors without MSSO approval. A list of sponsors and donors is located on the Miss Spokane website.
A contestant is not authorized to obligate the MSSO to any expense or obligation in any form.
A contestant is responsible for any damage she may cause during an event, rehearsal, competition, etc. If there are costs associated with any damage or clean up, the MSSO is not liable/responsible - the contestant will be required to cover any costs.
A contestant must meet all MSSO deadlines.
APPEARANCES & PUBLIC EVENTS
All appearances and events where a contestant is labeled or announced as a MSSO contestant must have prior approval from the MSSO.
A contestant may not participate in an interview, photo session, or any other type of publicity as a MSSO contestant unless a member of the MSSO is present. Exceptions will be determined solely by the MSSO.
Contestants shall arrive 10-15 minutes early for all events (unless otherwise specified) and be properly groomed at the time of arrival.
Contestants shall turn off cell phones during events. Cell phones shall only be used for emergency purposes or photo opportunities.
Contestants shall be engaging with guests at all times during events and shall refrain from solely mingling with other contestants/titleholders/chaperones.
The MSSO is not responsible for transportation to and from events.
SCHOLARSHIP & AWARDS
Scholarship amounts and awards will be published in the official MSSO competition program magazine and website.
If for any reason, a titleholder can no longer hold the position, a runner up might take her place. The runner up might not receive any additional scholarship or awards.
If a titleholder wins the state competition, it is up to the MSSO to determine whether or not a runner up will take over the local title.
Any contestant who participates in another competition in or similar to the Miss America program automatically releases any eligibility as a runner up in the MSSO.
Announced decision of the judges will be final. Documents pertaining to those decisions are confidential and will not be released.
For any in-kind third-party awards, the MSSO holds no responsibility for the quality of the award. It is the contestant's/titleholder’s responsibility to comply with any third-party rules and regulations. The MSSO holds no responsibility for the rules and regulations regarding the in-kind third-party awards.
Scholarship requests and deferments:
Contestants have one calendar year from the competition date to request scholarship on the official scholarship request form. This form is available on the MSSO website.
A scholarship deferment form may be submitted to defer scholarship award for one more calendar year. This form must be submitted within one year from the competition date. A deferment is subject to approval by the MSSO.
All scholarship request forms and deferment forms must be submitted online.
COMPETITION
By checking the boxes below, contestants confirm they understand the following:
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A contestant may NOT contact a judge after the competition for feedback or inquire about any portion of the competition.
Contestants are not permitted to leave the competition venue for any reason on competition day after they arrive, until the conclusion of the competition.
Visitors (including parents, family members, friends, hairstylists, makeup artists, etc.) are not permitted to visit contestants during rehearsals or the competition itself. Contestants may use a hairstylist or makeup artist; however, this must be done prior to the arrival time for private interviews and competition day.
Contestants must attend all required rehearsals and events (see handbook for details).
TALENT OVERVIEW
By checking the boxes below, contestants confirm they understand the following:
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Talent presentations cannot be longer than 90 seconds from start to finish.
Contestants, parents, etc. may NOT contact any rehearsal or competition venue for any reason. All questions must go through the MSSO.
In the event of a technical difficulty during the competition that inhibits the judges ability to fairly judge the performance, the stage will go dark and sound will be cut. A contestant must not stop her performance unless the stage goes dark. The contestant will be asked if she wants to immediately restart, or wait until the end of the lineup to restart. The technical difficulty must be witnessed by the production staff. Contestant "mess ups" do not count as technical difficulties.
I understand that I will need to perform my talent at rehearsal(s), with all props and background music. For any painters and pianists (and any others that might be constricted due to the rehearsal venue) a video submission of the talent performance prior to the rehearsal will suffice. These exceptions will be determined by the MSSO.
If the contestant has a special microphone, sound, lighting, or prop request, these must be discussed with the MSSO in advance. The MSSO may not be able to accommodate all requests.
Lighting will remain the same for each phase of the competition – unless the talent requires it for visual purposes (determined by the MSSO).
TALENT MUSIC (also noted as "song" or "track")
By checking the boxes below, contestants confirm they understand the following:
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Background tracks are required for ALL contestants, except instrumentalists (although, still highly encouraged for instrumentalists as well). Instrumentalists that do not use a background track will be timed. If a contestant goes over 90 seconds, the judges will be informed.
Contestants must submit their background track to the MSSO by the specified deadline. If no track is received, the MSSO will choose the background track.
Background tracks may not be longer than 90 seconds (this includes any silent sections).
ALL background tracks must be found on the ASCAP/BMI website (see Production & Talent Form or MSSO website for link to ASCAP/BMI website). If a contestant is performing to a mix of different songs, all songs in the mix must be found on the ASCAP/BMI website.
Any unacceptable tracks will be returned to the contestant for editing. If an acceptable track is not submitted to the MSSO before the submission deadline, the MSSO will choose the background track.
FOR VOCALISTS (singers): An accompaniment may contain background vocal parts. While those voices should blend with the contestant's voice, they must not overpower her. A contestant may provide her own background vocals, using her own voice. This will not be announced that she has done so to the judges. A contestant may only be judged on what she performs live.
FOR INSTRUMENTALISTS: An accompaniment may include the instrument a contestant is playing on stage. However, the instrument must not overpower the contestant (i.e., the accompaniment for a pianist may contain piano, but there should be no question in the judges’ minds what notes are coming from the candidate live onstage.)
FOR TAP DANCERS: Music may not include any tap sounds.
A contestant may participate in the recording of her track by playing an instrument during her pre-record, but such will not be announced to the judges. She will only be judged on what is performed live.
If I need help editing or finding a background track, I will let the MSSO know at least 3 days prior to the submission deadline.
If I need help finding my background track on the ASCAP/BMI website, I will let the MSSO know at least 3 days prior to the submission deadline.
PROPS
By checking the boxes below, contestants confirm they understand the following:
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Props are not required.
All props must be approved by the MSSO prior to competition day.
All props must be brought to rehearsal(s) when the contestant performs her talent.
All props must be brought to the competition venue when the contestant arrives on competition day and must be taken home immediately following the competition. No early or late drop offs are allowed.
Props must be easy for 1-2 people to set up and remove from stage with minimual strength in no more than 30-45 seconds.
NO large gymnastic/cheerleading mats will be allowed. Mats may not cover a total square footage of larger than 20ft x 20ft when fully set up (and hooked together if multiple pieces).
NO props requiring "clean up" or that make the floor hazardous for contestants to walk/perform on afterwards are allowed.
NO hazardous/dangerous science experiments are allowed.
NO fire is allowed.
NO glitter is allowed.
For any painters or science experiments, the contestant must provide her own thick/heavy duty tarp to place on the stage to protect the floor from any accidental spills or splashes. The tarp must be thick enough so that it does not rip when walked on (especially with high heels) and must not rip when tape is applied to secure it to the floor. Black heavy duty tarps are preferred, as they blend best with the stage.
Only the MSSO production team will set up and remove props from the stage – no one else is allowed backstage.
AGREEMENT
I have read and understand, and hereby agree to comply with all the terms and conditions of this agreement as it pertains to rules, regulations, and requirements of the MSSO. Failure to abide by the rules, regulations, and requirements of the MSSO could result in the dismissal of the contestant from the competition and possible forfeiture of fee(s) and awards.
Signature:
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Parent/Guardian Signature (if contestant is under 18):
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