A scarcely-noticed event of some cultural significance took place a couple of weeks ago with the conclusion of the final America's Junior Miss pageant. After nearly half a century, America's Junior Miss pageant (formerly Junior Miss America) has come to an end. The board that governs the pageant, which features high school seniors competing for scholarships, voted to end the event after the June 25th pageant, citing problems in attracting national sponsors and a major television network.

The 48-year-old national program, which once had big-name sponsors and produced future celebrities such as television newswoman Diane Sawyer (America's Junior Miss 1963), was broadcast on network TV in its heyday. But that had changed in recent years. Ironically, one-time sponsor Coca-Cola who ultimately withdrew its support of America's Junior Miss did think it desirable to sponsor the 2001 "Gay Olympic Games." Unfortunately, today many Fortune 500 companies unabashedly throw their sponsorship behind vulgar television and radio programming as well as profligate political causes and seem to have little interest in contributing to a virtuous society.

Over the course of its history more than 700,000 young women took part in Junior Miss programs and received more than $87.7 million in cash scholarships; a quick survey of the past winners and competitors reveals young women of extraordinary accomplishment in almost every field. I myself went to High School with America's Junior Miss, 1977, Christy Moller and I remember her as an intelligent, accomplished person who was respected by her peers.

In a statement released two weeks ago, the board of directors said that "to attract a sizable viewing audience in these times would require the program to compromise its standards and values." The America's Junior Miss pageant had always been committed to promoting a wholesome image of young women competing in categories such as talent, interview, scholastics and fitness, but not swimsuit.

So, you may say, "big deal!" "It's just another beauty pageant." However, America's Junior Miss was not just another beauty pageant and that's what makes this decision so culturally significant. Contrary to the prevailing views of today, America's Junior Miss promoted the idea that young women were more than just bare belly buttons, large breasts or pretty faces. Instead the emphasis was on real accomplishments and the nobler virtues once common to civilized people. These young women achieved extraordinary levels of academic proficiency, demonstrated real talent resulting from hard work and determination, and committed themselves to the betterment of their communities and the world in which they lived. These were young women of real and substantive accomplishment who served as honorable and important role models for other young girls for more than four decades.