06/29/2025 High Point, NC – Kate Ward, representing Johnston County in the Miss North Carolina’s Teen Competition, was crowned Miss North Carolina’s Teen 2025 at the High Point Theatre on Saturday evening. Ward promoted her Community Service Initiative of “The Tree Hugger Project,” where she educates and encourages youth to join her in preserving the environment. She performed a lyrical dance to “I Want to Dance With Somebody,” which also earned her a Preliminary Talent Award earlier in the week. Ward was also a Preliminary Evening Gown Award winner.
The Teen competition awarded over $33,000 in scholarships to the contestants. Ward received a $7,500 scholarship sponsored by Anna Churchill and will represent North Carolina in the Miss America’s Teen 2026 competition.
Top Five Placement:
- 4th Runner Up ($1,000 Scholarship) — Statesville’s Teen – Camdyn Lee
- 3rd Runner Up ($2,000 Scholarship) — Rose Hill’s Teen – Ansleigh Thrash
- 2nd Runner Up ($3,000 Scholarship) — Ballantyne’s Teen – Lena Preslar
- 1st Runner Up ($4,000 Scholarship) — Moore County’s Teen – Emma Taylor
- Miss North Carolina’s Teen ($7,500 Scholarship) — Johnston County’s Teen – Kate Ward
Top Eleven Finalists:
- Metrolina’s Teen – Taytum Robbins ($500 Scholarship)
- Johnston County’s Teen – Kate Ward
- Ballantyne’s Teen – Lena Preslar
- Lake Norman’s Teen – AJ Thomas ($500 Scholarship)
- Moore County’s Teen – Emma Taylor
- Fayetteville’s Teen – Mary Michael McLamb ($500 Scholarship)
- Rose Hill’s Teen – Ansleigh Thrash
- Chapel Hill’s Teen – Kaydin Brown ($500 Scholarship)
- Mooresville’s Teen – Alyssa Hemphill ($500 Scholarship)
- Statesville’s Teen – Camdyn Lee
- Dunn’s Teen – Ava Silver ($500 Scholarship)
Other Awards:
Miss North Carolina’s Teen Congeniality Award ($250 Scholarship) – Sandhills’ Teen, Emily Deans
Non-Finalist Talent Award ($250 Scholarship) – High Point’s Teen – Carrie Rader and Cleveland’s Teen – Emma Katherine Warren
Non-Finalist Interview Award ($250 Scholarship) – Charlotte’s Teen – Delilah Claire Hadyk and Iredell County’s Teen – Savanna Holland
Scholastic Achievement Award ($500 Scholarship) – Statesville’s Teen – Camdyn Lee
Top American Heart Association Fundraiser (Teen) – Charlotte’s Teen – Delilah Claire Hadyk
STEM Award ($500 Scholarship) – Chapel Hill’s Teen – Kaydin Brown
Kamryn Hollowell Community Service Impact Award ($500 Scholarship) – Iredell County’s Teen – Savanna Holland
Brand Marketing Award ($500 Scholarship) – Charlotte’s Teen – Delilah Claire Hadyk
Social Media Essay Award ($1,000 Scholarship) – Statesville’s Teen – Camdyn Lee
Hanley House Trailblazer Award ($500 Scholarship) – Johnston County’s Teen – Kate Ward
Performing Arts Award ($500 Scholarship) – High Point’s Teen – Carrie Rader
Genola Dallas Cancer Awareness Award ($500 Scholarship) – Stanly County’s Teen – Lily Grace Starnes
Heart Health Award ($500 Scholarship) – Goldsboro’s Teen – Olivia Lancaster and Dunn’s Teen – Ava Silver
Jack Lee Pummel Heart of Service Memorial Award ($500 Scholarship) – Iredell County’s Teen – Savanna Holland
Online Influencer Essay Award ($1,000 Scholarship) – Mooresville’s Teen – Alyssa Hemphill
Kerrigan Brown Kindness Award ($500 Scholarship) – Goldsboro’s Teen – Olivia Lancaster and High Point’s Teen – Carrie Rader
About the Miss North Carolina Organization
As an official state preliminary associated with the Miss America Organization, the Miss North Carolina Organization is a part of the largest scholarship-providing organization for women in the world. Promoting an emphasis on academics and communication skills, the MNCO is considered a launching pad for young women to further their academic and career goals. Sophia Kellstrom currently serves as Miss North Carolina 2025, and Kate Ward serves as Miss North Carolina’s Teen 2025. For more information about volunteering or competing, please visit www.missnc.org.
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Photo Credit: Lenn Long/PageantPics.com.
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