Four South Kitsap residents will be strutting their stuff tonight in Bremerton for a chance to win thousands of dollars in scholarship money and the title of Miss Kitsap.

Along with the local contestants, the event will feature special guests like Elyse Umemoto, Miss Washington 2007; Miss Poulsbo 2007 Alex Duchemin — who earned second runner-up to Umemoto — and Megan Hornbuckle, the reigning Miss Kitsap.

The Port Orchard-area residents who are vying for the Miss Kitsap crown this year are:

• Melissa Carlson, 18, a senior at South Kitsap High School and sophomore in Olympic College’s Running Start Program.

She played the flute with the SKHS marching and concert bands, was a member of the school’s dance team, and created its Habitat for Humanity-Youth United Club.

She is a teacher at Just for Kicks School of Dance, and danced with the Nevada Ballet Theater.

She is sponsored by Jones Chiropractic and Silverdale Sunrise Lions. Her talent performance will be a ballet solo, and her platform issue is Habitat For Humanity.

Her goals are to earn a bachelor’s degree at the University of Nevada and go on to law school.

• Jessica Matheson, 18, a senior at South Kitsap High School.

She was the editor for South Kitsap High School’s newspaper, was a member of the school’s Acting Ensemble, and has performed in and operated the sound system for several theater shows.

She is sponsored by NAPA Westbay Auto Parts, Al’s Automotive, and Taylor Driveline and Machine. Her talent performance will be a comedy monologue, and her platform issue is “keeping theatre alive.”

Her goals are to attend Central Washington University for a degree in Design, and perform in theater productions.

• Sheila Spiker, 23, South Kitsap High School graduate and a senior at University of Washington.

She was valedictorian of her SKHS graduating class and has volunteered at local hospitals, animal shelters and for other groups. She is learning to throw knives and is also a foster mom for rabbits.

She is sponsored by Dr. Bock and Dr. Hutchinson. Her performance will be a classical harp solo, and her platform issue is the “Human-Animal Bond.”

After graduating from the U of W this spring, she will continue her studies at the Washington State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

• Carli Schmitz, 17, a senior at South Kitsap High School and a Running Start freshman.

She was a member of SKHS’s wrestling, football and basketball cheer squads, played soccer and has danced since she was five years old.

She is sponsored by Dr. Michael Huey, Checkers, and Little Ones Day Care.

Her talent performance will be a jazz dance, and her platform issue is asthma awareness and education.

She hopes continue her schooling at Pacific Lutheran University, earning a master’s degree in nursing and work in a hospital emergency Room for a living.

To be eligible to compete for Miss Kitsap, contestants must be a single female at least 17 and not older than 24 by Dec. 31, 2008; never been married nor pregnant; be a high school graduate by June 2008, and have both a talent and a platform to promote.

Applications for next year will be accepted next month.