Closing the 2010 Miss Mississippi Pageant means distribution of cash — $100,500 — to be exact.

Also available was another $294,561 in in-kind offers and scholarship waivers for contestants.

Again, no one went home from the weeklong event with nothing. Unlike other state pageants around the nation, the Miss Mississippi organization awards scholarships to all who come to Vicksburg to vie for the state crown after winning local preliminaries. This year, the basic check was $1,100.

“Our cash scholarships are real close to last year,” said David Blackledge, chairman of the Miss Mississippi Corporation and executive director of the pageant.

There was $112,000 in 2009 and $116,700 in 2008.

“Some schools chose to adjust their numbers” depending on the economy, Blackledge said.

This year, 12 colleges and universities offered in-kind scholarships, including tuition waivers. That number is smaller, too, down from $455,123 in 2009 and $581,938 in 2008.

Blackledge said community and local businesses have continued to support the program.

The top winner is Miss Mississippi 2010 Sarah Beth James of Madison, who will receive a $10,000 cash scholarship for her win. She also received a $500 Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency Scholarship.

In the Top 5:

• Miss Spirit of the South Jill Duckworth of Clinton won a $7,500 scholarship as first alternate and a $200 swimwear preliminary award.

• Miss University of Southern Mississippi Kristen Benigno of Laurel won a $6,000 scholarship as second runner-up.

• Miss Delta Blues Caitlyn Smith of Columbus won a $3,500 scholarship as the third alternate and a $300 talent preliminary award.

• Miss Mississippi State University Fenly Akers of Vicksburg won a $2,500 scholarship as fourth alternate and a $200 swimwear preliminary award.

Other semi-finalists won a $2,000 scholarship each. They were Miss Meridian Mary Margaret Roark of Cleveland, Miss Clinton Kellis McSparrin of Clinton, Miss Dogwood Festival Jessica Terrill of Fulton, Miss Mid South Danielle Smith of Meridian and Miss Alcorn County Chelsea Rick of Fulton.

Six non-finalist talent winners were also named, and each received a $500 scholarship. They were Miss Riverland Jessica Cofield of Wiggins, Miss Jones County Chataura Harper of Laurel, Miss Rankin County/Southwest Megan Miller of McComb, Miss Dixieland Ann Claire Reynolds of Petal, Miss Heritage Ashley Wieronski of Southaven and Miss Vicksburg De’Lisha Wiggins.

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Other award winners

• Miss Riverland Jessica Cofield — Quality of Life Award, $1,000.

• Miss Pontotoc Mary Lauren Brunson — Betty Jean “Boop” Mims Memorial Scholarship, $500.

• Miss Gulf Coast Haley Glenn — Moss Construction Engineering Scholarship, $500.

• Miss Mississippi College Julie Hall — Entergy Mississippi Business Scholarship, $500.

• Miss Riverbend Maggie Evans — Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency Scholarship, $500.

• Miss Southwest Community College Hali Sasser — Good Samaritan Physical Therapy Scholarship, $500.

• Miss Madison County Erin Keller — Helping Hand Pharmacy Scholarship, $500.

• Miss Alcorn County Chelsea Rick — Women in Medicine Scholarship, $2,500.

• Miss Itawamba Community College Laken Hood — Women in Medicine Scholarship, $2,000.

• Miss University Adrian Turner — The Auxiliary of River Region Scholarship, $1,500.

• Miss Magnolia Audrey Hardin — John Wayne Jabour Non-finalist Interview Award, $1,000.

• Miss Heritage Ashley Wieronski — Rosemary Hayslett Local Pageant Directors Award, $1,000; $300 talent preliminary award.

• Miss Mid South Danielle Smith — Mississippi Chiropractic Association Posture Scholarship, $1,000; $200 swimwear preliminary award; $300 talent preliminary award.

• Miss Meridian Mary Margaret Roark — Mississippi Chiropractic Association Posture Scholarship, $1,000; $200 swimwear preliminary award.

• Miss Rankin County-Southwest Megan Miller — Talent preliminary award, $300; swimwear preliminary award, $200.

• Miss Southern Magnolia Shelby Danielle Corn — Miracle Maker Award.