CHICAGO —– Three semi-finalists have been chosen for the “Most Beautiful Eyes Contest” from Prevent Blindness America. The three finalists, Hailey Verrill, age 4, from New Gloucester, Maine, Lyla C. Zaragoza, age 2, Oklahoma, and Kayla Helferich, age 8, of South Carolina, and their families will take a trip to Chicago to attend the Prevent Blindness America annual awards banquet on Friday, Nov. 18, where the overall winner will be announced.

Celebrity judges, including former television broadcaster Larry King, Derrek Lee of the Pittsburgh Pirates and NASA astronaut Walter Cunningham, will choose the winners.

The national contest took place earlier this year when parents of children ages zero to 17 were encouraged to submit a photo of their child online. Voting took place on Prevent Blindness America’s Facebook page at facebook.com/preventblindness. The contestant with the most votes from each state, with the exception of Rhode Island, advanced to the final round, followed by the selection of the three finalists.

The winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and become the face of the Star Pupils program for a year. Star Pupils is the signature children’s eye health program from Prevent Blindness America.

For more information about the Most Beautiful Eyes Contest or general children’s eye health and safety, visit preventblindness.org, facebook.com/preventblindness, or call 1-800-331-2020.

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