Jewel Arrington, age 67, has been selected as a top ten finalist for the Ms. Alabama Nursing Home Pageant to be held at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham – The Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover on Monday, July 28, at 2 p.m.

The winner of the pageant will serve as a spokesperson for nursing home residents and the Alabama Nursing Home Association (ANHA).

Arrington will represent Burns Nursing & Rehab with the title of Ms. Burns Nursing & Rehab 2014. Burns Nursing & Rehab is a 57-bed skilled nursing facility located in Russellville.

Arrington spends the summertime tending to the nursing home’s handicap accessible, raised-bed garden. She and other residents raise tomatoes, squash, peppers and other vegetables. She enjoys the frequent outings in the surrounding community and serves as president of the Resident Council, a group similar to a school’s Student Council.

Arrington and the other finalists were selected from a field of 58 contestants during preliminary judging in Montgomery. The contestants are evaluated on their outlook on life, personality, poise and involvement in their individual nursing homes.

“The Ms. Alabama Nursing Home Pageant is a celebration of life and our nursing home residents’ contributions to their communities,” ANHA President Frank Brown said.

“Each of these contestants captures that spirit. These ladies are wonderful ambassadors for their individual nursing home and Alabama’s long term care profession.”

Other ladies selected as finalists for the Ms. Alabama Nursing Home Pageant are:

Arrington and the other finalists will have individual interviews with the panel of celebrity judges on the morning of July 28 before competing on stage that afternoon.

All of the other contestants in attendance will be part of the Honor Court and will be individually recognized during the pageant.

Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.