By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Sombreros, maracas and tambourines will be part of the Mexican Grand Fiesta theme for the first Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant in the new Middle School Performing Arts Center Saturday night, Jan. 28, 2006.
The queen contest, now in its 67th year, is sponsored by Greater Dowagiac Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Miss Dowagiac pageant began in 1930, was interrupted by World War II and has taken place annually since resuming in 1952.
There are 17 Union High School seniors seeking Courtney Dufour's title.
Courtney and her court, First Runner-up Katie Wright and Second Runner-up and Miss Congeniality Keera Morton, were awarded $2,700 in scholarship money in addition to more than $4,000 worth of prizes merchants donated for the queen alone.
This is the second year since Dowagiac separated from Blossomtime, which is celebrating its centennial.
Tickets cost $12 when they go on sale Jan. 21.
Let's meet the first five contestants.
Sarah Edgerly
Contestant 1
Parents: James and Samantha Edgerly
Brothers: Michael and Timothy Edgerly
School activity: senior board. “I tend to spend a lot of my time doing homework.”
Plans: “continuing my career in the medical field to become a doctor.”
Outside activities: “I love hanging out with my close friends and family. My friends and family are what I love most in life, along with an education.”
Interests/hobbies: “I love to collect all kinds of strawberry stuff. I mostly collect items for my kitchen. When I move out of my parents' home I intend on decorating my kitchen with strawberries.”
Awards/honors: “I have been student of the month numerous times. I have been on the honor roll since eighth grade.”
Greatest accomplishment: “getting through my college courses. I think throughout my life there is yet to come bigger accomplishments.”
In three words: caring, trustworthy, honest
Why did you decide to compete?: “I thought it would be a great experience and accomplishment to follow all the way through it. I have also decided to compete for this pageant because of the scholarship.”
Kaitlin Mattix
Contestant 2
Parents: Mike and Tracy Mattix
Sisters: Becca and Courtney
School activities: varsity cheerleading, varsity golf, Business Club, Humanities Club, editor-in-chief of the Wahoo yearbook
Plans: “to attend Western Michigan University and obtain a degree in business administration”
Outside activities: volunteer student worker for the Notre Dame Athletic Department, instructional assistant for Cass County firefighter training, employed as a sales associate
Interests/hobbies: golfing, swimming, spending time with family and friends, shopping
Awards/honors: two presidential awards, citizen of the month, various academic awards
Greatest accomplishment: “The person I have become. With the help of my family and their belief in me, I know that I can do anything. My success will only be limited by my own determination and hard work.”
In three words: motivated, considerate, responsible
Why did you decide to compete?: “I thought it would be a great experience. I will get to know and form friendships with girls I wasn't close to before. And also learn new things abut the girls with whom I am already friends.”
Katie Key
Contestant 3
Parents: Marti and Terry Key
Sisters: Jenny and Lori Key
School activities: freshman, JV basketball cheerleading, JV soccer, Student Senate, Humanities Club; sophomore, varsity football and basketball cheerleading, JV softball, Student Senate, Humanities Club; junior, varsity football and basketball cheerleading, varsity softball, Varsity Club, Student Senate, National Honor Society; senior, varsity football cheerleading.
Plans: Western for her bachelor's degree in teaching
Outside activities: dance, 14 years, three years competitive at Encore; community service at hospital
Interests/hobbies: “I am an avid book reader. I also ski at Swiss Valley in the winter. I have been dancing for 14 years, too. Dance is my passion.”
Awards/honors: sophomore princess, Homecoming queen, MEAP scholarship
Greatest accomplishment: “When I was nominated for sophomore princess and Homecoming queen. Ever since I was little I have always dreamed of being nominated Homecoming queen.”
In three words: sincere, honest, trustworthy
Why did you decide to compete?: “because it's a great opportunity to get to know the girls and yourself better. You have to go outside your comfort zone and do things you wouldn't normally do.”
Ashley Gonic
Contestant 4
Parents: Debbie and Jerry Luthringer
Sister: Meagan Gonic
School activities: sophomore year, played softball; senior year, involved in track.
Plans: major in elementary education at college
Outside activity: softball league
Interests/hobbies: playing softball, going to the movies
Awards/honors: Who's Who Among American High School Students, citizen of the month (2004-05)
Greatest accomplishment: “I will be the first person in my immediate family to go to college. My grades are also a very big accomplishment to me. I will graduate with either honors or high honors.”
In three words: hardworking, determined, honest
Why did you decide to compete?: “I thought that competing in the Miss Dowagiac pageant would be fun and something new for me.”
Whitney Podell
Contestant 5
Parents: Tim and Stacey Shreve
Siblings: Amber, Hilary, Daniel and Kelsey Podell
School activities: soccer, equestrian team, Student Senate, Humanities Club, Business Club
Plans: attend SMC for bachelor's degree in business and transfer to Kalamazoo Valley Community College to pursue a dental hygiene career
Outside activities: Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital volunteer, 4-H, car washes, cancer horse shows (proceeds donated), highway cleanup, packing food baskets
Interests/hobbies: showing and training her horse, Maggie, ceramic sculpting, photography, scrapbooking, water sports, indoor soccer, skiing
Awards/honors: four Best of Shows at Cass County Fair, youth gold ribbon award in ceramics, competing and placing at the state horse show for four years
Greatest accomplishments: training her horse from a young age, Homecoming princess and prom princess as a junior and holding office as president in her 4-H club, Silver Spurs
In three words: vivacious, personable, vibrant
Why did you decide to compete?: “I love to make memories! And 20 years from now I want to look back on this experience and reflect on the fun times I had doing this pageant and all the friends that I made.”
Beth Mengel
Contestant 6
Parents: Flint and Penny Mengel
Sister: Amanda
School activities: FFA, band, choir, community outreach, art and golf
Plans: to attend SMC for two years, then transfer to Michigan State University to complete her degree
Outside activities: AWANA leader four years, 4-W 4-H member 10 years, youth group CWF delegate
Interests/hobbies: “spending time with my family and friends,” showing animals at the Cass County Fair, scrapbooking, wevaing baskets and shoe shopping
Awards/honors: Greenhand degree, Junior degree, Timothy Award.
Greatest accomplishment: “getting back on a horse after I was thrown off and injured my back.”
In three words: fun, energetic and loyal
Why did you decide to compete?: “I thought it would be fun and an exciting way to end my high school experience.”
Brittany Watkins
Contestant 7
Parents: Tamara and Jeffrey Watkins
Siblings: Brandon, Austin, Lauren, Lindsay
School activities: National Honor Society, PSI, Varsity Club, sixth grade camp counselor, class board representtive, girls varsity basketball statistician, boys varsity basketball manager
Plans: to attend the University of Michigan and study sport management at the kinesiology school
Outside activities: busser, hostess and chef at Timberline Inn, volunteer at Wee Watch Children's Center, clock-keeper for youth basketball league, concession stand for softball
Interests/hobbies: anything that has to do with sports, watching the History Channel, cooking, jogging, sleeping, having fun with friends, shopping
Awards/honors: NHS president, Michigan Merit Award, Society of Women Engineers Certificate of Merit, Academic Awards of Excellence (grades 9, 10, 11, 12), third in Class of 2006.
Greatest accomplishment: “overcoming chronic osteomyelitis caused by salmonella in my left ankle. The condition resulted in five surgeries followed by extensive medication and recovery (wheelchair, casts, etc.)
In three words: spunky, intelligent, unique
Why did you decide to compete? “The Miss Dowagiac Pageant of 2006 appeared to be a great way to make more lasting memories with my friends and make new friends before we all graduate. It also seemed like a fantastic opportunity to have fun.”
Ashley Michelle Willis
Contestant 8
Parents: Bruce and Peggy Willis
Siblings: Rebecca, Rachael, Bruce
Dual enrolled at DUHS and SMC
School activities: NHS, Business Club, Varsity Club, community outreach, news editor for the school newspaper, softball, cross country
Plans: “After graduation, I plan to attend either the University of Michigan or Hillsdale College to pursue a degree in the field of international business.”
Outside activities: playing on various travel softball teams, volunteering with the local Little League organization and with Dowagiac District Library, participated in dance for nine yars and member of First Christian Church
Interests/hobbies: working out, scrapbooking, spending time with friends and family, shopping, playing volleyball at the beach
Awards/honors: selected a 2005 delegate for Civitan Youth Leadership Diversity Conference and various softball and volleyball MVP awards
Greatest accomplishment: “realizing that I am an individual who can set and achieve my own goals. Knowing that I control my future motivates me to work hard and strive to be the best that I can be.”
In three words: creative, confident, ambitious
Why did you decide to compete? “When I was young, I wanted to compete in Miss Dowagiac s I could wear a sparkly dress. Now, I also see it as a learning opportunity and a chance to make closer bonds with my classmates.”
Amy Wood
Contestant 9
Parents: Jack and Vickie Wood
Sister: Katie Wood
School activities: Student Senate (three years), Humanities Club (four years), leadership group (two years), honor roll (four years), community outreach (tw years, Varsity Club (three years), class board (four years), girls basketball (four years; varsity, three years; and captain, senior year), girls volleyball