By By JOHN EBY / Niles Daily News
BUCHANAN - Nicole Moyer was all business Saturday night while the 2006 Miss Buchanan Pageant was “Havin' a Party,” so she didn't get “fired.”
The new Blossomtime queen identified “The Apprentice” as the television show that best describes her life while answering the question she drew as one of five finalists from 18 contestants.
Contestant 5, a 17-year-old Buchanan High School senior, stands 5-foot-8 1/2. Nicole wore a blue-and-silver gown to complement her caramel blonde hair and blue eyes.
The niece of Miss Buchanan 1968 Joan Moyer Fein, Nicole already has a detailed business plan post-reign: “After graduation I plan to attend a four-year university and earn a degree in business and multi-media graphic design. After college I plan to move to the city and get married, while having a summer home on the ocean front.”
Nicole is involved in National Honor Society and is on the yearbook staff. She is president of the Math and Science Center at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, captain of the women's varsity tennis team, a member of marching, holiday and concert bands and in the color guard.
Miss Buchanan placed in regional, state and national science fairs in 2004.
Some of her hobbies include scrapbooking, horseback riding, waterskiing, wakeboarding, traveling to tennis tournaments and volunteering at Granger Community Church.
Her parents are Kim and Joan Moyer. Her father owns Moyer and Co. Her mother teaches secondary math and business. Nicole has a younger brother, Jon, 15. She's originally from Grand Rapids and came to Buchanan 12 years ago.
The Buchanan senior has worked at Lakeland Athletic Club since November 2004 and at Bittersweet Pet Resort and Stables for seven months.
Miss Buchanan 2005 Chelsea Ghatoaura crowned her successor.
First Runner-up Laura Kulis, Contestant 3, stands 5-foot-9, with brown hair and hazel eyes. Her parents, Len and Kathy Kulis, both work for the U.S. Postal Service. Her father is a city carrier in Buchanan. Her mother is Baroda postmaster.
Laura, student body and senior class president, plans to attend Grand Valley State University for a degree in athletic training and a job at the college level.
Laura was crowned by 2005 First Runner-up Jessica Gunn.
Second Runner-up went to 5-foot-4 Leteshia Marie Shannon, Contestant 13.
Leteshia, 18, is the daughter of Veronica A. Haynes, a manager at Bodek and Rhodes.
Leteshia was crowned by 2005 Second Runner-up Megan Hubbell.
Miss Congeniality Katrina Weldy, a finalist, was crowned by 2005's Molly Ross.
The daughter of Phil and Dale Weldy, her sister was Miss Congeniality in 2004.
Contestants also included Erin Martin (ticket sales winner), Rachel Wetzel (it was her 18th birthday), Danielle Miller, Ellen Siemon, Chenai Marker, Holly Dunnivan, Jaymi Fuller, Anna Ferris, Katrina DeRossi, Angela Cook, Tracey Wreggelsworth, Callie Baumgart, Rebecca Ritter and Heather Coger (finalist).
The audience included Miss Blossomtime and Miss Congeniality Kaylee Magro of Three Oaks and her court, Kourtney Marvin of Watervliet and Chelsie Baucus of Edwardsburg, Buchanan's own Mr. Blossomtime Josh Wahlstrom and Miss Cassopolis Anjel Francisco.
Because it is Blossomtime's centennial, previous queens returned from as far back as 1937's Sylvia May Wallace.
Past queens in attendance included: Lindsay Colip (2004), Racheal Wreggelsworth (2003), Mara Morgan O'Neil (2003), Lauren Ashley Bender (2001, who will be teaching seventh grade math in Edwardsburg), Tara Faye Lunneen (1996), Shannon Renee Bosch (1994), Christy Lynn Cornelius (1992), Victoria Beth Vineyard (1990), Jill Irene Scroggins (1987), Stephanie Lynn Town (1985, Florida), Brandalyn Kline (1983), Sherrill Shrider (1982), Deborah Sue Luke (1973, Kansas), Julie Robards (1972, Texas), Donna Shreve (1970), Joan Moyer Fein (1968), Noel Lynne DeSomer (1964), Jacquelyn K. Lunog (1963), Janet Strefling (1956) and Donna Mae Albrecht (1953).
Four memorial $500 scholarships drawn at random from a hat containing all the contestants' names were awarded.
Anna Dawn Ferris, the Kristi Ann Leialoha Cagampang scholarship sponsored by Edgewater Bank for Buchanan's 1995 queen.
Heather Coger, the Robert Luke scholarship sponsored by Miss Buchanan Inc. and presented by his daughter, the '73 queen, and her brother.
Nicole Moyer, the Dale Reifenberg scholarship sponsored by Dale Reifenberg Insurance Agency and presented by Mr. Blossomtime Josh Wahlstrom.
Katrina DeRossi, the Jack Eugene Shrider scholarship sponsored by Miss Buchanan Inc. and presented by his daughter, the '82 queen.
John Colip served as master of ceremonies.
Miss Southwest Michigan Tiffany Griffin provided vocal entertainment to tune up for her appearance at the Miss Michigan Scholarship Pageant in June.
Judges were:
Robin Van Dyke of Benton Township, a morning radio personality on 94.9 The Coast.
Rod Cramer, who will be attending his sixth Miss America pageant in Las Vegas to support Miss Michigan Octavia Reese, a cellist and linguist from Detroit who performed in Dowagiac Aug. 20 at the Miss Cass/St. Joseph County Scholarship Pageant. He has been involved with pageants since 1976 and is employed at Pfizer.
Penny Moore, a designer since 1988, has worked for JCPenney as a salon manager for 13 years. She is a member of the Elkhart Area Career Center advisory committee.