By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
BENTON HARBOR – Eleventh annual Mr. Blossomtime Christopher Joseph "C.J." Pater, Contestant 41 out of 47, may be baking cookies to settle bets that he wouldn't leave the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center Sunday night wearing a crown.
C.J., son of Joe and Mary Ann Pater, is used to being the center of attention, though, as that was his starting position for two years for the St. Joseph Bears football team.
He won All-Division honorable mention.
Mr. Blossomtime is also a distance runner on the track team.
C.J. hopes to attend Michigan State University to earn an undergraduate degree in accounting, then attend law school.
He was "Maize Craise Captain" for school spirit. The St. Joseph High senior mentors incoming freshmen on school activities. As Habitat for Humanity school club founder and president, he worked with the Jimmy Carter work project for 35 hours the week of June 14, 2005.
His advice to aspiring Mr. Blossomtimes in the question posed to finalists was to be very dedicated because practices run seven hours long.
Finalists appeared from behind a huge American flag for Blossomtime's salute to the men and women of the military, "America the Beautiful – From Sea to Shining Sea."
First runner-up, Contestant 7, is Kasey Keigley of Berrien Springs.
Kasey, son of Tonya and Keith Keigley, was a member of the Shamrocks' 2006 state baseball champion team. He participated in four years of baseball and football and was the 2007 varsity football captain.
Kasey has taken guitar lessons three years and works at Lemon Creek Farm and Winery. He likes to snowboard, snowmobile, wakeboard and play beach volleyball.
After graduating, Kasey plans on attending a university for a bachelor's degree in nursing. He was nominated to attend the leadership summit, is an honor roll student and belongs to National Honor Society.
Kasey volunteered at Mars Elementary with Grandparents Day and the fall party. He assists with senior projects at the high school.
Second runner-up and Mr. Nice Guy, akin to Miss Congeniality in that it is selected by his fellow contestants, is Contestant 44 Eduardo Diaz of South Haven. He is the son of Gabriela Olivas-Diaz and admires Detroit Tigers catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez.
Eduardo, the first two-banner winner in Mr. Blossomtime history, seeks a baseball scholarship to a four-year university to major in physical education and sports management and become a professional baseball player. He also plans to serve a two-year mission for his church and will be receiving Eagle Scout.
His Eagle project involved 100 hours of community service. Eduardo made two toy boxes for the Pediatric Department at Lakeland Hospital. He cleaned South Haven beach. He does odd jobs for the elderly, counsels at sixth grade camp and is a baseball camp helper for children.
Eduardo is involved in soccer, wrestling, baseball and weightlifting, drums in high school band, plays piano and likes snowboarding.
Dowagiac was represented by Jacob Crowl and Oscar Azevedo, Union High graduates who attend Southwestern Michigan College, escorting Miss Heart of Blossomtime Danielle Foster of Niles, who won one of the three photogenic awards in the companion Showcase of Queens.
Also advancing to the final 11 after two silent eliminations of 19 and 18 were Nathan Burke of Watervliet, Joshua Niven of Buchanan, Jake Kiesel of Stevensville, Terron Taylor of Benton Harbor, Derrik Bench of Coloma, Derek Williams of Benton Harbor, David Garrison of New Buffalo and Cody Brewster of New Buffalo.
Contestants also included Josh Deubner and Austin Francis of Cassopolis, Kenny Hugenell and Josh Richardson of Decatur and Seth Councell and Floyd Warren of Edwardsburg.