DOWAGIAC — The next group of local royalty will be crowed this Saturday, during the 79th annual Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant.

Ten young women will take the Dowagiac Middle School Performing Arts Center stage that evening, where they will be looking for a spot on the 2018 Miss Dowagiac Court of Honor — and competing for $8,500 worth of college scholarship money.

The pageant — which will feature the theme of “Fearless” — will be from 7 to 9 p.m. at the middle school auditorium, 57072 Riverside Drive. Tickets cost $15, and may be purchased from the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce office, located inside the historic downtown train depot, at 200 Depot Drive.

Over the next week, the Dowagiac Daily News will feature the profiles of this year’s contestants, starting with contestants 1 and 2:

Contestant No. 1

Name: Haley Soderbloom

Age: 17

Height: 5 feet 6 inches

Eye color: green

Parents: Paul and Cari Soderbloom

Siblings: Older sister, Megan Soderbloom

School attending: I am a senior at Dowagiac Union High School, and I am dual enrolled at Southwestern Michigan College.

School activities: I am vice president of Student Senate and National Honor Society, and I am a member of Front Row Crew, Chieftain Heart, Humanities Club, and Rotary Interact Club. I also participated in high school softball my freshman and sophomore years.

Outside activities: I am employed at Timberline Inn as a busser, and I work as a lifeguard at E. Root Fitch Memorial Day Camp during the summer.

Interests and hobbies: In my free time, I enjoy dancing and performing.

Awards and honors: I received the Merit Scholarship at Chicago National Association of Dance Masters as a sophomore and the Summer Scholarship as a junior. I have been on the All-A Honor Roll each semester in high school.

Three words to describe me: Receptive, ambitious and compassionate

Ambitions and plans after graduation: I plan to attend Hope College and double major in dance and kinesiology, to someday become a dance therapist.

Greatest accomplishments: I have maintained a 4.0 GPA during high school and will graduate co-valedictorian of the class of 2018, with approximately 30 college credits.

Why did you decide to compete for the title of Miss Dowagiac 2018?: I decided to participate in the 2018 Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant because of the public speaking, interview skills and stage presence opportunities that the pageant provides. The pageant also offers scholarship opportunities that could help offset the expenses of my college education. I look forward to exploring and learning more about my community, the other nine contestants, and myself.

 

Contestant No. 2

Name: Jadelyn Zimmerman

Age: 17

Height: 5 feet 8 inches

Eye color: Blue

Parents: Tiara and Gary Zimmerman

Siblings: Caleb, Shawn, Annalise and Bryce Zimmerman.

School attending: Dowagiac Union High School

Grade: 12th

School activities: Sideline and competitive cheerleading, color guard, winter guard, concert band, front row crew and track.

Outside activities: Camping trips with the family, hunting with my father, photography, working out, volunteering as a peer mentor for freshman and elementary school children.

Interesst and hobbies: I love working out, and going on lots of nature walks with my family and dogs. I read often and cuddle with my cat while doing so.

Awards and honors: I was voted MVP my seventh, eighth and ninth grade year in cheerleading. In eighth grade, I was awarded the presidential award for outstanding improvement all through middle school. Throughout 11th grade, I stayed on the high honor roll.

Three words describing me: Enthusiastic, motivated and compassionate.

Ambitions and plans after graduation: I will be attending Western Michigan University to study behavioral analyzing, to someday work with those who have Autism Spectrum Disorder. While attending Western, I will be a part of the ROTC program, so I can serve this country after college.

Greatest accomplishments: Making the cheerleading squad after being told by several doctors I could physically never be able to. My school and work ethic also allowed me to be a school mentor. Almost making it to state finals my freshman year in track. Most importantly, I learned to love myself and put my life into God’s hands.

The reason I would like to be Miss Dowagiac 2018: I believe that I can use this position as an asset to the community. I intend to reach out to the children of this city by initiating a peer to peer mentoring program. I hope to offer support to middle school children as well. Middle school is a very difficult time of transition. Many young teens struggle to find themselves at this age. I feel Miss Dowagiac and her court can be a positive influence in these budding lives.