Hannah Herman crowned Miss Buchanan 2024

Published 10:30 pm Saturday, December 2, 2023

By Max Harden

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NILES — The new Miss Buchanan was enthroned in style.

11 young women showcased their red carpet style and unique talents to become the face of the community in 2024. When the dust settled, Hannah Herman was crowned Miss Buchanan 2024 Saturday evening at Buchanan High School.  Herman inherits the crown from Miss Buchanan 2023 Arianna Hankins.

“I’m really excited,” Herman said. “I just want to say thank you so much to the judges for this opportunity. I’m gonna fulfill my dreams and represent my community.”

Herman is a senior at Buchanan High School and plans to attend Michigan State University on a softball scholarship to study journalism and broadcasting in hopes of becoming a sports broadcaster. A three-year member of the National Honor Society, Herman is BHS’ Senior Class President and also serves as the vice president of the NHS.

Herman is dual-enrolled at Lake Michigan College and made the Dean’s List. She is also a four-year varsity softball and basketball player and has been named all-state in softball three times and all-conference in basketball three times.

“Honestly, this is kind of out of my comfort zone,” she said. “I’ve never really done something like this and I worked hard and I just was really hoping that I could represent my community.”

Contestants performed a dance routine before taking part in a question, a formal presentation and a fast walkthrough.

When asked how winning Miss Buchanan would impact the way she walks into school Monday, Herman said the achievement would impact the next generation of lady Bucks as opposed to her fellow high school students.

“I will still be with my peers. They’re my friends,” she said. “It will impact the way that I am a role model in my community towards the younger girls. I want to make sure that the ones sitting in the stands and the ones in Buchanan Community Schools want to be just like me and all the other contestants tonight.”

With the crown secured, Herman will now represent Buchanan in the 2024 Blossomtime Festival next year. Established in 1906, Blossomtime is Michigan’s oldest and largest multi-community festival.

“I think it’s going to be a culture shock,” Herman said. “I’ve never experienced anything like it. I’m really excited and I think I’m gonna represent my community well and try my best.”

Throughout her reign, Herman hopes to inspire the next generation to try new things.

“I say go outside of your comfort zone. I have always been known to have two left feet; I’m not coordinated. Going into this, I knew I needed to practice really hard. Go out of your comfort zone and dream big. It sounds cliche but if you put your mind to anything you can complete it, you can do it.”

Joining Herman in her court of honor is Alaina Kehoe, who was crowned first runner-up; Riley Capron, who was crowned second runner-up; Lucy Thomas, who was crowned Miss Congeniality; Joshua Malstrom and Grant Waggoner, who were crowned Mr. Buchanan.

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