The 2014 Miss/Mr. Edwardsburg court (top) was comprised of, from left, Melissa Raab, second runner-up and Miss Congeniality; Noah Neuerburg, Mr. Edwardsburg and Entrepreneur; Harley First, Miss Edwardsburg; and Courtney Yoder, first runner-up. MaKayla Mckenzie (left) reacts to being crowned Miss Teen Edwardsburg by last year’s Miss Teen Mckenzie Carlton Saturday night. (Leader photos/ Kristi Weston of K. West Photography)

Eighteen young men and women began their year as royalty at the Miss and Mr. Edwardsburg pageant Saturday.

A total of 37 contestants took the stage for dance numbers, communication presentations, on-stage questions and formal wear segments so the judges could select this year’s court of honor.

A number of contestants in the prince and princess, pre-teen and teen portions were crowned before the finale crowning of Harley First as Miss Edwardsburg 2014, First is a 17-year-old senior at Edwardsburg and plans to attend Western Michigan University in the fall to study music education.

“I’ve never done a pageant before, so I decided to try something new,” First said following the pageant.

During the communication segment of the pageant, First dressed up as the Genie from Disney’s Aladdin and performed a monologue from the character’s first performance of the film, complete with props and character voices. She wore a white taffeta dress with a pink outline during the evening gown portion of the pageant.

Accompanying First through her reign are Mr. Edwardsburg, Noah Neuerburg, a senior at Edwardsburg who is enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.

“I just want to congratulate the new queen. I’m very excited for her,” said Neuerburg, who also had never done a pageant. First runner-up to Miss Edwardsburg is Courtney Yoder, a 16-year-old junior who plans to attend medical school after graduation. Second runner-up is Melissa Raab, a 17-year-old senior who plans to become a psychiatrist.

Others crowned included:

Edwardsburg Prince: James Tweedy

Prince 1st runner-up: Adrian Edwards

Edwardsburg Princess: Mariska Harbin

Princess 1st runner-up: Jocelyn Christner

Princess 2nd runner-up: Mia Hurd

Princess 3rd runner-up: Gabriela Ojeda

Princess 4th runner-up: Isabella Gajpa

Mr. Pre-Teen Edwardsburg: Aiden Hurd

Pre-Teen 1st runner-up: Jacob Edwards

Miss Pre-Teen Edwardsburg: Casey Clark

Pre-Teen 1st runner-up: Kerith Spake

Pre-Teen 2nd runner-up: Chloe Westfall

Pre-Teen 3rd runner-up: Carlee Burger

Pre-Teen 4th runner-up: Kaylee Moore

Mr. Teen Edwardsburg: Jon Candiver

Miss Teen Edwardsburg: Makayla McKenzie

Teen 1st runner-up: Brittany Portwood

Teen 2nd runner-up: Nicole Byrd

Teen 3rd runner-up: Kelcey Hall