By The Paper staff
WABASH COUNTY, Ind. – On Friday, July 28, 11 contestants will compete for the title of Wabash County Festivals Queen in the 27th annual Wabash County Festivals Pageant.
Contestants will compete in an interview, sportswear, evening gown and an on-stage question. Mikayla Ridgeway, the 2016 Wabash County Festivals queen, will crown the new queen at the end of the event.
The pageant will award more than $4,000 to the winners, thanks to contributions by many Wabash County individuals and businesses. Contestants also helped earn scholarship money by working the annual port-a-pit chicken sale and helping Pizza King with “Elvis in the Alley” at July’s First Friday event.
Rodreck Schram will emcee the evening with Connie George as the official scorekeeper, assisted by Beth Miller. Choreographers for the pageant are Lisa Mattern and Megan Long. Josh Smalley and Adam Smalley will be the escorts for the evening gown portion of the pageant. Members of the Wabash Tri Kappa will be assisting the pageant as an annual service project.
The new queen and her court will appear at the North Manchester FunFest, the Kunkle Cruise-In, Wabash Garden Fest and other events around the county. The queen will also compete in the Indiana State Festivals Pageant in Indianapolis in January 2018.
This year’s Wabash County pageant welcomes the addition of Kara Fulmer as the new director. Fulmer will join the current pageant directors, Bev Vanderpool and Dawn Saunders. Those serving on the Wabash County Festivals Board of Directors include Deb Culver, Karen Walker, Beth Winer and Chris Benson, state pageant director.
Twisted Scissors Salon will be donating time to fix the contestants’ hair for the evening gown portion of the competition. Marelli’s donated flowers for the evening and Ellen’s Bridal & Dress Boutique donated the tuxedos for the emcee and escorts.
The pageant will take place at the Honeywell Center Ford Theater and begin at 7 p.m. Admission is $3 for attendees ages 6 and older. Children younger than 6-years-old are free.
Those wishing for the Wabash County Festivals Queen to appear at an event during the next year may contact one of the directors for more information.
Hailey Bone, 18, daughter of Kristie and Troy Bone, recently graduated from Northfield Jr.-Sr. High School and will be a freshman at the Kokomo Salon Professional Academy. She enjoys makeup, art and volunteering. In 2016, she won the Honeywell Center Christmas Banner contest for her school. She has volunteered for various organizations including Operation Elf, Kokomo Tornado Relief, Relay for Life, the March of Dimes, the Wabash County Animal Shelter, Lagro community dinners, Wabash County Special Olympics and Lagro Little League Baseball.
Dayna Dale, 18, daughter of Gay and JoDee Dale, recently graduated from Southwood Jr.-Sr. High School and will be attending Hanover College to study psychology in the fall. In the 2016 Festivals Pageant, Dale won the Director’s Award and became a member of the queen’s court. During school, she was involved with Peers Educating Peers, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Campus Life and participated as a member of the high school varsity girls golf team. Outside of school, she has been a member the Wabash Valley Dance Theatre for eight years and Wabash Area Community Theater for 10 years.
Alyson Gouveia, 21, daughter of John and Petula Gouveia, graduated from Southwood Jr.-Sr. High School in 2014 and is currently studying elementary education and teaching English as a second language at Ball State University with plans to graduate in 2018. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, camping, volunteering and cooking. At school, she is a member of the Kappa Delta Pi International Honors Society in English and serves at president of the Gamma Theta chapter. She also helped create and establish two scholarships for the chapter. Additionally, she is a Great Achievers tutor, a member of the Alternative Breaks Association and American Red Cross volunteer.
Kyrstin Gouveia, 17, daughter of John and Petula Gouveia, will graduate from Southwood Jr.-Sr. High School in 2018 with plans to attend Purdue University afterward. In school, she is a member of Student Congress, Peers Educating Peers, Crossroads Junior Board of Directors, the Student Advisory Team, the National Honors Society and participates on the basketball and tennis teams. Next year, she plans to serve at the treasurer for the Crossroads Junior Board. She has received an award for TRC All Academics for basketball and the Presidents Award for Educational Excellence.
Jordan Michel, 19, daughter of Stacy Floor, graduated from Manchester High School in 2016 and is currently studying agribusiness at Purdue University. She enjoys traveling and exploring new places. At college, she is involved in the Agribusiness Club and Agronomy Club, and has remained a member of FFA since graduating high school. She was awarded 2016 agricultural ambassador and is currently reigns as the 2016 Miss Wabash County 4-H Fair Queen.
Jacklyn Peas, 19, daughter of Mark and Pamela Peas, recently graduated from Northfield Jr.-Sr. High School and will attend Trine University to study business in the fall with plans to train dogs after earning her degree. In school, she has participated in track, basketball, cross-country and varsity golf. She has earned three school records in track and received the TRC Mental Attitude Award. She is a life-long member of the Bachelor Creek Church of Christ. Additionally, Peas is a committee member of the Wabash Dawg Park and teen team leader for Big Dawg, an organization focused on preventing drug and alcohol abuse. She is an intern at Vohne Liche Kennels, specializing in training police and military dogs.
Kaylee Prater, 18, daughter of Cristy and Jeremey Prater, will graduate from Wabash High School in 2018. She has a bubbly, kind personality and is always smiling and happy. Her favorite hobbies include dancing, art, working on modeling and hanging out with her best friends.
Alex Peterson, 20, daughter of Beverly Dawald, graduated from Northfield Jr.-Sr. High School in 2015 and is currently attending DePauw University. At school, she is Dean’s List student and member of 4-H, the Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity and the Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity. She has participated in the DePauw University Dance Marathon and Sustainable Leadership Program, and serves as a tutor at the Reading Improvement Center. She is also a volunteer for Timmy Global Health.
Alexis Rose, 19, daughter of Jason and Erica Rose, graduated from Wabash High School in 2016 and is currently studying pre-law at Indiana Business College in Indianapolis. She was named Miss Platinum Indianapolis and has been a member of the Indianapolis Colts Cheerleading team for two years. In high school, she was a national honors student with a 4.0 GPA in the first year.
Danielle Sparling, 19, daughter of Dan and Michelle Sparling, graduated from Southwood Jr.-Sr. High School in 2016 and is currently studying nursing at the University of Indianapolis with plans to become either a family or neonatal nurse practitioner. In high school, she was a company member of Wabash Valley Dance Theater, varsity golf, school newspaper columnist, after-school tutor and 4-H member. Currently, she serves as the director of fundraising for UIndy Dance Marathon, a labor and delivery volunteer at IU Methodist Hospital, provides campus tours as a Greyhound Ambassador and a Dean’s List student. She is currently serving as an intern at Eli Lilly.
Alexis Wagoner, 19, daughter of Mark and Julie Wagoner, recently graduated from Manchester High School and plans to attend the University of Indianapolis to study business communications. In high school, she was involved in cross-country, track and field, winter guard, Terri Eckert School of Dance, FFA, Campus Life, cheerleading, Key Club and 4-H Club. She enjoys running, reading and being surrounded by friends.