By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
BENTON HARBOR – Not even a fire alarm which partially evacuated Lake Michigan College Mendel Center could deter Ashley Eldred-Barker from becoming Bangor's first Miss Blossomtime in 76 years of queens.
Ashley, the first contestant among 23 community queens competing to reign over the 102-year-old festival, plans to attend Southwestern Michigan College for her nursing degree.
Once graduated from SMC, Ashley, 17, plans to enroll at Michigan State to earn her master's degree and to become a nurse practitioner. She is the daughter of Wendy Eldred and Rob Vanwy and was crowned by Miss Blossomtime 2007 Cecelia Kovach from Gobles.
Ashley wanted to win Miss Blossomtime "because I have always liked the idea of bonding with other communities and showing them what is unique about us. Also, there has never been a Miss Blossomtime from Bangor, and I would like to show all the rest of the communities what a well-rounded young lady Bangor has molded."
She is president of National Honor Society, Student Council vice president and an avid member of Leo Club, Spanish Club and Challenger Club.
"My most memorable moment would have to be the first time I went kayaking," she says. "I had never been in a boat before and as soon as I sat down in the boat, it tipped over and I rolled right into the water."
Miss Blossomtime describes herself in one sentence "as an ambitious young lady who strongly believes in community service and someone who is caring, outgoing and unique. My best asset would have to be my personality because it sets me apart from everyone else."
Ashley chose Eleanor Roosevelt as the person she would like to interview.
First Runner-up, Miss New Buffalo Alexandra Heit, is the daughter of Chuck and Michelle Heit.
Contestant 16's school activities revolve around football, basketball, cheerleading, track, NHS, Spanish NHS and Future Educators of America.
"My most memorable experience is when I went to Arizona with my family," she says. "I have never been out West and it was an amazing experience with the ones I love."
Alexandra, 17, wants to attend Ferris State University or Bethel College in Mishawaka, Ind., to pursue a nursing degree and to get married after she achieves her bachelor's degree.
"I think I could be the next Miss Blossomtime because I'm a good role model," Alexandra said. "I respect my parents, elders and, most of all, myself. I'm saving myself for marriage and I don't drink or do drugs. If I did any of that, I would not be the unique person that I am. I am a fun, outgoing girl that loves to have a good time and whatever I do, I complete it to my fullest ability. I think my best asset is my personality. I'm a leader, not a follower, and I encourage others to do the same." Her ideal interview would be rocker Jon Bon Jovi.
Miss St. Joseph Jessica Jojola won second place. Contestant 19 is the daughter of Victor and Lisa Jojola. She cheerleads, was Spanish Club secretary, an honors student and in Key Club.
"My most memorable experience is going out to Colorado with my family, telling them about Miss St. Joe and receiving all the support and seeing all the tears in their eyes, telling them I'm going to get it," Jessica, 17, says.
She sought Miss Blossomtime because "I want girls to look up to me as a role model. In my life I have gone through so much and I would like to serve as a role model to look up, to teach them respect for themselves and teach them all about self-love. The girls who are confused in what to act like and what to be like, I want to show them how to be all they can be and, of course, I just want to make my community proud and give them the representation they deserve."
"I have confidence in all I do," Jessica says. "I am courageous when need be, and I have a genuine personality that shines through. My best asset is the dedication and drive I have to make my dreams come true." She wished she could interview Mother Teresa.
Selected Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants is Miss Eau Claire-Sodus Rachel Wilson, Contestant 11.
Rachel belongs to NHS, is Science Olympiad president, plays basketball and softball, runs cross country, served on the prom committee, is in band and color guard and is a teacher's aide.
"My most memorable experience was when my mom and stepfather (Kevin and Kathy Reed) were married," Rachel says. "This experience really showed me that things are tough in life, but life continues to go on and even get better. What a family we have now, but if the first window never shut, how could this one have been opened?"
Rachel hopes to attend Grace College and to earn an elementary education degree, acquire a job in an urban setting and help teach underprivileged children. Another ambition is to "find a husband I can share my life with and have several children."
She went out for Miss Blossomtime because "I would like to positively enliven those around me. I want children who live to be 'fairytale' queens to be able to see me as a positive role model, but at the same time I want their parents to be okay with that. I want to be a representative that these communities would never forget. I am a Christ-centered young woman whose whole life is sparkling with a flow of positive energy devoted to God, myself and my family. My best asset is my smile. By smiling, I open myself up and allow friendships to start and it puts others at ease."
Rachel's dream interview would be with Corrie ten Boom, the Dutch Christian Holocaust survivor who aided many Jews in escaping the Nazis during World War II. Rachel, 18, won $500 for selling the most program ads.
Other contestants desired interviews with Moses, Barack Obama, Walt Disney (Miss Niles-Brandywine Whitney Spain), Audrey Hepburn, Jesus, Donald Trump (Miss Cassopolis Whitney Smego), Jackie Kennedy Onassis, the founder of Big Brothers, Katie Couric (Miss Edwardsburg Jeni Bollenbacher, who was named her high school's 2007-2008 Good Citizen Monday by the Daughters of the American Revolution in Cass County), Martin Luther King Jr., Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman, grandfathers, Coretta Scott King, Gandhi and fashion designer Marc Jacobs.
Ten finalists, who were quizzed by Master of Ceremonies Pat Moody about why they thought the Miss Blossomtime pageant was a positive experience for a young woman, also included Miss Hartford Patricia Hoeckelberg, Miss Decatur Brittney Compton, Miss Watervliet Chelsea Goodrich, Miss Stevensville Krystal Mendoza, Miss Buchanan Brianne Weldy and Miss Benton Harbor Ashley Coleman.
Also competing in the "Blossomtime Cruises the World – Last Stop … Rio," pageant were Miss Baroda Katherine Sukys, Miss Berrien Springs Kaitlin Huff, Miss Bloomingdale Katie Walker, Miss Bridgman Heather Svoboda, Miss Cassopolis Whitney Smego, Miss Coloma Lindsay Zvonar, Miss Edwardsburg Jeni Bollenbacher, Miss Gobles Amber Martin, Miss Lawrence Dusti Kubiszak, Miss Niles-Brandywine Whitney Spain, Miss Paw Paw Nicole Corstange, Miss South Haven Bianca Nash and Miss Three Oaks-River Valley Tricia Warren.
Miss Dowagiac Lori Key and her court attended the contest.