The 2010 Miss Buchanan pageant, “Star Search,” will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Buchanan High School Auditorium. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $15 at the door, from any contestant or at Guys and Dolls Styling. Tickets are limited.

The Carnation Ball will follow the pageant at American Legion Post 51. Tickets are $5 at the door.

Candidates include:

Caitlin McCalebb
Parents: Pamela McCalebb
Age: 17
Height: 5’9″
Hair color: dark brown
Eye color: brown
What are your plans after graduation: I plan on going to South Western for two years to get an early education degree, then go to Miller College for two years to get a bachelor’s degree in early education.
High school activities currently involved in: Drama Club, Art Club, Choir, National Honor Society and Drug Awareness (talks for 5- to 8-year-olds)
High school activities previously involved in: Drama Club, Choir and the Buchanan Equestrian Team were the main activities I have done from freshman to senior years
Special honors or recognition received at school or outside activities: In my freshman year I received an academic letter for a GPA of 3.5. I made the National Honor Society in my junior year.
What are some of your hobbies: My main hobbies are equine, singing, drama and working with kids at our local church. For quite awhile I have ridden horses and it’s always been a big passion of mine. I sing to my horses as well.
Have you ever entered a pageant before? If so, name of pageant and title if placed: Berrien County Youth Fair King and Queen contest
Has any relative of yours ever won a pageant? If so, explain: No, I am the first to do a pageant.
What helped you decide to enter the Miss Buchanan contest? My mom and her friends. I also had a few friends who have been Miss Buchanan or on the court and told me that it was a great experience and that I would do fairly well.
How many years have you lived in your community: 16
Where are you from originally: Riverside, Calif.
Do you work? If so, name of company and how long employed: Child day care for Lisa Myers over the summer

Racheal Bahr
Parents: Robert Bahr and Mary and David Clark
Siblings: Robert Bahr Jr., 19; Robyn Bahr, 20; Shelby Clark, 15
Age: 17
Height: 5’9″
Hair color: brown Eye color: brown
What are your plans after graduation: I plan to attend college and major in business and finance with a minor in law
High school activities currently involved in: cheerleading, soccer, National Honor Society, SADD, Buchanan All-Stars
High school activities previously involved in: student council, volleyball, choir
What are some of your hobbies: Hanging out with friends, sewing, spending time with family
Special honors or recognition received at school or outside activities: honor roll, Coach’s Award for cheerleading, National Honor Society
Have you ever entered a pageant before? If so, name of pageant and title if placed: I was in the Jr. Miss Apple Festival. I did not place.
Has any relative of yours ever won a pageant? If so, explain: My sister won Miss Congeniality in the Miss Buchanan pageant in 2007
What helped you decide to enter the Miss Buchanan contest? I watched my sister do it and it looked like fun. Also, I would love to represent my community and this contest provides a great opportunity to do that.
How many years have you lived in your community: 8
Where are you from originally: Benton Harbor
Do you work? If so, name of company and how long employed: No

Rebecca Kastner
Parents: Dennis and Tracy Kastner
Siblings: Travis Kastner, 18
Age: 16
Height: 5’7 1/2″
Hair color: blond
Eye color: hazel
What are your plans after graduation: Army Reserves and attending college at Western Michigan University or Adrian College to become a geneticist
High school activities currently involved in: marching drum major, concert band, drama, varsity soccer, wrestling manager, Youth Advisory Council
High school activities previously involved in: volleyball, Redbud Chorale Choir
Special honors or recognition received at school or outside activities: honor roll, varsity letter, Citizenship Award from City of Buchanan
What are some of your hobbies:
Have you ever entered a pageant before? If so, name of pageant and title if placed: Jr. Miss Apple Festival Pageant, top 10
Has any relative of yours ever won a pageant? No
What helped you decide to enter the Miss Buchanan contest? I enjoyed participating in the Apple Festival pageants from previous years, and I found out that I met the age deadline for Miss Buchanan. I also love the confidence pageants give me and the people I meet.
How many years have you lived in your community: 7
Where are you from originally: Galien, Mich.
Do you work? If so, name of company and how long employed: No

Danielle Johnson
Parents: Jennifer Clark (mother), Steve Clark (stepfather), James Johnson (father), Sherry Johnson (stepmother)
Siblings: Ricky, 15; Ryan, 14; Breh, 3; Beau, 1
Age: 17
Height: 5’7″
Hair color: brown
Eye color: blue
What are your plans after graduation: I’m going to attend Oakland University to become an orthodontist
High school activities currently involved in: National Honor Society, pep band, hopefully Spanish Club if it’s available this year
High school activities previously involved in: soccer, band, Spanish Club, volunteering, student government
Special honors or recognition received at school or outside activities: National Honor Society, Math/Science Center
What are some of your hobbies: reading, going for walks, spending time with family
Have you ever entered a pageant before? If so, name of pageant and title if placed: No
Has any relative of yours ever won a pageant? To my knowledge, none of my family members have ever won a pageant
What helped you decide to enter the Miss Buchanan contest? It is my senior year and its is one of the last things (major) that I can do in high school.
How many years have you lived in your community: 15 years
Where are you from originally: Ft. Pierce, Fla.
Do you work? If so, name of company and how long employed: No

Julia LaBounty
Parents: Mike and Wendy LaBounty
Siblings: Phillip, 28; Jacob, 23; Traci, 30
Age: 17
Height: 5’7″
Hair color: brown
Eye color: brown
What are your plans after graduation: I plan to attend either Hope College or Albion College to get a degree in physical therapy and also play softball at the college
High school activities currently involved in: four years varsity basketball and softball, SADD, yearbook, youth group, drama team
High school activities previously involved in: two years marching band, two years concert band, mission trip to Dominican Republic, mission trip to Crow Nation in Montana
Special honors or recognition received at school or outside activities: All-Conference in softball, Coach’s Awards in basketball and softball, honor roll
What are some of your hobbies: playing sports, being with my friends and family, shopping, watching movies
Have you ever entered a pageant before? If so, name of pageant and title if placed: No
Has any relative of yours ever won a pageant? No
What helped you decide to enter the Miss Buchanan contest? I was encouraged by my friends and family and thought it would be a great experience. I am thankful I grew up in a small community like Buchanan and would love to represent my town.
How many years have you lived in your community: 17
Where are you from originally: Buchanan
Do you work? If so, name of company and how long employed: No

Nicole Rutherford
Parents: Sherry and Steve Rutherford
Age: 17
Height: 5’7″
Hair color: red
Eye color: blue
What are your plans after graduation: After graduation I plan on going to SMC. I will get my required classes over with a transfer to Ferris State. Here, I am going to go into child care. I will do all this with the money I have saved up from Pizza Hut.
High school activities currently involved in: National Honor Society, SADD, Spanish Club, Art Club, the musical, Redbud Choral, cross-country, basketball and track
High school activities previously involved in: volleyball, Science Olympiad, concert choir, McCloy Creek cleanup and making of “follow the buck prints”
Special honors or recognition received at school or outside activities: National Honor Society
What are some of your hobbies: sports, working out, shopping, drawing, any outdoor activities
Have you ever entered a pageant before? If so, name of pageant and title if placed: No
Has any relative of yours ever won a pageant? No
What helped you decide to enter the Miss Buchanan contest? I am interested in entering Miss Buchanan because I have never watched it before. I have heard many stories about how much fun it is. This really made me want to enter.
How many years have you lived in your community: about 13
Where are you from originally: Illinois
Do you work? If so, name of company and how long employed: I have been working at the Buchanan Pizza Hut for two to three months.

Summer Ramsey
Parents: Julie Blackwell and LaFreem Walker
Siblings: Jessie Maurer, 11; Justin Bennett, N/A; LaFreem Manning, 11
Age: 17
Height: 5’6″
Hair color: brown
Eye color: green
What are your plans after graduation: After graduation I plan to attend LMC for two years and receive my associate’s degree in business administration, then transfer to a four-year university to receive a degree in accounting.
High school activities currently involved in: president of SADD, cheerleading, student council, Buchanan blood drive, Lake Michigan College blood drive, dual enrollment, Barbizon Modeling School
High school activities previously involved in: dance team
Special honors or recognition received at school or outside activities: Coach’s Award in cheerleading
What are some of your hobbies: volunteering, working with children, cheerleading, being with friends, taking care of animals
Have you ever entered a pageant before? If so, name of pageant and title if placed: No
Has any relative of yours ever won a pageant? No
What helped you decide to enter the Miss Buchanan contest? Many people say it is a great experience even if you do not place. I would love to be a representative of Buchanan.
How many years have you lived in your community: 3
Where are you from originally: Indiana, Florida, Buchanan
Do you work? If so, name of company and how long employed: Yes, Wheatberry Restaurant and Tavern since it opened in July

Katie Skiver
Parents: Leigh and George Simons
Siblings: Tara Flanagan, 12
Age: 18
Height: 5’4 1/2″
Hair color: blond
Eye color: hazel
What are your plans after graduation: I plan to attend Grand Valley State University to get my master’s degree in social work
High school activities currently involved in: SADD
High school activities previously involved in: varsity cheerleading freshman through junior year
What are some of your hobbies: shopping, hanging out with friends
Have you ever entered a pageant before? No
Has any relative of yours ever won a pageant? No
What helped you decide to enter the Miss Buchanan contest? It’s a good opportunity to get involved in the community and be a role model to younger children. I’ve always looked up to the Miss Buchanan winners.
How many years have you lived in your community: 10
Where are you from originally: Muncie, Ind.
Do you work? If so, name of company and how long employed: No

Kirsten Smallwood
Parents: Jack and Mary Smallwood
Siblings: Jaclyn Camp, 21
Age: 17
Height: 5’4″
Hair color: strawberry blond
Eye color: blue
What are your plans after graduation: I plan to attend a community college for two years and transfer to a university for business health care
High school activities currently involved in: tennis, volleyball, registered MHSAA volleyball official
High school activities previously involved in: Art Club, student representative my junior year for my school improvement committee
Special honors or recognition received at school or outside activities: Homecoming Queen, 2009-2010, National Honor Society, Ronald N. Skinner Memorial Citizenship Award in 2003, honor roll numerous times
What are some of your hobbies: snowboarding, spending time with friends and family
Have you ever entered a pageant before? If so, name of pageant and title if placed: Yes, Apple Festival I was in the top 10
Has any relative of yours ever won a pageant? My cousin Shalico Sain won Miss Buchanan in 1992.
What helped you decide to enter the Miss Buchanan contest? I have attended many Miss Buchanan contests and I enjoyed the atmosphere; it is also a once in a lifetime opportunity.
How many years have you lived in your community: whole life
Do you work? If so, name of company and how long employed: No

Cassie Ward
Parents: Jason Ward, Tonya Ward
Siblings:Alex Martienez, 12; Kaitlyn Ward, 12; Selina Martienez, 10
Age: 17
Height: 5’4″
Hair color: brown
Eye color: hazel
What are your plans after graduation: to attend Lake Michigan College to become a dental hygienist
High school activities currently involved in: treasurer of SADD, yearbook, track
High school activities previously involved in: cheerleading
Special honors or recognition received at school or outside activities: “most spirited” in cheerleading
What are some of your hobbies: hanging out with family and friends, reading, baking, shopping
Have you ever entered a pageant before? If so, name of pageant and title if placed: Yes, Junior Miss Blossomtime
Has any relative of yours ever won a pageant? Kaitlyn Ward, Little Miss Galien
What helped you decide to enter the Miss Buchanan contest? Ever since I was a little girl I watched the Miss Buchanan pageants and admired all the contestants; now I would like to set an example for little girls the way the former contestants have for me.
How many years have you lived in your community: whole life
Do you work? If so, name of company and how long employed: Yes, Martin’s Supermarket, since Oct. 26

Kaley Kimbrell
Parents: Catina Kimbrell
Age: 17
Height: 5’3″
Hair color: brown
Eye color: blue
What are your plans after graduation: I plan to attend Southwestern Michigan College for two years, then transfer to Michigan State University.
High school activities currently involved in: soccer
High school activities previously involved in: volleyball, tennis
Special honors or recognition received at school or outside activities: Second Team All-Conference in soccer, also a “Most-Improved” from sophomore/junior years
What are some of your hobbies: I love to play soccer, volleyball, football, tennis, pretty much any other sport
Have you ever entered a pageant before? If so, name of pageant and title if placed: No
Has any relative of yours ever won a pageant? No
What helped you decide to enter the Miss Buchanan contest? Just the sense of pride I yourself and your community by entering Miss Buchanan
How many years have you lived in your community: whole life
Do you work? If so, name of company and how long employed: Yes, McDonald’s, about 1 1/2 years

Alexis Hanson
Parents: Eric and Jenny Hanson
Siblings: Chase, 10
Age: 17
Height: 5’0″
Hair color: blond
Eye color: green
What are your plans after graduation: After graduation I plan on going to school to be a bakery and pastry chef, then possible owning my own shop.
High school activities currently involved in: SADD
High school activities previously involved in: cheerleading, tennis
Special honors or recognition received at school or outside activities: cheerleading awards
What are some of your hobbies: going to the beach, going to movies, spending time with friends and family, baking
Have you ever entered a pageant before? If so, name of pageant and title if placed: Yes, I was in Jr. Miss Apple Festival (first runner-up in 2005)
Has any relative of yours ever won a pageant? Yes, my cousin Christy Cornelius was Miss Buchanan in 1992
What helped you decide to enter the Miss Buchanan contest? I have wanted to enter the Miss Buchanan contest since I was I elementary school. It looks like a ton of fun, and it is such an honor.
How many years have you lived in your community: whole life
Do you work? If so, name of company and how long employed: Yes, Hardings, I have worked there for more than a year.