Miss Cass/St. Joseph County Outstanding Teen 2011 is Hannah Montgomery, 14, of Edwardsburg. Left, Second Runner-up Miranda Bailey, 14, of Niles. Right, First Runner-up Roxie Elliott, 13, of Buchanan. Hannah, who will be a freshman at Niles Senior High School, was crowned Aug. 14 at the Dowagiac Middle School Performing Arts Center. (The Daily News/John Eby)

By JOHN EBY
Dowagiac Daily News

Lindsey Stoeckinger, a 22-year-old Purdue University student from Edwardsburg, won the Miss Cass/St. Joseph County 2011 title Saturday night at Dowagiac Middle School Performing Arts Center.

Vocalist Lindsey, 22, who also won a new award for her evening gown, advances to the Miss Michigan pageant next June in Muskegon.

Crowned first runner-up was another Edwardsburg product, Jennifer Frayer, 20, who attends Southwestern Michigan College.

Jennifer, who was also first runner-up to Ashley Solloway in 2009, won the new award for swimsuit in a green bikini and the chance to compete in March with other first runners-up for Miss Lighthouse Coast.

That victor also vies for Miss Michigan, a preliminary to Miss America.

Second Runner-up Olivia File, 19, of Cassopolis, attends Hillsdale College.

Olivia, daughter of Paul and Sherry File, graduated from Dowagiac Union High School in 2009, when she was second runner-up to Miss Dowagiac Shelby Willis, who also appeared in the six-contestant field Aug. 14.

Olivia’s talent was a humorous monologue about laundry detergent.

Talent accounts for 35 percent of the score.

Each judge rated each contestant from one to 10 in every category, dropping high and low scores.

Once all phases of competition end and all scores tabulated, judges were given a final ballot naming the top five contestants to rank, which assigned certain amounts of points to determine finish order.

People’s Choice was awarded to Alexandra Steckler, 19, of Dowagiac, who also attends SMC.

Olivia sold the most program ads, Lindsey the most tickets.

Simultaneously, a different panel of judges determined from a younger set of six contestants Hannah Montgomery of Edwardsburg as Miss Cass/St. Joseph County Outstanding Teen 2011.

Hannah, 14, who will be a Niles Senior High School freshman, was second runner-up in 2009 to Abby Rzepka of Niles, who went on to finish in the top 10 at state.

Abby sang her talent, “When You Believe” from “Prince of Egypt.”

Hannah vaulted past previous first runner-up Nicole Ann Irwin, 14 of Cassopolis, though the DUHS freshman merited teen People’s Choice recognition.

Nicole, daughter of Don and Tracie Irwin, performed a lyrical dance and spoke to extra-curricular activities for her platform.

Hannah’s first runner-up, Roxie Elliott, 13, of Buchanan, will be a freshman at Buchanan High School. Roxie’s parents are Marta and Mac Elliott.

She sang and promoted an animal rights platform.

Second Runner-up Miranda Bailey, 14, of Niles, is the daughter of Robert and Marie Bailey.

The Niles Senior High School freshman performed a gymnastics routine and spoke against teens texting while driving.

Hannah is the daughter of Jeff and Kellie Montgomery.

Contestant 5 sang “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” wearing a silvery dress bordered along the bottom with big, black blossoms.

Dash to Read is Hannah’s platform.

The 2000 queen, Melissa Prestine, assisted Abby and Ashley, who did promotional work for Dr Pepper and Snapple and attended her first Special Olympics during her reign, as mistress of ceremonies for the rock-and-roll themed pageant.