The newest member of Dowagiac’s royal sisterhood will be crowned later this month, as the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant holds its 76th ceremony on Jan. 24.

Over the next several weeks, the Dowagiac Daily News will feature the profiles of the 12 ladies vying for the crown.

This year’s pageant will be held at 7 p.m. inside the Dowagiac Middle School Performing Arts Center.

Tickets for the event are available inside the office of the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, inside the Dowagiac train depot.

Next up is contestant number two:

Name: Rachel Lindemulder

Contestant Number: 2

Age: 18

Height: 5’8

Eye Color: Hazel

Parents/Guardians: Keith Lindemulder and Cathy Franz

Brothers/Sisters: I am a triplet-Jonathan, age 18, and Nicholas, age 18

School Attending: Dowagiac Union High School

Grade: 12

School Activities: National Honor Society, Student Senate- spirit coordinator, varsity football cheerleading, actor and head dance choreographer for drama, Dowagiac Chieftain Marching Band: color guard captain, and Dowagiac Chieftain Concert Band clarinet

Outside Activities: Miss Kathy’s School of Dance- study ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, clogging, musical theater, lyrical, modern, Positively Dance competition team, and Volunteer at Niles Haunted House Scream Park

Interests and Hobbies: Dancing, drawing, tubing, travelling, baking, hairstyling

Awards and Honors: High Honors, Most Improved Dancer Award, first and second division ratings at solo and ensemble for clarinet solos, color guard captain for Dowagiac Chieftain Marching Band, and Spirit Coordinator for the Student Senate,

Three words to describe you: Creative, ambitious, caring

What are your ambitions and plans after graduation? My ambitions and plans after graduation are to attend the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana to major in pre-medicine. Then after Medical I would like to pursue a job as a pediatrician and I hope to have my own practice one day.

What is your greatest accomplishments? My greatest accomplishments are being on the high honors roll all throughout high school and being in the top 20 of my class. I got third place in 2009 on the America and Me Essay out of my class in eighth grade. Being able to dance in Freeport, Bahamas and on the Carnival Sensation Cruise Ship. Also I had the opportunity to be able to dance on the Beauty and the Beast Stage at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I got the Most Improved Dancer award at Miss Kathy’s School of Dance in 2013. I also got the title of Color Guard Captain my junior year of high school. I got to be a part of the National Honor Society my junior year of high school. I got the officer position of the Spirit Coordinator my senior year. I have also received a first division rating and three second division rating at solo and ensemble for clarinet solos. In fourth grade I was one of the selected people to receive the Presidential Awards.

Why did you decide to compete for the title of Miss Dowagiac? I decided to compete for the title of Miss Dowagiac 2015 because it is a great way to be involved in the community. The city of Dowagiac is my hometown and it is a great community to be a part of. Seeing the town come together at local events to make something great happen is something I love seeing. I love how the kids are so involved in the community and I always see Miss Dowagiac and her court helping them at the events and it is great to see how happy the kids are with them. Also having the title as Miss Dowagiac would mean that I can be a role model for many girls so that they know that they could be just like me when they get older.