The newest member of Dowagiac’s royal sisterhood will be crowned later this month, as the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant hosts 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 begin 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 is contestant number five:

Name: Morgan Bonomo

Age: 17

Height: 5’7

Eye Color: Blue

Parents: Molly and Don Bonomo

Sister: Mary, age 15

School Attending: Dowagiac Union High School

Grade: 12

School Activities: All-star band, concert band, marching band, pep-band, National Honors Society, newspaper, and student senate.

Outside Activities: Summer camp

Interests and Hobbies: Camping, running, social justice, swimming, reading, writing, arts and crafts, and socializing.

Awards and Honors: High Honors

Three words to describe you: Confident, smart, feminist

What are you ambitions and plans after graduation? My ambitions and plans after graduation are to leave for college and continue to grow as a person. I have learned a lot about the world and about myself in the past few years, and going on to higher education seems to be the next logical step for making a difference in the world.

What is your greatest accomplishment? One of my greatest accomplishments is being a camp counselor at NCCS Camp Newaygo all-girls resident camp. For 6 weeks, I was a leader to girls ranging from 6 to 13 years old. I was a leader, a nurturer, a guide, and a rock to the various girls in my care. I made changes to their lives that would not be possible under any other circumstances.

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 would be an honor to represent a city that has provided me with so much. The least I could do is represent it in an honorable way. Even as a contestant I feel pride to be a part of the Miss Dowagiac experience and I am looking forward to all the opportunities and experiences that I will have.