BERRIEN SPRINGS — Niles was well represented in the Miss and Mr. Blossomland Pageant last week.

Cassie Ballage, of Niles, and Connor Craig, of St. Joseph, were crowned Miss and Mr. Blossomland 2015 on Feb. 27.

First runners-up were Danielle MacDiarmid, of Niles, and Mario Henry, of Watervliet.

All four students attend Blossomland Learning Center, a Berrien Springs school that provides programs and therapeutic services for students with special needs.

Ballage, 26, enjoys using the computer and going on field trips with her class. When not in school she likes to listen to music, take dance classes, read books, and do word search puzzles. She works at the Niles/Buchanan YMCA and will be graduating from Blossomland in the spring.

Craig, 23, enjoys swimming, yoga, working at Wings Etc. and acting class. When he is not in school, he likes to work out, go bowling, attend church and participate in Special Olympics.

In total, nine men and 12 women participated in the event. Each contestant had the opportunity to share their hobbies and future plans with the audience while being escorted by local Blossomtime royalty from area communities.

Contestants were interviewed earlier in the week by three judges and asked questions about themselves, their school and about BLC’s Positive Behavior Intervention System called STARS.

Ballage and Craig will now have the privilege of representing their school at several Blossomland Learning Center functions, Berrien RESA’s Festival of Families, a parade, and other area events.