By DEBRA HAIGHT

Special to the Daily Star

BUCHANAN — Buchanan High School senior Madeline Hemphill fulfilled her childhood dream Saturday night as she was crowned Miss Buchanan 2016 in a community Blossomtime contest.

The contest was held in the Buchanan High School auditorium before a crowd of 500 people.

“I had dreamed about this since I was the Blossomtime bud princess in 2006,” Madeline said after her crowning. “I’m so happy, I feel so blessed. I want to thank God for the opportunity as well as the judges, my family and my friends.”

The new queen will now compete with other southwest Michigan community queens for the Miss Blossomtime 2016 title March 13-14 at Lake Michigan College’s Mendel Center in Benton Township.

The Blossomtime theme this year is “Blossomtime’s Greatest Hits” and the Miss Buchanan theme was “Space Jam.”

Madeline, 18, is the daughter of Brad and Brenda Hemphill of Buchanan. She plans to attend college to major in political science and then go on to law school to get her law degree.

She wore a Cinderella style baby blue gown with sequin accents for the contest. She is 5 foot 4 inches tall, has blonde hair and blue/green eyes.

Madeline is no stranger to pageants. She was first runner-up to the 2014 Miss Apple Festival, first runner-up to the 2010 Miss Junior Teen Blossomtime and was the 2006 Blossomtime Bud Princess.

Her school activities include Student Council secretary, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Herd Spirit Committee, Leo Club, Girls Be Positive, Yearbook committee and Project Close-Up. She has also been on the honor roll, and a member of the softball team and the cheerleading squad.

Buchanan High School senior Jenna Proud was chosen first runner-up by the judges. She is 17 and the daughter of Larry and Elaine Proud. She plans to enter the nursing program at Southwestern Michigan College next fall.

Her school activities include yearbook club, National Honor Society, softball, Girls Be Positive, Early College Academy at Lake Michigan College and dual enrollment at Southwestern Michigan College.

Buchanan High School senior Keiran Baginske was chosen second runner-up in the contest. She is 17 and the daughter of Martin and Angelica Baginske. She plans to attend Ferris State University to study to become a pharmacist.

Her school activities include National Honor Society, marching band drum major, Tech Club, varsity tennis, Science Olympiad, Robotics Club, volleyball, cheerleading and Lake Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Cloe Forray-Molica, 17, was chosen Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants. She is a senior at Buchanan High School and is the daughter of Tracy and Jason Mast. She plans to attend Lake Michigan College before transferring to a university to study to become a veterinarian.

Her school activities include Student Council, Leo Club, Yearbook Club, tennis and softball. She has shown goats and crafts at the Berrien County Youth Fair and is a Berrien County teen leader on the Berrien County 4-H Leader Council.

Other finalists were Karissa Kennedy, Nicole Mucha and Kaitlyn Ward. Other contestants were Gabi Borst, Kylee Burger, Kristen Clark, Brittany Gardiner and Kaylee Litka.

Scholarships awarded during the contest included $1,000 from the Buchanan Masonic Lodge to the new queen, Madeline Hemphill, $1,000 in memory of Arlyne Carlson to Jenna Proud, $500 from the American Legion to Kristen Clark, $500 from the Buchanan Scarecrow Charities to Kaitlyn Ward, $500 from Edgewater Bank to Keiran Baginske and $500 from Redbud Insurance to Kaylee Litka.

Judges for the contest were Patricia Kuntz, Penny Moore and Leanne Rakowski. John Colip was the master of ceremonies. Marie Summers is the Miss Buchanan pageant director, Kim Gaul is the Miss Buchanan chairman and chaperone and Virginia Reed is the Miss Buchanan, Inc. president.