The newest member of Dowagiac’s royal sisterhood will be crowned later this month, as the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant hosts its 77th ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 23.

Over the next two weeks, the Dowagiac Daily News will feature the profiles of the 10 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.

Name: Heather Olson

Contestant number: 4

Age: 17

Height: 5 foot 7

Eye color: Green

Parents/guardians: Sandy and Chris Tidey, Glenn and Jackie Olson

Brothers/sisters: Hollie, Jackson, Jordyn, Claire, and Erick

School attending: Dowagiac Union High School

Grade: 12

School activities: Varsity volleyball, varsity golf, student senate president, National Honors Society vice president, and a member of the Front Row Crew.

Outside activities: Teacher at Vacation Bible School, basketball coach for fifth and sixth grade, and I work at Orchard Hills Country Club.

Interests and hobbies: Playing volleyball, golfing, spending time with friends and family, and cooking.

Awards and honors: High Honors all four years of high school, Most Improved Player for 2015 volleyball season, and Varsity letter

Three words to describe you: trustworthy, outgoing, and determined

What are your ambitions and plans after graduation?  My ambitions and plans after graduation are to go into sports medicine. I plan on going to school within the state but have not committed to a certain university yet.

What are your greatest accomplishments? My greatest accomplishment is getting high honors all four years of high school while maintaining a full schedule of extra curricular activities and a part time job.

Why did you decide to compete for the title of Miss Dowagiac? I decided to compete for the title of Miss Dowagiac because ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always admired the Miss Dowagiac queens when they were at community events and wanted to be just like them someday. I believe Miss Dowagiac would be a fun experience to share with the other contestants.