By By JAMES COLLINS / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN -- Lindsay Colip, 17, a senior at Buchanan High School, was crowned Miss Buchanan 2004 on Saturday night at Buchanan High School.
Colip, 17, daughter of John and Dawn Colip, beat out 17 other contestants in front of a packed house at this year's pageant.
Miss Buchanan 2004's theme was "Hats Off to American Heroes."
The pageant set included a large blue backdrop that featured a map of the United States and a variety of decorative hats were hung from the ceiling above the stage area. The hats included a police officer's hat, fireman's hat, graduation cap, Chicago Cubs' cap and a variety of other hats that go along with the American heroes theme.
The pageant's Master of Ceremonies was Casey Dick, a Buchanan High School and Western Michigan University graduate, who is currently attending Notre Dame to obtain his law degree.
The evening began with the 2004 contestants performing a short dance number to "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." Each of the contestants wore matching camouflage T-shirts and white shorts.
After the dance routine, they all introduced themselves and told the audience who their American hero is. Some of the answers included family members in the military, parents and grandparents, police officers, Jessica Lynch, Clara Barton and Oprah Winfrey.
After Dick recognized the people who were responsible for putting the pageant together, the 2004 contestants came out one by one for the first formal presentation in their evening gowns. Dick provided information about each contestant including school activities, hobbies and special accomplishments or awards.
Ann Leiter Schrader provided the night's entertainment with a few songs. She followed the formal presentation with a rendition of "Where You Will Be."
The most humorous portion of the pageant came when Dick introduced the night's escorts, Buchanan High School students Jacob Brown and Quinton Bush. Both escorts provided laughs as they strolled out to the "Mission Impossible" theme song as if they were runway models.
This was followed by the second formal presentation of the contestants in their evening gowns.
Four of the contestants were then awarded four different $500 scholarships. Brittany Harrington, 17, received the Kristi Ann Leialoha Memorial Scholarship. Jamie Horn, 17, received the Dale Rifenberg Memorial Scholarship. Holly Tibbs, 17, received the Robert Luke Memorial Scholarship. Sara Loeffler received the Jack Eugene Shrider Memorial Scholarship.
The contestants then walked off the stage two by two and were followed by some more entertainment including a dance number from the 2003 court and another song from Schrader.
It was now time for Dick to present the judges' picks for the final five contestants. Colip, Michelle Johnson, Emily Dreitzler, Sara Loeffler and Stephanie Dohn advanced to the final round, where they were asked the question, "What sitcom star would you like to portray and why?"
Colip selected Joey from "Friends" because "he is always making people laugh."
Dreitzler chose Lucy from "I Love Lucy" because despite making mistakes, "she took everything in stride and always held her head up high."
Before a winner was selected, Miss Buchanan 2003 Racheal Wreggelsworth gave an emotional farewell speech in which she said "just because I'm passing on the crown, it doesn't mean that you will be getting rid of me."
2003 Miss Congeniality and Second Runner-Up Lacey Jones crowned Rachelle Weldy, 17, as this year's Miss Congeniality and Stephanie Dohn, 17, as Second Runner-Up. Last year's First Runner-Up Tiffany Griffin passed her crown on to Michelle Johnson, 18. And Wreggelsworth crowned Colip as the winner of Miss Buchanan 2004.
Colip is currently active in varsity basketball, softball and National Honor Society. After graduation, she plans to attend a four-year university to study pre-med or accounting.
After being bombarded by photographers and congratulations from family and friends, Colip was at a loss for words.