By Staff
DOWAGIAC - The Miss Cass/St.Joseph Scholarship Pageant will take place at Southwestern Michigan College's Dowagiac campus on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:45.
Tickets are available from the contestants and at The Flower Cart in Niles. Adults cost $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Children (ages 5-12) are $5.
There will be $2,600 in scholarships awarded this year, according to Executive Director Phillip Hurlbutt.
Current queen Rose Phillips of Edwardsburg, a graduate of Bethel College, will perform operatic vocal.
The program will feature Miss Michigan, Octavia Reese, and Keith Carter of News22 First Thing in the Morning as co-emcees.
Octavia's talent is cello and her platform issue is "Building Bridges through International Communication."
You can meet Miss Michigan and the new Miss Cass/St.Joseph County along with the contestants immediately following the program at the afterglow in the theater's foyer of the college.
Contestant No. 1 is Haley Stevenson of Edwardsburg, her parents are David and Shirley Behm, she is a 2002 graduate of Edwardsburg High School. She is currently attending Baker College of Muskegon. Her talent is vocal and her platform is "The Struggle Against Domestic Violence."
Contestant No. 2 is Sara Lawrence of Dowagiac, her parents are Tom and Lynn Lawrence, she is a 2003 graduate of Dowagiac Union High School. She is currently attending Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac. Her Talent is Dance and her platform is "Special Education."
Contestant No. 3 is Amanda Pegura of Edwardsburg, she is the daughter of Colleen Pegura, she is a 2004 graduate of Edwardsburg High School. She is currently attending Western Michigan University is Kalamazoo. Her talent is Dance and her platform is "Hearing and Speech Impaired Awareness."
Contestant No. 4 is Linaya Hass of Cassopolis, her parents are Dean and Glenda Hass, she is a 2005 graduate of Ross Beatty High School. She is currently attending the University of South Carolina. Her talent is Dance and her platform is "The Importance of Involvement in Extracurricular Activities."
Contestant No. 5 is Laura Harness, her parents are Tim and Cindy Harness, she is a 2004 graduate of Edwardsburg High School. She is currently attending the University of Michigan. Her talent is Piano and her platform is "Volunteerism."
Contestant No. 6 is Amber Webb, her parents are Ronald and Darla Webb, she is a senior at Centreville High School. Her talent is Dance and her platform is "Feeding and Clothing Tomorrow's Leaders through FFA."
Contestant No. 7 is Marisa Viestenz, her parents are Robert and Patricia Viestenz, she is a 2003 graduate of Dowagiac Union High School. She is currently attending Oklahoma City University. Her talent is Dance and her platform is "Take Heart - Cardiac Care for Women."