Royalty to represent 33rd annual Apple Festival

Published 8:45 pm Friday, September 23, 2005

By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The 33rd annual Niles Apple Festival festivities got underway Thursday night with the crowing of Miss Apple Festival and Junior Miss Apple Festival in the Niles High School Auditorium.
Ten contestants participated in the 29th annual Miss Apple Festival pageant, while 26 girls tried their luck at winning the eighth annual Junior Miss Apple Festival crown.
Taking the Miss Apple Festival title was 16-year-old, Dana Vorrath, who is a junior at Buchanan High School and is the daughter of Randy and Sandy Vorrath.
In school she is a member of the soccer team, a cheerleader, participates in the color guard and is a member of Spanish Club.
Dana stands five feet, five inches tall and has blonde hair and blue eyes. She wore a long turquoise dress with spaghetti straps and silver and white beading accents.
As part of the contest, the contestants were each asked to answer a question. Vorrath choose the question, "To you what does it mean to be successful and by your definition how successful have you been."
Jessica Read, was crowned first runner-up, as well as Miss Congeniality. The 16-year-old junior at Brandywine High School is the daughter of Barbara Read. She stands five feet four inches tall, has red hair and blue eyes.
Jessica's question was, "What do you look for most in a friend?"
At Brandywine, Jessica is a member of the cheerleading squad and softball team. She was a top 10 finalist in the Junior Miss Apples Festival last year.
She wore an apple green dress with beading and flower accents.
Briana Donohue, a 16-year-old sophomore at Niles Senior High School was named second runner-up. She is the daughter of Juli and Brian Donohue. Briana participates in soccer, DECA and other pageants. She was named Miss Congeniality in the 2002 Junior Miss Apple Festival contest.
Briana has brown hair and hazel eyes and stands five feet seven inches tall. She wore a white strapless gown for the contest with beading on the bodice and a belt accent at the waist.
Donohue drew the question, "Name one women you feel is a great role model?"
Taking the title of Junior Miss Apple Festival 2005 was Stephanie Stanton, a 15-year-old sophomore at Buchanan High School. She is the daughter of Richard and Angel Scull.
Stephanie stands five feet three inches tall and has brown hair and green eyes.
For the contest she choose to wear a eggplant colored halter dress with silver accents at the neck and a ruffled skirt.
In school Stephanie is a member of the cross country team and the color guard.
Stanton's question was, "If you were to win this evening, what would the headline in tomorrow's paper read?"
Alexis Hansen, a 13-year-old eighth grader at Buchanan Middle School was named first runner-up Junior Miss Apple Festival.
Alexis is the of Eric and Jennifer Hansen. She has blonde hair, blue eyes and stands five feet three inches tall. At school she participates in cheerleading and likes to play softball and ride dirt bikes.
Alexis work a knee-length black dress with polka dots and light pink accents.
Hansen's question for the evening was, "If you could fly over the Apple Festival with someone what activity would you point out to them?"
Finally Danielle Sherwood, a 15-year-old, sophomore at Niles Senior High School was named Miss Congeniality for the 2005 Junior Miss Apple Festival contest.
She is the daughter of Jean and John Charron. She has brown hair and green eyes. At school she is a member of Key Club, the varsity soccer team, plays volleyball and a member of N Club.
Finalists for the Junior Miss Apple Festival crown were Brittanie Ritchey, Stephanie Watson, Amber Horvath, Brittney Buti, Dawn Smith and Tiffany Rogers.
At the evening's festivities the Apple Festival Board handed out awards to some of the people who have made a difference with the festival.
Chemical/Shoreline Bank received the Gold Apple award as a business who is a long time supporter of the festival.
The Apple Blossom Achievement Award went to Christine Schoff, for the great amount of participation in her first year of working with the festival.
The Crystal Apple award went to Jean Beard and Karen Alexander received the Jeweled Apple award.
Also named at the evening's festivities were the senior Apple Festival King and Queen.
This year the king is Curtis Freeman, of Niles and the queen is Barbara Grant, also of Niles.