By Staff
NILES – The Apple Festival Queen contestant will be held this Saturday evening, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. at Niles High School. Tickets are $8 each and will be available at the door.
The following are contesting for Miss Apple Festival.
Ciara Brown
Ciara Brown, 16, a senior at Edwardsburg High School, is the daughter of Doug and Becky Gushwa.
Her school activities include varsity equestrian team for four years and she has been a varsity cheerleader for two years.
Her hobbies are showing horses, shopping, reading, baking, hanging out with her friends, gardening and going to the beach.
After graduation, Ciara would like to attend Western Michigan University to study teaching or attend Ball State to obtain a nursing degree.
Her awards and accomplishments include the sportsmanship award in 4-H, outstanding 4-H member for 7 consecutive years, she placed second in state for horse judging, received a Cass County metal for horses and has been on the honor roll.
Kelly Walker
Kelly Walker, 17, a senior at Niles High School, is the daughter of Shawnee Flowers and Mike Walker.
Her school activities include choir and French club.
Her hobbies are shopping, going to the beach, being with her friends and riding 4-wheelers.
After graduation, Kelly plans to attend Southwestern Michigan College to obtain a degree in dental hygiene.
Her awards and accomplishments include a sportsmanship award for gymnastics and she is also on the honor roll.
Elizabeth Miller
Elizabeth Miller, 17, a senior at Niles Senior High School, is the daughter of Herbert and Joyce Miller.
Her school activities include 4-H, FFA, National Honors Society, the vice president of key club and she is a member of the Encore Dance Company.
Her hobbies are reading, helping on the family farm, talking on the phone, dancing and spending time with her family and friends.
After graduation, Elizabeth plans on attending a college or university to obtain a degree in physical therapy.
Her awards and accomplishments include 4-H citizenship awards and outstanding math student awards during her sophomore and junior years of high school.
Jasmine Neldon
Jasmine Neldon, 16, a junior at Brandywine Senior High school, is the daughter of Sandy Neldon and Floyd Brown.
Her school activities include cheerleading, baseball manager, choir, participating in school musicals and she is an assistant for the athletic department.
Her hobbies are watching romance films, learning French, making collages, baseball and choreographing dances for cheerleading.
After graduation, Jasmine plans on attending a university to double major in French education and U.S. history and would like to become a school administrator.
Her awards and accomplishments include being a member of the National Honors Society and she is a representative for the Michigan Gateway Foundation's Youth Advisory Council.
Mercedes Weaver
Mercedes Weaver, 17, a junior at Buchanan Senior High School, is the daughter of Paul and Betty Weaver.
Her school activities include art club.
Her hobbies are biking, scrapbooking, writing poetry, swimming, traveling, entering items in the fair and spending time with her family.
After graduation, Mercedes plans to enter the medical field to study nephrology. She would like to have a career as a kidney specialist.
Her awards and accomplishments include honor roll, honors in the fair and Red Bud Chorale.
Courtney Brattain
Courtney Brattain, 16, a junior at Brandywine Senior High School, is the daughter of Tim and Tina Bunch.
Her school activities include varsity cheerleading, varsity softball, varsity choir, theater, tennis and student council.
Her hobbies are reading, listening to music, singing, sports, volunteering with handicapped children and spending time with family and friends.
After graduation, Courtney plans on attending Central Michigan University study teaching.
Her awards and accomplishments include the presidential achievement award; A/B honor roll and being on the first cheerleading team to perform in China.
Kristina Ford
Kristina Ford, 18, a senior at Brandywine Senior High School, is the granddaughter of Jim and Jo Schroeder.
Her school activities include cheerleading and softball.
Her hobbies are working out, staying in shape, playing sports, reading, Indian loom beading and spending time with her family and friends.
After graduation, Kristina plans on attending the University of Texas to obtain a degree in child psychology.
Her awards and accomplishments include a varsity letter in cheerleading and softball, a pin for good grade point average and a special honor in the Spanish Honors Society.
Becky Modlin
Becky Modlin, 17, a senior at Brandywine Senior High School, is the daughter of Chuck and Debbie Modlin.
Her school activities include softball, student council, National Honors Society and the Spanish Honors Society.
Her hobbies are playing sports, exercising, listening to music in her car and hanging out with her family and friends.
After graduation, Becky plans to attend St. Mary's College and major in biology. She would then like to continue her education at a medical school.
Her awards and accomplishments are all A honor roll, Presidential award and a certificate of merit from the Society of Women Engineers.