By By JOHN EBY / Niles Daily Star
DOWAGIAC – Alexandria Hemphill of Buchanan won the second annual Miss Teen Blossomtime Pageant Sunday afternoon at Dowagiac Middle School Performing Arts Center from 24 contestants.
The first teen queen, Kate Edwards, a sophomore at St. Joseph High School, returned to crown her successor, the 14-year-old daughter of Brenda and Brad Hemphill.
She enjoys cross country, track and softball.
Alexandria was contestant 11 in the "Cruising Toward the Midnight Sun" pageant for the 2008 theme, "Blossomtime Cruises the World."
First runner-up was contestant 23, Jasmine Moore-Kyle, 15, of Benton Harbor. Jasmine is on the pompom squad, in the class cabinet and a member of Forensics Club.
Second runner-up was contestant 17, Clarissa Vasquez, 14, of Lawrence, crowned by her sister, Clarabelle, who was second runner-up to Kate.
They are the daughters of Edna and Juan Vazquez. Clarissa serves on Student Council, plays sports and babysits. Clarabelle, an eighth grade boys basketball cheerleader, wants to become a psychiatrist and to live in Florida.
Contestants selected contestant 4, Autumn Legatt, 14, of Niles, as Miss Congeniality. Autumn is the daughter of Cheryl Legatt.
Also named to the top 10 were: contestant 3, Sha'keya Clark, 14, of Benton Harbor, daughter of Ardale Clark; contestant 8, Alyvia Nadeau, 14, of Coloma, daughter of Dianna and Phillip Nadeau; contestant 9, Courtney Hays, 15, of Bridgman, daughter of Teri and David Hays; contestant 15, Amanda Angelero, 13, of Buchanan, daughter of Katie and Pedro Angelero; contestant 18, Emily Means, 15, of Dowagiac, daughter of Mary and Craig Means; contestant 24, Miranda Bachman, 13, of Coloma, daughter of Debora and Dennis Bachman; contestant 25, Halie Fisher, 13, of Watervliet, daughter of Nichole Fisher; and contestant 6, Katelyn Czech, 15, of Three Oaks, daughter of Amy and Bart Czech. Halie won a $195 Blossomtime ticket package for three for selling the most program ads, $445.
Master of Ceremonies David Mayne asked each finalist why she thought she should win.
Alexandria said she is a good role model who likes to meet new people.
Also competing for 2008 Miss Teen Blossomtime were: contestant 1, Andrea Ellis, 15, of Benton Harbor, daughter of Audrey Lewis; contestant 2, Sophia Burke, 14, of Coloma, daughter of Carol and Bruce Burke; contestant 5, Justyc Mitchell, 14, of Coloma, daughter of Tina and Jim Mitchell; contestant 7, Cassie Ward, 15, of Buchanan, daughter of Tonya and Jason Ward; contestant 10, Brittany West, 13, of Coloma, daughter of Kendra and Karry Daniel; contestant 12, Rebecka Willming, 14, of Coloma, daughter of Susan and Michael Willming; contestant 13, Alexandria Haney, 13, of Niles, daughter of Michelle Fletcher and of Jason Haney; contestant 14, Meghan Hojara, 13, of Dowagiac, daughter of Jimijune Fryman and of Scott Hojara; contestant 16, Emily Reynolds, 14, of Eau Claire, daughter of Heather Peek and of Craig Reynolds; contestant 19, Samantha Smith, 15, of Sawyer, daughter of Beth and Mark Smith; contestant 21, Emily Webster, 15, of Mattawan, daughter of Anne and David Webster; and contestant 22, Mary Miller, 14, of Three Rivers.
Judges included Dawn Williams, a journalist and mother of three; Christina Morrow, a sergeant with the Berrien County Sheriff's Department and mother of two; and Catherine Averill, executive vice president of Beacon Services Inc. and mother of two.
Tellers, who help judges compile scores, included Andy Schmidtman, Sherri Waddle and Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood.
For Veterans Day, Mayne had all veterans, police officers and firefighters stand to be applauded.
Alexandria wins a $300 savings bond, a $200 wardrobe, a $100 gift card and a $75 gift certificate to Memories Evening Wear in Stevensville.
The pageant was sponsored by Paddywack's chocolate, jewelry and gifts of St. Joseph.
The 76th Miss Blossomtime will be crowned March 10 at Lake Michigan College Mendel Center, the night after the 12th annual Mr. Blossomtime.
The 2008 Miss Heart of Blossomtime pageant was canceled, but the Bud Prince and Princess will be chosen at the PAC at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2.
The Benton Harbor-based Blossomtime Festival is a 102-year-old volunteer organization governed by a 25-member board, a fulltime operations manager, Jamie Brock, and her part-time assistant.
It awarded more than $11,000 in scholarships for young men and women in southwest Michigan in 2007.
Blossomtime, founded in 1906, is the oldest and largest multi-community festival in Michigan.
President Heidi Roberson said her eighth move brought her to southwest Michigan 16 years ago, and that she has never seen anything like Blossomtime anywhere else she lived.
Second runner-up, Miss Hartford Lindsey Sells, attends Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac, then will transfer to Grand Valley State University to study special education.
First-runner-up Whitney Henderson, Miss Lawton, had wanted to be a veterinarian.
Mr. Blossomtime Christopher Joseph "C.J." Pater of St. Joseph, is a Michigan State University freshman majoring in accounting. Second runner-up and Mr. Nice Guy is Eduardo Diaz of South Haven is working to make money for college. The reigning 75th Miss Blossomtime is Cecelia Kovach of Gobles.