Cally Hass wins Miss Cass

Published 9:29 am Monday, November 10, 2008

By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS – Cally Hass, Showmanship Sweepstakes winner at the 157th Cass County Fair Aug. 2, Saturday night at her alma mater, Ross Beatty High School, added Miss Cass-St. Joseph County 2009 to her resume.
The 2006 Cassopolis graduate joined older sister Linaya, who won Miss Cass-St. Joe County in 2007. She won a prize package that includes a $1,000 scholarship.
Cally is the daughter of Dean and Glenda (McMillen) Hass. She is the granddaughter of Eleanor Moore and succeeds another Cassopolis graduate, Anjel Francisco, a junior at Eastern Michigan University majoring in psychology.
Cally tap-danced to the Romantics' "What I Like About You" for the 35-percent talent segment. Agriculture-natural resources education was Contestant 1's platform issue.
Cally, 20, is a junior at Michigan State University, majoring in animal science, education, natural resources science and policy.
First runner-up went to Miss Dowagiac 2007 Sara Anne Ausra, the 20-year-old daughter of Robert and Patricia Ausra. She will compete in Miss Lighthouse Coast next March for the final spot in the Miss Michigan field.
Contestant 4 is a sophomore at Southwestern Michigan College studying business administration. Sara danced ballet for her talent. Siblings with disabilities was her platform.
Sara won a $400 scholarship, $100 for selling the most program ads and the most tickets, plus the People's Choice award.
Contestant 3 was Kristin Ashley Krueger, 19, of Dowagiac. Kristin, daughter of David and Debra Krueger, is an SMC sophomore studying elementary education. She sang for her talent and promoted a juvenile diabetes platform.
Kristin, Miss Congeniality in Sara's court, won the Four Points Award for exemplifying the true meaning of the Miss America program by being warm, caring and friendly.
Also competing was Contestant 2 Amber Kay Webb, 20, of Centreville. Amber, daughter of Ronald and Darla Webb, is a junior at Cornerstone University studying agriculture education, which was her platform – "FFA, More than Cows, Sows and Plows." Amber performed a monologue about fairy tale world cutbacks always felt first by the magic department.
Chosen Miss Outstanding Teen to follow the first, Tiffany Rogers of Niles, is Lacey Stanage, a Niles High School sophomore. She receives a $200 savings bond from the Rogers family and a $100 savings bond and her $300 state entry fee from the pageant committee.
Tiffany finished in the top 10 at the state pageant last June in Muskegon.
Lacey, 15, is the daughter of Gary and Dawn Stanage. She performed on piano and promoted a platform on the importance of volunteerism," which can be so fun with your friends."
Contestant 3 received the Teen Four Points Award for exemplifying the true meaning of the Miss America program by being warm, caring and friendly.
Contestant 2 was Emily Means, 16, of Dowagiac. The daughter of Craig and Mary Means attends Union High School. She performed a jazz dance. Her platform was suicide prevention and awareness.
Contestant 1 Erin Cline, 16, of White Pigeon, is the daughter of Shireen Cline. The White Pigeon High School student played violin and used alcoholism as a family disease for her platform issue. Erin won the Teen People's Choice award.
Tiffany told Mistress of Ceremonies Melissa Prestine, Miss Cass-St. Joe County 2000, who teaches at Brandywine High School, that her selection in the Top 10 came when she thought she could finally take a breath after three nights of preliminary competition.
"Now you have to go through all phases of competition again."
"She definitely kept her cool, so don't let her fool you," said Francisco, who performed "Out Here on my Own."
Tiffany, wearing a green gown, sang her state talent about one short day in the Emerald City.
Tiffany, a Niles High School senior, recently led the Cassopolis Ross Beatty High School FFA parliamentary procedure team to second place in the nation.
She also developed Agriculture MATTERS (Materials Attributed to Teaching Elementary Students Rural Significance) which she implemented in two local elementary schools.
"I went into the classroom and was able to present hands-on lessons to students about agriculture to teach them about the importance of agriculture in their everyday lives," said Tiffany, daughter of David and Cheryl Rogers. "One time I took a chicken in. For some of these students, it was the first time they'd ever seen a chicken. To see their faces light up because they got to pet the chicken seemed so small and insignificant to me because I feed chickens every day. It definitely sticks out in my mind."
A highlight of Anjel's Miss Michigan experience was "the restaurants. I love to eat. And getting to know all the girls. I met 24 wonderful young women, as well as 25 wonderful teens. It's been a pleasure getting to know all of them and getting to see them throughout the rest of the year."
Angel's platform is awareness and prevention of violence in schools.
Anjel, who was bullied in high school, wants to implement the SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere) program so she has become a SAVE spokesperson.
Besides talent, scores consist of: private interview, 35 percent (25 percent for teens); evening wear, 15 percent (20 percent for Miss); swimsuit, 15 percent (10 percent for teens in activewear); and 5 percent for on-stage questions.
Van Buren County court reporter and former Miss Paw Paw and Miss Kalamazoo County Kelly Cowgill of Kalamazoo, Mike Dood of Grand Rapids, auto detailer and competitive water skier Wayne Prillwitz of Indian Lake, Lucille Ball fan Linda Schultz of Niles and Mary Stefanek of South Bend, Ind., judged the simultaneous "Stars" pageants.
Visiting royalty included Miss Kalamazoo County Nicole Smith, Miss Cassopolis Emily Phillips and Miss Dowagiac Lori Key and her court.
A laptop malfunction kept the farewell slide show from being seen.