Miss Edwardsburg 2012 Meghan Monaghan, crowned Saturday from five contestants at the Performing Arts Center, is a senior at the high school who attends Berrien County Math and Science Center in Berrien Springs.
The 17-year-old “wants to go on to an undergraduate college (University of Michigan), major in pre-medicine and go on to medical school” to become a pediatrician.
Meghan, who has a younger brother, is the daughter of Tim and Jean Monaghan.
“I have a lot of homework,” she said, “but I like swimming, being with my friends, playing softball and running cross country. I’ve lived here since I was 2.”
The new queen told Master of Ceremonies Scott Teter her favorite part of the pageant was all the time contestants spent together bonding while practicing.
“I look forward to doing community service with my court,” Meghan said, which includes First Runner-up Amanda Barella, Second Runner-up and People’s Choice Cheyenne Tucker, Third Runner-up D’Nisha Zona and Fourth Runner-up and Miss Congeniality Magdalene Mather.
When a girl comes up to Meghan and says, “I want to be like you,” she doesn’t yet know how she will respond, except she recognizes, “That’s a lot of responsibility.”
Mr. Edwardsburg will continue to be senior Anthony “AJ” Hans, as no males sought the 2012 title.
Teter asked each contestant, “How will you live out the expression, ‘Be priceless in what you do every day?’ ” Going in reverse order, Meghan, as Contestant 5, answered first: “You should not expect anything in return of others for what you do for them.”
Meghan participated in Student Council, National Honor Society, Students Against Destructive Decisions, cross country, junior varsity softball and Little League softball. Her hobbies include swimming, friendship bracelets and reading.
Her main priority this year is maintaining or improving her 3.7 grade point average.
The pageant theme, “Jumanji,” came from a 1995 film about a supernatural board game that makes wild animals and jungle dangers such as giant spiders materialize with each player’s turn.
The pageant adapted the story to include such local touches as Lunker’s; a beating at the hands of bike-stealing bullies outside the old Argus newspaper office; and a haunted house on Section Street.
And a warning: If you ever hear tribal drumbeats near Eagle Lake, run!