The newest member of Dowagiac’s royal sisterhood will be crowned later this month, as the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant hosts its 76th ceremony on Jan. 24.

Over the next several weeks, the Dowagiac Daily News will feature the profiles of the 12 ladies vying for the crown.

This year’s pageant will begin at 7 p.m. inside the Dowagiac Middle School Performing Arts Center.

Tickets for the event are available inside the office of the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, inside the Dowagiac train depot.

Rounding off this year’s list of competitors are contestants 11 and 12:

Name: Sydney Lynn Brooks

Age: 17

Height: 5’4 ¼

Eye Color: Hazel

Parents: Noel Brooks and Kelley Gnodtke

Step parents: Jeffery Gnodtke and Courtney Brooks

Brothers/sisters: Cody Gnodtke age 22, Mackenzie Brooks age 15, Evalei Brooks age 8, Halle Gnodtke age 8, Hanna Gnodtke age 6, Ella Brooks age 6, and Silas Brooks age 2

School Attending: Dowagiac Union High School

Grade: 12

School Activities: National Honor’s Society

Outside Activities: President of the Chieftain Heart Club, Front Row Crew, football, basketball, and competitive cheerleading, and working at Pizza Hut in Dowagiac

Interests and Hobbies: Rock Climbing, reading, gymnastics, geocaching, backpacking, and learning new things

Awards and Honors: Awards of Excellence and High Honor’s every year since Elementary school.

What are your ambitions and plans after graduation? I plan to attend Southwestern Michigan College for one year after graduating high school to get my Associate’s Degree in Science. Following my graduation from Southwestern Michigan College, I plan to transfer to a different college in Michigan to pursue a career in biology.

What are your greatest accomplishments? A few of my greatest accomplishments in life so far are maintaining my 3.969 grade point average throughout high school, helping to found the Chieftain Heart club, and graduating with a full year of college already completed.

What are three words that describe you? Dedicated, hardworking, and adventurous

Why did you decide to compete for Miss Dowagiac 2015? I decided to compete for Miss Dowagiac 2015 because I believe that I will have a great time, set a good example for the younger generation of Dowagiac, learn many new skills and lessons that will be useful in my future, make lifelong friends, and fantastic memories.

 

Name: Kasey Smith

Age: 17

Height: 5’5

Eye Color: Hazel

Parents/Guardians: Charley and Denise Smith

Brothers/Sisters: Douglas, age 29

School Attending: Dowagiac Union High School

Grade: 12

School Activities: National Honor Society, Chieftain Heart, Rotary Interact Club

Outside Activities: Volunteering at the South Bend Pet Refuge

Interests and hobbies: Art, volunteering, traveling

Awards and Honors: High Honors, Salutatorian, Presidential Scholarship from SMC

Three words to describe you: Intelligent, humorous, and unique

What are your ambitions and plans after graduation? My ambitions and plans after graduation include going to SMC to receive my associate’s degree in pharmaceuticals or some sort of health sciences program. After that, I have hopes of transferring to either Ferris State University or Western Michigan University to better my education. My goals are to attain at least a bachelor’s degree and to work at a science or health related job.

What is your greatest accomplishment(s)? My greatest accomplishments include achieving salutatorian, as well as completing several volunteer activities. I take pride in my grades. I always strive to do my best. I also try to be the best person I can be. Volunteering is a self-less activity that I think everyone should partake in. The smiles on the people’s faces that you help are priceless. I enjoy volunteering my time to help others. I not only volunteer to help people, but I also volunteer to help animals. I volunteer at a Pet Refuge in South Bend. I love it there. It’s like heaven on earth to me because I absolutely love animals and people, and I would do anything I could to help either species.

Why did you decide to compete for the title of Miss Dowagiac? I decided to compete for the title of Miss Dowagiac 2015 because I would like to break out of my shell. What I mean by this is I want to make some new friends, and become a little less shy. I don’t talk to every girl running for the title on a daily basis. This competition will produce many strong bonds to girls that I never thought I would get to know. It will also help enable me to talk in front of crowds, and form public speaking skills that I will need in my future.