The newest member of Dowagiac’s royal sisterhood will be crowned later this month, as the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant hosts its 77th ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 23.

Over the next two weeks, the Dowagiac Daily News will feature the profiles of the 10 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.

Name: Anne Zebell

Contestant number: 6

Age: 17

Height: 5 foot 4

Eye color: Hazel

Parents/guardians: Steve and Claudia Zebell

Brothers/sisters: Blake and Craig Zebell

School attending: Dowagiac Union High School

Grade: 12th

School activities: Interact (president), student senate, National Honor Society (secretary), chamber choir, varsity soccer

Outside activities: Sister Lakes Community Church worship team and youth group, employed at Rosy Tomorrows, performing at the Chocolate Cafe and local nursing home, babysitting

Interests and Hobbies: Playing guitar and piano, singing, spending time with family and friends, traveling

Awards and honors: High Honors ninth through 12th grade, volleyball MVP in 10th grade, Dowagiac representative for Daughters of the American Revolution essay contest

Three words to describe you: Genuine, personable, and compassionate

What are your ambitions and plans after graduation? I plan to attend our community college, Southwestern Michigan College, to pursue a career in music and communication. I then intend to transfer to Belmont University in Nashville to complete my four year degree.

What are your greatest accomplishments? My greatest accomplishments include being in the top five of my graduating class, receiving top ratings in the state level choral solo and ensemble three years in a row, and serving on missions teams in the United States and overseas.

Why did you decide to compete for the title of Miss Dowagiac? I am competing for Miss Dowagiac because I would love to represent the community that has given me so much. The town of Dowagiac has wonderful people and excellent teachers that have helped me become who I am today. With the aid of the people of Dowagiac, I have had the privilege to help build a school in Africa and do missions work locally and in South America, and I can honestly say that there is no place like home. I would feel honored to be an ambassador for the town I love.

 

Name: Haven Nicole Angell

Contestant number: 7

Age: 18

Height: 5 foot 3

Eye color: Brown

Parents/guardians: Mike Angell (Dad), Dana Keen (Mother) and Jason Keen

School attending: Dowagiac Union High School and Southwestern Michigan College

Grade: 12

School activities: Chieftain Heart Club

Outside activities: Volunteering at the Cassopolis Family Clinic, and volunteering with Relay for Life

Interests and hobbies: Photography, scrapbooking, reading, babysitting, and physical fitness at the SMC gym

Awards and honors: Student of the Month award, Honors award

Three words to describe you: Responsible, loyal and thoughtful

What are your ambitions and plans after graduation? My plans after graduation are to go to SMC for two years to get my associates degree, then I plan on moving to Arizona to finish college majoring in social work and possibly photography. While I’m still in Dowagiac, I plan on volunteering at the Cassopolis Family Clinic and hopefully some other places as well.

What are your greatest accomplishments? One of my greatest accomplishments was buying myself a new car. I saved my money to buy myself a car because I wanted to start being more responsible and didn’t want to burden my parents with such a purchase.

Why did you decide to compete for Miss Dowagiac 2016? I decided to compete for the Miss Dowagiac 2016 because I thought it’d be a great experience.