As director of the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant and on behalf of its executive committee, we would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the pageant on Jan. 13.

Also, thank you to our 14 corporate advertisers and more than 70 contributing gift and scholarship sponsors.

We are very grateful to the many individuals, businesses and organizations who have contributed to the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Fund, which allowed us to award $8,400 for 2018.

We would also like to thank the family and friends of Judy Dodd for their contributions, which resulted in the $400 Judy Dodd Memorial Community Service Scholarship awarded at this year’s pageant.

This year’s pageant, themed “Fearless,” was the result of the teamwork of around 60 volunteers. We would like to extend our appreciation to you: Abby Johnson, Joe Jason, Nick File, Justin Lyle, Gary Booth, Janie Reifenberg, Dr. Matt Cripe, Kellie Prak, Ashley Franklin, Audrey Maxey, Eileen Sprinsteen, Kimberly Proffit, Erica Wainwright, Blake Eichel, Kenya Lee, Halie Saylor, Makenna Staley, James Dodd, Bobbie Jo Hartline, Jeff Winters, Alejandra Moreno, Bob Barney, Jim Kusa, Ryan Murray, Abbi Tharp, Michelle Stambaugh, Joe Voldrich, Amanda Hassle, Amy Schmidt, Brittany Wilson, Sharon Underwood, Jackie Green, Beth Staley, Sara Palmer, and the women of the Zeta Chi Sorority.

Thank you to Rebecca Steenbeke of Blue Print Photography for attending practices providing our contestants with wonderful photographs; to Scott Rose for his official photographs of our pageant and court of honor; to Rich McCormick, of Preferred Printing, who provides ticket and program printing as an in-kind service to pageant; to Dowagiac Union Schools, Lincoln Clark, and the student crew who produce the pageant and help with staging.

We would also like to thank the businesses who volunteered with the pageant: Booth’s Country Florist, Dowagiac City Hall, Dowagiac Cleaners, Dowagiac Area History Museum, Dowagiac Police Department, D & R Sports, Honor Credit Union, Mud-Luscious, Leader Publications, Manor Mini-Mart, Preferred Printing, Round Oak Revisited, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, The Mane Attraction, Judd Lumber Co., Zeke’s, and Miss Michele & Company.

Thank you to our 10 contestants who were fearless and grew in many ways through this experience. It was amazing to see you shine on stage!

The 2017 Miss Dowagiac Court of Honor, Emily and Amanda, you did an outstanding job representing the Dowagiac community throughout the past year.

To the Miss Dowagiac 2018 Court of Honor, we are confident you will do an amazing job representing Dowagiac. Congratulations!

Jessica Voldrich

Miss Dowagiac
Scholarship Pageant Director