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DOWAGIAC — Dowagiac Mayor Don Lyons handed over the Key to the City to Dowagiac’s new royalty during Monday’s city council meeting at City Hall.

Lyons took a moment at Monday night’s city council meeting to recognize Miss Dowagiac 2025 Amelia Bakeman and her Court of Honor – first runner-up Meg Charles and second runner-up Lauren Balsbaugh – for the work they have done and for representing Dowagiac in a positive way.

“The challenge you have is to figure out what lock that key goes to,” Lyons said. “On behalf of the council and all of the citizens of Dowagiac, congratulations and thank you for being here.”

Bakeman, 18, was crowned Miss Dowagiac 2025 in January. She is the daughter of Ravan and City Councilmember Pat Bakeman. A Dowagiac senior, Bakeman is dual-enrolled at Southwestern Michigan College. She is a member of the varsity sideline cheer team, a member of the school’s Environmental Club leadership, the social media chair of National Honor Society, Student Senate President and a member of Humanities Club, Yearbook and Rotary Interact. She has received high honors and Student of the Month in October 2023.

She also enjoys reading, spending time with her family and friends, reading, dancing, watching movies and taking photos with her digital camera. Bakeman said her greatest accomplishment is being a big sister. After graduation, she plans to attend a four-year university and earn a degree in nutritional dietetics with the hopes of eventually becoming a sports nutritionist. She plans on continuing with dance through teaching it and hopes to travel the world.