Ashlea Romano was crowned the 2008 Miss Apple Blossom Queen Thursday evening, opening night of the 33rd Nappanee Apple Festival.
Ashlea is a recent NorthWood High School graduate and is a freshman at Indiana University South Bend.
Six young ladies participated in this year’s pageant.
Ashlea will receive a $1,000 college scholarship. Second runner-up Rachael Hall, a junior at NorthWood will receive a $500 scholarship and first runner-up Lindsey Kaufman, a senior at NorthWood will receive a $750 scholarship. The girls also received a gift basket filled with products from local salons.
The judging was based on four categories for a total of 200 points. Those categories are biographical information and grade point average, judges’ interview, stage presence and essay.
Master of ceremonies Brad Houser, former NorthWood High School band director, returned this year and explained that the panel of three judges were also looking for who could best represent Nappanee at the county and state level and someone with a high level of communication and public speaking skills.
New to the event this year was bringing the pageant to the festival itself. Also a country western band called Bootleg played before, during and after the pageant.
There was a western theme to the pageant and the contestants were introduced wearing western gear-cowboy hats and blue jeans. That was followed by the evening gown event and the contestants each reading their 500 word essay “Why I like the Apple Festival”.
In her essay Ashlea said that community, pride, unity and excellence were words she’d use to describe the festival. She related an embarrassing costume changing moment from a year when she had moments between participating in a cheerleading event and a Dawning Generation event.
She said, “I can’t think of a better way to thank the festival and the community than to carry the title of Miss Apple Blossom with honor.”
After being crowned the queen Ashlea said she was “Speechless. I’m still shaking! It’s been a great opportunity.”
Romano said she’s never entered a pageant before and it was a great experience. She said she’s looking forward to her duties during the festival. All the pageant participants were assigned specific events. One of the events Ashlea is overseeing is the frog jumping contest and she can’t wait.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Denise Fedorow
Apple Festival gets a queen
- Local News
-
-
Boys & Girls Club of Goshen says goodbye to longtime director Andy Purviance
It’s the end of an era at the Boys & Girls Club of Goshen. Andy Purviance, the long-time Director of the Club, will be saying good bye to the club and Goshen this fall as he and his wife Donna relocate to San Diego where Purviance will continue his career in Boys & Girls Clubs.
-
Goshen VFW Honor Guard helps send their fellow veterans to final rest
The heat of the stuffy May day is starting to gather outside of Rieth-Rohrer Funeral Home in downtown Goshen recently as members of the VFW Post 985 Honor Guard begin to shuffle inside.
-
Duty changes with birth of LaGrange soldier's son
Usually when people think of American veterans they think of men in uniform. More often today, than in yesteryear, the veteran is a woman. In tune with the times, the military has made accommodations for this increase in female recruits.
-
Fairfield graduates ready for the next step
Fairfield High School held its 44th commencement Friday night in its school gymnasium, handing out 145 diplomas.
-
Westview seniors graduate Friday night
Westview High School held its 46th commencement Friday night in its school gymnasium, handing out 97 diplomas.
-
RV shipments up in April
Wholesale shipments of recreational vehicles rose 9.8 percent in April compared to the same month in 2011.
-
UPDATE: Police release names of two killed in Bristol motorcycle crash
Two Elkhart residents were killed Friday night when the motorcycle they were riding crashed along Ind. 15 as they fled police.
-
Police probe possible fatal crash near Bristol
Elkhart County rescue crews responded to a possible double fatal traffic crash on Ind. 15 just south of C.R. 112 at 9:13 p.m. Friday night. Ind. 15 was closed to non-emergency traffic and a Samaritan medical helicopter landed at the scene to assist with rescue efforts.
-
Goshen teen who shot himself Tuesday arrested for using sawed-off gun in robbery
A 17-year-old male recently admitted to IU Health Goshen Hospital for a self-inflicted gunshot wound has been arrested in connection with the robbery of a BP gas station in Goshen this past Sunday.
-
Wild phlox can be found this time of year
Nature’s bounty can sometimes produce unexpected beauty in the form of wildflowers that can pop up anywhere and everywhere. They can be some of the most exhilarating because of the unusual colors, the delicacy of the blossoms, or simply their choice of location to grow.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
