10/04/11 The name of Kendall Nicole Mason will now be added to the list of 47 previous Triton Junior Miss winners. Mason was named Triton 2012 Junior Miss on Saturday night.
Mason had obviously been practicing her skills for competition for many years. During the Self-Expression portion of the contest, all of the eleven contestants were asked to name their favorite family tradition. Mason said, “Easter egg hunts. My sister and I like a little competition.”
Self-Expression was only one of the categories reviewed by the five judges. Other parts of the competition included an interview with the judges, physical fitness, talent, and scholastic achievement.
For her win, Mason received a $1000 scholarship, medallion, plaque and a rose. She will now move on to the state competition that will take place in Kokomo. For many years, the state pageant was held in Frankfort. She also received two $200 scholarships for winning the both the talent and self-expression sections of the contest. Mason performed a jazz dance to the music “Vertigo” during the talent competition.
She is the daughter of Brad and Angela Mason. Her plans for the future include studying Journalism/Communications at the University of Notre Dame.
First runner-up was Grace Elizabeth Eib. She received a $500 scholarship for being named the first runner-up, a $200 scholarship for scoring highest in the fitness portion and a $200 scholarship for her scholastic achievements. Eib, daughter of Tracy and Lisa Eib, plans to attend the University of Chicago and pursue degrees in Biology/Premed/Oncology.
The second runner-up title went to Taylor Christine Fisher. She was given a $400 scholarship. Fisher is headed to Indiana University next year to study Marketing/Advertising. She is the daughter of Leah Fisher and Lee Fisher.
Third runner-up and winner of a $300 scholarship was Kandace Irene Terry. She plans to become a Spanish teacher and will study at Indiana Wesleyan University.
Fourth runner-up was Melanie Joy Clemens. Clemens plans to further her education at Huntington University and study elementary Special Education. Her parents are Terry and Julie Clemens. She received a $200 scholarship. Additionally, Clemens was named the Sprit of Junior Miss , voted on by all of the other contestants, and received a $100 scholarship and a plaque.
Each of the other contestants received a $50 scholarship. They included Staci Jo George, Jessica Lynn Creech, Courtney Sue Cripps, Katlyn Raean Watson, McKinsey Raye Shepherd, and Lacy Elizabeth Martin.
Retiring 2011 Junior Miss Sarah Stichter shared a few of the highlights of her experiences during her reign. Included in the program for the event, she wrote, “Junior Miss was also a chance for me to learn more about myself. I learned my strengths and how to use them in the right ways.” She added, “I also leaned about my weaknesses and how even those can be a blessing. Junior Miss helped me to mature and grow closer to becoming the person I want to be.” During her remarks to the audience during the event, Stichter said, “Winning the Junior Miss title was both a blessing and a curse.” She then shared that she wasn’t sure what her decision might have been had her basketball team won the regional contest and moved on to the next level of competition. Her team played in the contest the night before she was to leave for the state Junior Miss pageant.
She performed a special vocal number entitled “I Won’t Way I’m In Love” during her Farwell.
The “Senior Men” competition held during the pageant way a crowd pleaser. Eight Triton male seniors vied for the title by performing stunts similar to those shown on the television show “Minute To Win It”. Jake Blessinger won after a tough battle including getting an Oreo off the top of his head into his mouth without using his hands, finding pennies in the bottom of panty hose, juggling three balloons in the air, and racing on a carpet without using either hands or feet.
Scholarship awards were provided, in part, by First State Bank of Bourbon, Bates Corporation, Ball Auction & Realty, Robin’s Nest, Tom’s Kitchen & Bath, State Farm Insurance, Bourbon Veterinary Hospital, PNC Bank, Deaton-Clemens Funeral Home, LLC, and the Kiwanis Club.
Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Kevin Boyer.
Judges included : Wendy Barr (Triton Junior Miss 1989 and Indiana Junior Miss 1989); Amanda Gould (Sales and Marketing Finance Manager for De Puy, a Johnson & Johnson Company; Pam Gunterman (office administrator of Jones Obenchian, LLP in South Bend and former 20-year general chairperson for the Bremen Junior Miss program); Robert Pickell (music teacher in the Plymouth School system for 34 years); and Joyce Rust (Triton alumnus with specialized training in occupational safety, working a Project Executive for OSHA Safety Expert, Inc. ).
Carol Anders Correspondent
