Best of Luck to the Miss Southeastern Ohio Program!

Tonight in Zanesville Miss America 2000 Heather French will host the Miss Southeastern Ohio pageant and a new Miss Ohio contestant will be crowned! (Check out Miss SEO's Photo Gallery for photos from Heather's luncheon yesterday). I am very excited for this program, not only to meet a third Miss America, but also because titleholders were asked to wear our crowns and semi-formal to formal attire (which we really don’t get to do as often as one may think).

For more information go to MissSEO.com; contestants photos and bios are below.


Mindy Farley (Contestant 1), is a dancer from Canal Winchester, pursuing a degree in Nursing from Ohio University-Zanesville. Her platform issue is “Moral Integrity of Adolescents.” She is a graduate of Canal Winchester High School. Her favorite quote is one by Eleanor Roosevelt: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." Three words that best describe her are: Individual, tenacious, motivated

Summer Sands (Contestant 2), a vocalist from Zanesville, is a graduate of West Muskingum High School. She attends Ohio University-Zanesville, and her platform issue is “Compassion International and YouthPartnersNet.” She hopes to become a journalist or fashion editor. Her life motto is, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13.” Three words that describe her are: sensitive, compassionate, and fun-loving

Samantha Maxwell (Contestant 3), is a vocalist from McConnellsville, attending Belmont University in pursuit of becoming a professional entertainer. A graduate of Morgan High School, her platform is “Promoting the Arts.” Her favorite quote comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." Three Words that describe her are: Genuine, Ambitious, Creative

Heather Cook (Contestant 4), a resident of Zanesville, and senior at Maysville High School will perform a dramatic Civil War monologue. Her platform issue is “Big Brother Big Sisters: Investing Quality Time in Children.” She is an aspiring fashion designer. Her life motto is: “Be optimistic! With a good outlook, the future is always bright!" She is best described as Vivacious, Intelligent, and Diligent

Cynthia Paazig (Contestant 5), a vocalist from Frazeysburg, is a student at Ohio University Zanesville, pursuing a degree in Technical and Applied Studies. Her platform is “Long QT Syndrome Awareness and Education.” A graduate of Tri-Valley High School, her favorite quote is: "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow's a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present!" Three words to describe herself are: Diligent, Sincere, Considerate

Hillary Marks (Contestant 6), a vocalist from Nashport, attends Muskingum College, studying Special Education and Psychology. A graduate of Tri-Valley High School, her platform is “Relay for Life: American Cancer Society.” Her favorite quote is "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." Three words to describe her are: Outgoing, Sincere, Determined

Lawren Kavulich (Contestant 7), a senior at John Glenn High School, is a visual artist who hopes to obtain a degree in Business. Her platform issue is “Understanding Dyslexia.” She resides in Zanesville. Her life motto is: “Dreams are obtained by the journey taken.” Three words to describe her are: Creative, Adventurous, Daring



Karissa Martin (Contestant 8), is a vocalist from Woodsfield. She is home-schooled, and has aspirations of performing on Broadway. Her platform is “Skin Cancer Awareness for a Second Generation.” Her life motto is F.R.O.G.: Fully Rely On God. Three words to describe her are: Honest, Self-Disciplined, and Intellectual



Ashley Leach (Contestant 9), a graduate of Maysville High School and Muskingum College. Her goal is to become a Physician’s Assistant. She is a dancer/gymnast, and her platform is “Big Brothers Big Sisters and At-Risk Youth.” Her life motto is: "If there's a will, there's a way." Three words to best describe her are: Ambitious, Confident, Energetic



Chelsea Carpenter (Contestant 10), a vocalist from Zanesville, is pursuing a degree in health and fitness from Otterbein College. She is a graduate of Zanesville High School, and her platform involves “A Focus on the Elderly Population.” Her favorite quote is: " Where words fail, music speaks" by Hans Christian Anderson. Three words to describe her are: Outgoing, Compassionate, Witty



Amelia Vincent (Contestant 11), a resident of Zanesville and senior at Tri-Valley High School, hopes to pursue a career in communications and music. She is a vocalist, and her platform issue is “Suicide Prevention.” Her life motto is: "The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination. Impossible, is nothing." Three words to describe her are: determined, compassionate, and vivacious


Emily Kachilla (Contestant 12), a senior at John Glenn High School, resides in Cambridge. Her platform issue is the “Positive Effects 4-H has on Youth.” She is a vocalist, and plans to study middle childhood education. Her favorite quote is: “Our doubts are our traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.” Three words that describe her are: independent, strong-willed, self-controlled



Alyssa Lee (Contestant 13), is a student at Zane State College, pursuing a degree in Occupational Therapy. A graduate of Zanesville High School, her platform issue is “Aids Research and Awareness.” She is a dancer from Zanesville. Her life motto is: "No day but today". Her three self-descriptive words are Evolutionary, Determined, and Spontaneous



Emily Murphy (Contestant 14), a senior at Tri-Valley High School, will deliver a monologue. She has aspirations of becoming an Occupational Therapist, and her platform issue is “Learning Disabilities.” She resides in Nashport. Her life motto is “Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened!” Three words to describe her are: Graceful, Genuine, and Tenacious.



Marian Thompson (Contestant 15), is a graduate of Muskingum Christian Academy and currently attends Ohio University Zanesville, where she is pursuing a degree in Nursing. She is a classical pianist, and her platform is “Diabetes: Care to Commit for a Cure.” She resides in Malta. Her life motto is: "To accomplish great things we must not only act but also dream, not only plan but also believe." Three words that describe her best are: Integrity, Leader, Organized.



Giana Holstein (Contestant 16), a native of New Lexington, is a vocalist and dancer. Her platform is “Power of the Arts – Empowering the Mind.” She is a senior at New Lexington High School, and hopes to pursue a career as a professional entertainer. Her favorite quote is: "Shoot for the moon and even if you fall short, you'll be among the stars." Three words to describe her are: Outgoing, Integrity, Spontaneous



Courtney Wallace (Contestant 17), will perform creative movement through Sign Language. She is a native of Zanesville, and a senior at Zanesville High School, who wishes to teach first grade. Her platform is “Finding a Cure for Juvenile Diabetes.” Her favorite quote comes from Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me." Three words that best describe her are persistent, reliable, and energetic


Ashleigh Lemon (Contestant 18), is a graduate of Caldwell High School and a student at Muskingum College pursuing a degree in Conservation Science. She is a vocalist, and her platform is “Bio-diversity: The Race Against Time.” She resides in Caldwell. Her favorite quote is: "When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live life." Three words that describe her best are: Intellectual, Personable, Self-motivated


Megan Earley (Contestant 19), is a dancer from Coshocton, whose platform issue is “Promoting Arts Education in the Public School Systems.” She is a graduate of Coshocton High School and attends Central Ohio Technical College, where she is obtaining a degree in Surgical Technology. Her favorite quote is by Mikhail Baryshnikov: "For some of us, ballet is not a profession, it is a religion." Three words to describe her are: Creative, Conscientious, Committed



Jenna Wilson (Contestant 20), is a vocalist and a graduate of Zanesville High School. She is pursuing a degree in Music Performance from Ohio University, and her platform is “March of Dimes: Saving Babies Together.” She is a native of Zanesville. Here life motto is: "Dance as though no one is watching you, love as though you have never been hurt before, sing as though no one can hear you, live as though as though heaven is on Earth." Three words that describe her best are: determined, ambitious, and focused

All of the photos above were taken by Dan Olson of Studio Z Photography.

Just for fun, the three words I liked the best: Tenacious (used by Emily Murphy & Mindy Farley) Vivacious (used by Amelia Vincent & Heather Cook) and Witty (used by Chelsea Carpenter). Not that these are words I would necessarily select for myself, they're just fun words in general!

I might stay at my parents home tonight (the land of five television channels and no internet.) If indeed that is the case, I shall try to persuade my boyfriend to posting the results for me.

Best of luck to all the contestants and everyone involved!