Pageant Press: Sylvania woman wins Miss NWO pageant
Darlene Prince wrote the following for the Crescent-News:
Sylvania woman wins Miss NWO pageant
A triple dose of talent, poise and beauty propelled Sylvania resident Becky Minger into winning the Miss Northwestern Ohio Scholarship Pageant crown on Saturday night.
The 31st pageant was held in the Defiance Community Auditorium.
Minger, 18, was chosen from a field of 12 contestants, which included six young women from Defiance, Henry and Fulton counties. She also won the talent award for her rendition of the song, “Whenever You Remember.” Included in the talent award is the traditional silver bowl from the Fort Defiance Players and $200 from Jim Estep.
Defiance contestant Samantha Pixler was fourth runner-up and received a $200 scholarship.
With the crown, Minger earns a $1,500 scholarship and the opportunity to go on to the Miss Ohio Scholarship Pageant in Mansfield next year. The winner of that pageant will compete in the Miss America pageant in Las Vegas.
The first-runner-up was Heather Waterman, Celina, who received a $600 scholarship. Second runner-up was Rachel Maris, Ada, who was given a $400 scholarship. Third runner-up was Danielle Bash, Findlay, who will get a $300 scholarship.
Minger was almost speechless as she was crowned by the 2006 Miss Northwestern Ohio queen, Marisa Minor. “I am just so excited,” she said. “I did not really expect to win the pageant and the talent competition, too. I am excited to be going to the Miss Ohio contest.”
Receiving the annual Charles Perkins Award was Elizabeth Lopez, who serves as a hostess for the young women competing in the pageant. This award is given each year by the Miss Northwestern Ohio Scholarship Pageant committee for time and service donated by an individual to the pageant. The award was named after Charles Perkins, the first director of the pageant.
Other area competitors in the pageant were Defiance resident Mellissa Marksberry; Cassandra Fruchey, Napoleon; Tiffany Westfall, Liberty Center; Jamie Burns, Delta; and Abigail Goldsmith, Swanton.
Also competing were Brandy Willoughby, Findlay; and Janelle Zindroski, North Royalton. Each non-finalist receives a $100 scholarship.
Scholarship funds are donated by private individuals and businesses.
Minger will go on to compete in the Miss Ohio pageant against a number of contestants, including Lauren Hogan of Napoleon and Kristen Haas of Rocky River, who both recently won separate pageants in Maumee. The pair originally had been entered in the Miss Northwestern Ohio pageant.
Pageant organizers are hopeful that Minger will place high in the Miss Ohio competition.
Shirley Lemaster, of the Miss Northwestern Ohio pageant, said that two former pageant winners have gone on to win the Miss Ohio crown. Robin Hancock won the Miss NWO pageant in 1994 and won Miss Ohio a year later. Kelly Creager, who was Miss NWO in 1996, also won the Miss Ohio crown a year later.
Several winners of the Miss NWO pageant have placed in the Miss Ohio pageant. They are Minor, who was among the top 10 finishers this year; 2001 queen Charlotte Eble, who was third runner-up in 2002; and 1997 queen Kristen Carpenter, who was second runner-up in 1998.
Working with the theme, “Music Across America,” the evening began with Defiance Dance Studio performers presenting the country song, “Cotton Eyed Joe.”
There was a somber note as Marisa Minor sang the song, “There Will Come a Day,” to images of American soldiers serving in the Mideast and other places.
thoughtful touch to the evening was given by emcee, Mark Schnitkey, who thanked, several times, the veterans of the armed services who were in the audience.
The finale, a moving rendition of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” was performed by the Miss Northwestern Ohio Choir directed by Eric West and accompanied on the piano by Suzi Blank.
Northwest State Community College also offered a $750, tuition-only scholarship to the winner and $500 tuition-only scholarship to the first runner-up.
Serving as mistress of ceremonies was Melanie Murphy, Miss Ohio 2006.
The first-runner-up was Heather Waterman, Celina, who received a $600 scholarship. Second runner-up was Rachel Maris, Ada, who was given a $400 scholarship. Third runner-up was Danielle Bash, Findlay, who will get a $300 scholarship.
Minger was almost speechless as she was crowned by the 2006 Miss Northwestern Ohio queen, Marisa Minor. “I am just so excited,” she said. “I did not really expect to win the pageant and the talent competition, too. I am excited to be going to the Miss Ohio contest.”
Receiving the annual Charles Perkins Award was Elizabeth Lopez, who serves as a hostess for the young women competing in the pageant. This award is given each year by the Miss Northwestern Ohio Scholarship Pageant committee for time and service donated by an individual to the pageant. The award was named after Charles Perkins, the first director of the pageant.
Other area competitors in the pageant were Defiance resident Mellissa Marksberry; Cassandra Fruchey, Napoleon; Tiffany Westfall, Liberty Center; Jamie Burns, Delta; and Abigail Goldsmith, Swanton.
Also competing were Brandy Willoughby, Findlay; and Janelle Zindroski, North Royalton. Each non-finalist receives a $100 scholarship.
Scholarship funds are donated by private individuals and businesses.
Minger will go on to compete in the Miss Ohio pageant against a number of contestants, including Lauren Hogan of Napoleon and Kristen Haas of Rocky River, who both recently won separate pageants in Maumee. The pair originally had been entered in the Miss Northwestern Ohio pageant.
Pageant organizers are hopeful that Minger will place high in the Miss Ohio competition.
Shirley Lemaster, of the Miss Northwestern Ohio pageant, said that two former pageant winners have gone on to win the Miss Ohio crown. Robin Hancock won the Miss NWO pageant in 1994 and won Miss Ohio a year later. Kelly Creager, who was Miss NWO in 1996, also won the Miss Ohio crown a year later.
Several winners of the Miss NWO pageant have placed in the Miss Ohio pageant. They are Minor, who was among the top 10 finishers this year; 2001 queen Charlotte Eble, who was third runner-up in 2002; and 1997 queen Kristen Carpenter, who was second runner-up in 1998.
Working with the theme, “Music Across America,” the evening began with Defiance Dance Studio performers presenting the country song, “Cotton Eyed Joe.”
There was a somber note as Marisa Minor sang the song, “There Will Come a Day,” to images of American soldiers serving in the Mideast and other places.
thoughtful touch to the evening was given by emcee, Mark Schnitkey, who thanked, several times, the veterans of the armed services who were in the audience.
The finale, a moving rendition of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” was performed by the Miss Northwestern Ohio Choir directed by Eric West and accompanied on the piano by Suzi Blank.
Northwest State Community College also offered a $750, tuition-only scholarship to the winner and $500 tuition-only scholarship to the first runner-up.
Serving as mistress of ceremonies was Melanie Murphy, Miss Ohio 2006.
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