07/05/12 “A World of Possibilities” was presented to the audience last Saturday evening as the 2012 Marshall County Blueberry Festival opened its events with the Miss Blueberry Scholarship Pageant. Held at the Argos High School auditorium, it was a well-planned event with little time wasted.
Sixteen young women from around Marshall County competed for three scholarships and a cash prize. The winner — Queen of the 2012 Blueberry Festival — is Brianna J. Trappe, an 18-year-old 2012 graduate of Culver Girls Academy. Bri is the daughter of Rena J. and Brian Trappe. She plans to attend the University of Tulsa and major in chemical engineering. She will be assisted in this endeavor by the $1250 queen’s scholarship.
As Miss Blueberry 2012, she will appear at scheduled events at the festival as well as wandering the grounds allowing people to talk with her. She will also appear in other Marshall County parades, such as the Bremen Firemen’s Festival, the Culver Lakefest, and the Bourbon Summerfest venues.
First runner-up is 18-year-old Olivia C. Hilliard, a 2012 graduate of Plymouth High School. She is the daughter of Traci and Scott Hilliard. She plans to use her $750 first runner up scholarship to attend Indiana University Bloomington, majoring in elementary education and music education.
Anyssa Leyva Alonso is the second runner-up. She is an 18-year-old 2012 graduate of Plymouth High School. She will use her $500 second runner-up scholarship to attend Butler University majoring in marketing.
An award not decided by the judges but voted on by all the contestants is the Miss Friendship award. The 16 participants voted to honor Hailey Hennessy with this recognition of her friendliness to all contestants. She is a 20-year-old junior at Indiana University South Bend majoring in business and minoring in sustainability. She received a $100 cash prize.
The success of the 2012 Miss Blueberry Scholarship Pageant is due to the sponsors, King’s Jewelry for the queen’s crown, Fernbaugh’s Diamonds and Fine Jewelry for the queen’s blueberry necklace, A.S.K. for Flowers for all flowers used, Photography by Jayme for the queen’s portrait, Argos Community Schools and Sandy Burroughs, and a host of volunteers who made this event possible.
Karen Oneal, president of the 2012 Blueberry Festival, said that the pageant has been ongoing since the 1970s, with a few years off during that time. Morrison said, “I was impressed with this production. We have been able to add a few touches such as the stage décor which make it more professional. This pageant was a class act.” A class act it was, Don, and a vital start to the 2012 Blueberry Festival.
Pageant winners. (From L.) Hailey Hennessy – Miss Friendship, Olivia Hilliard – 1st runner up, Queen Brianna Trappe – Miss Blueberry 2012, Anyssa Alonso – 2nd runner up.
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