Olivia Alvord
Kelli Roberts
Ciara Phipps
Emily Horwath
Marisa Hall
Jennifer Swenson
Hannah Beckwith
After being crowned Miss Lewis County, Kennedy Woods, center-right, gets a hug from a pageant organizer at the R.E. Bennett Auditorium in Chehalis last year.
Kennedy Woods waves to the crowd after being crowned Miss Lewis County 2017 in March of last year at the R.E. Bennett Auditorium in Chehalis.
This Saturday, seven women will compete for the title of Miss Lewis County. The Miss Lewis County Scholarship Program provides the winner with a $3,500 scholarship to Centralia College in addition to a $2,500 cash scholarship. The other contestants also receive varying amounts of scholarship money.
“The best part is seeing the skills that these young ladies learn and can use for the rest of their life,” said Samantha Styger, a Miss Lewis County Scholarship Program board member.
Miss Lewis County spends a year of service working on a platform of her choice. The 2017 winner, Kennedy Woods, spent a year promoting body positivity among young women.
The pageant will take place Saturday, March 10, at 7 p.m. at R.E. Bennett Elementary School. Tickets are available for $15 between now and Friday at Book ‘n’ Brush in Chehalis or at the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce. Tickets cost $20 at the door.
To learn more about the Miss Lewis County program, visit misslewiscounty.com.
Here are the seven contestants:
Olivia Alvord
Age: 19
School: Saint Martin’s University
Parents: David and Julianne Alvord
Hostess: Leslie Wohld
Talent: Line Dance — “Star of the Show”
Platform: Promoting Higher Education
Sponsor: Edward Jones office of Vanessa Horning
Little Sister: Macie Mikota
Kelli Roberts
Age: 18
School: W.F. West High School
Parents: Brian and Amy Roberts
Hostess: Tiffany Stephens
Talent: Dramatic Reading — “The Blind Side”
Platform: Bringing Awareness of Oral Health in Children
Sponsor: Ash & Roberts Family Dentistry
Little Sister: Lily Anne Bailey
Ciara Phipps
Age: 18
School: Centralia College
Parents: William and Christel Phipps
Hostess: Brandi Ellis
Talent: Vocal — “Journey to the Past”
Platform: Stomp Out Bullying
Sponsor: Simple Soft Skin, LLC
Little Sister: Jade Cleveland
Emily Horwath
Age: 18
School: Centralia College
Parents: Jason and Kathryn Horwath
Hostess: Sandy Freeman
Talent: Dramatic Reading — “It Couldn’t Be Done”
Platform: Read Across America
Sponsor: Walker Wellness
Little Sister: Ashlen Gruginski
Marisa Hall
Age: 19
School: W.F. West High School graduate
Parents: Jon and Traci Hall
Hostess: Sunny Evans
Talent: Jazz Dance — “The Greatest Show”
Platform: Creating Youth Mentorship within the Community
Sponsor: Southwest Washington Dance Center
Little Sister: Olive Staloch
Jennifer Swenson
Age: 23
School: Centralia College
Parents: Frank and Tammy Swenson and Christiena and Michael Ervin
Hostess: Roberta Sexsmith
Talent: Dramatic Reading — “Why I Do What I Do”
Platform: 4-H Involvement
Sponsor: Lakeside Industries, Inc.
Little Sister: Ava Humphrey
Hannah Beckwith
Age: 18
School: Centralia High School
Parents: Amanda Beckwith
Hostess: Cami Huntting
Talent: Vocal — “Hallelujah”
Platform: Speak Up! — Anti-Bullying Prevention Program
Sponsor: Tower Trading Company
Little Sister: London Ridenour
