Madeline Scalici crowned 63rd Miss Lewis County 

Madeline Scalici was crowned Miss Lewis County 2025 and Hailey Sturdevant was crowned Miss Lewis County’s Teen 2025 on Saturday, March 8. 

Scalici is the 63rd Miss Lewis County and Sturdevant is the second Miss Lewis County’s Teen. 

Centralia College’s Corbet Theatre was packed Sunday night with local supporters, former Miss Lewis County winners dating back to 1968 and fellow royalty from across Washington state who came to cheer on the seven competing contestants. 

The theme of this year’s program was “Sisters of the Sash,” celebrating the sisterhood that exists between generations of winners and the new bond between the Miss Lewis County and a Miss Lewis County’s Teen winners. 

Scalici is a freshman at Centralia College and the daughter of Tony and Jennifer Scalici. She is 19 years old and is sponsored by Lewis County Coffee. Her hostess is Amanda Serl, and her talent was “HERStory,” a spoken word act written and performed to express and find empowerment in an element of their own narrative. Scalici’s community service initiative is “Live Better, Longer: Blue Zones,” and her LC Shining Star is McKenna Ziady, of Chehalis. 

Sturdevant is a student at W.F. West High School and the daughter of Lenni Ball. She is 16 years old and is sponsored by Lewis County Coffee. Her hostess is Roberta Sexsmith, and her talent was speed painting. Sturdevant’s community service initiative is “Nourishing Hope: Empowering Communities Through Healthy Food Access,” and her LC Shining Star is Autumn Tomes-Irby, of Centralia.

The annual Miss Lewis County Scholarship Program, a local chapter of the Miss America Program that awards scholarships to the young women who participate, fittingly fell this year on International Women’s Day. 

“I think the Miss Lewis County organization and the Miss America organization is a wonderful platform for women … I think it’s a platform for them to grow, and it’s a platform for them to serve,” said Miss Lewis County 1985 Shawn Owens Peters, who was honored Saturday for the 40th anniversary of her crowning. 

When asked what advice she would give to this year’s winners and those considering competing next year, Owens Peters said, “give it all you’ve got. Don’t be ashamed of who you are and your core values … and don’t be afraid to try.” 

The young women crowned on Saturday took over for 2024 Miss Lewis County Katelynn Guenther and Miss Lewis County’s Teen Capri O’Neill, who were crowned at last year’s Lewis County Scholarship Program. 

Miss Lewis County 1999 Lindsay Beckman Harjo, who co-emceed Saturday’s event, called Miss Lewis County 2024 Katelynn Guenther an “incredible role model” through her commitment to service this year, saying, “Though she closes this chapter there is no doubt she will continue to shine bright in all that she does.” 

Her community service initiative was agriculture literacy and educating on the importance of agriculture. 

“This journey has been unforgettable and I am so grateful for every moment of it,” Guenther said in a commemorative video played at Saturday’s event. 

As the first ever Miss Lewis County’s Teen, O’Neill “not only embraced this new role, but became an integral part of the community,” Beckman Harjo said, adding that O’Neill has “shown what it means to lead with kindness and confidence …. We’re so proud to see what she’s accomplished and are excited to see what she does next.” 

Her community service initiative was advocating for children in need of eye care and eyewear.

“Thank you to all of Lewis County for embracing me and cheering me on. I am so honored to have been able to serve you this year,” O’Neill said in a commemorative video played at Saturday’s event. 

Scalici and Sturdevant will serve together as the official hostesses of Lewis County until March 2026 and will compete in the Miss Washington Scholarship Program.

Contestants in both Miss Lewis County divisions were judged on pre-pageant interviews, a “health and fitness” portion, on-stage questions, a “red carpet” portion and a talent show.

Alongside their crowns and titles, Scalici went home with a $2,500 scholarship and Sturdevant went home with a $750 scholarship. 

In addition to the scholarships associated with the main awards, organizers handed out a variety of scholarships to the contestants. 

A total of $6,500 was given in scholarships this year, according to Miss Lewis County 1992 Cindy Fagerness, who co-emceed Saturday’s event. The Miss America Program is the largest provider of scholarships to women in the nation, Fagerness said.   

In the Miss Lewis County 2025 competition, Amanda Brossard was named first runner up and received a $1,000 scholarship. She also received the Staff Award. 

Scalici received the Happy Ads Award, which carried a $231 scholarship, and the Four Points of the Crown Award. 

Violet Wesen won the Service to Community Award, which carried a $100 scholarship, and the People’s Choice Award, which carried a $311 scholarship. 

Hannah Murphy won Miss Congeniality, which carried a $300 scholarship. 

In the Miss Lewis County’s Teen competition, Riley Martin was named first runner up and received a $400 scholarship. She also won the People’s Choice Award, which carried an $85 scholarship. 

Sturdevant received the Service to Community Award and was awarded a $100 scholarship, and won Miss Congeniality, which carried a $300 scholarship. 

The event also featured performances by the Southwest Washington Dance Center, Miss Lewis County Rising Stars, O’Neill and Guenther. 

For more information about the program or to donate to future scholarships, visit https://www.misslewiscounty.com.