Rebecca Ford is crowned by former Miss Lewis County Marisa Hall and assisted by current Miss Washington Danamarie McNicholl Saturday night at Centralia College during the 2019 Miss Lewis County Scholarship Pageant.
Rebecca Ford waves to the crowd after being crowned the 2019 Miss Lewis County Saturday night at Centralia College.
Rebecca Ford, center-left, hugs former Miss Lewis County Marisa Hall, center-right, during the 2019 Miss Lewis County Scholarship Pageant Saturday night at Centralia College.
Rebecca Ford covers her face after being announced as the 2019 Miss Lewis County Saturday night at Centralia College during the 2019 Miss Lewis County Scholarship Pageant.
Rebecca Ford smiles at the crowd while competing in the Health and Fitness portion of the 2019 Miss Lewis County Scholarship Pageant Saturday night at Centralia College.
Rebecca Ford sings "Habenara" from Georges Bizet's 1875 opera Carmen, Saturday night at Centralia College during the 2019 Miss Lewis County Scholarship Pageant.
Former Miss Lewis County, Marisa Hall waves to the crowd and takes her final walk as M.L.C Saturday night at Centralia College during the 2019 Miss Lewis County Scholarship Pageant.
Hannah Beckwith takes the stage in her evening grown during the 2019 Miss Lewis County Scholarship Pageant Saturday night at Centralia College.
Kendall Campana takes the stage in her evening grown during the 2019 Miss Lewis County Scholarship Pageant Saturday night at Centralia College.
Karsen Morris takes the stage in her evening grown during the 2019 Miss Lewis County Scholarship Pageant Saturday night at Centralia College.
Celise Tinkham takes the stage in her evening grown during the 2019 Miss Lewis County Scholarship Pageant Saturday night at Centralia College.
Rebecca Ford takes the stage in her evening grown during the 2019 Miss Lewis County Scholarship Pageant Saturday night at Centralia College.
Delanie Calkins takes the stage in her evening grown during the 2019 Miss Lewis County Scholarship Pageant Saturday night at Centralia College.
Hannah Beckwith was named the runner-up during the 2019 Miss Lewis County Scholarship Pageant Saturday night at Centralia College.
Former Miss Lewis County, Marisa Hall performs her last dance as M.L.C Saturday night at Centralia College during the 2019 Miss Lewis County Scholarship Pageant.
Former Miss Lewis County, Marisa Hall waves to the crowd one last time before crowning a new M.L.C Saturday night at Centralia College during the 2019 Miss Lewis County Scholarship Pageant.
The Miss Lewis County Little Sisters take the stage Saturday night at Centralia College during the 2019 Miss Lewis County Scholarship Pageant.
Contestants dance on stage Saturday night at Centralia College during the 2019 Miss Lewis County Scholarship Pageant.
Former Miss Lewis County, Marisa Hall, right performs a dance alongside her peers Saturday night at Centralia College during the 2019 Miss Lewis County Scholarship Pageant.
After an evening spent displaying her talents to judges and a sold-out audience Saturday at Centralia College’s Corbet Theatre, Rebecca Ford was crowned the next Miss Lewis County..
This was Ford’s first year participating in the program, and as the winner she was awarded multiple scholarships including a year’s tuition to Centralia College. Ford said she is very thankful for the love and support she received from the community.
“I learned a lot about myself and the program, and I’ve grow to love my platform,” Ford said.
Samantha Styger, public relations board member for the Miss Lewis County scholarship program, said she and other board members were thankful for community support, citing a sold-out event.
“We had an amazing turnout. Corbet Theatre was an amazing new venue,” Styger said. “We are super excited to be there.”
The new venue was also a success, with more space and better lighting for the pageant, she said.
Ford said she is excited to represent Miss Lewis County at Miss Washington where she will compete with her cousin, who was crowned Miss Emerald City. Over the next year, she said she is also excited to meet new people and serve her community. In the past, Ford has volunteered at the food bank and served at her church in Chehalis as a youth leader for middle school students.
As her platform, Ford chose “Strengthening Our Community Through Selfless Living,” an idea inspired by her family’s encouragement to serve in the community. She plans to organize a service event for the community every couple of months.
“My family always encouraged me to get out in the community and serve and grow,” she said. “That’s what I want to encourage other people to do.”
Ford has attended Centralia College for one year and said she wants to use her tuition scholarship to continue her education. She plans to earn a media communications degree and eventually a Bachelor’s Degree in communication so that she can be a public relations specialist.
“I think (the judges) made a fabulous decision and we are excited for the next year,” Styger said. “If you’re out in the community and see (Rebecca), come say, ‘Hi.’ ”
For updates on Ford’s time spent as Miss Lewis County, go to the Miss Lewis County Scholarship Program Facebook pages, Instagram account and website, http://misslewiscounty.com/.
