26 to contend for crowns

February 23, 2009 Last Updated: February 23, 2009 10:51 AM Community

BC3 to host 3 pageants on Feb. 28

Pageants to determine who will compete in the 2009 Miss Pennsylvania and Miss Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen pageants are set for 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at Butler County Community College's Succop Theater.

The local event will feature 26 young women: five vying for the Miss Butler County/America title, nine vying for the Miss Moraine State/America or Miss Mercer County/America, and 12 competing in the Outstanding Teen/America pageant as either Miss Butler County, Miss Moraine State or Miss Mercer County.

Pageant director Lucy Mudrick said Mercer County titles were added this year after the state office requested area pageants add contestants from neighboring areas to increase contestants. Mercer County formerly had no pageant of its own, Mudrick said.

Contestants in the events will be judged on interviews, talent, onstage questions and evening wear. The Miss Outstanding Teen contestants will model fitness wear. Miss Pennsylvania contestants will model swimsuits.

Pageant directors and choreographers also include Lee Garrard, Judy Hughes and Terry Leyland.

Emcees will be Maria Brooke Miller, 2008 Miss Butler County/America; Courtney Thomas, 2008 Miss Moraine State/America; Elizabeth Archambault, 2008 Miss Butler County Outstanding Teen/America; and Elissa McCracken, 2008 Miss Moraine State Outstanding Teen/America.

Winners will advance to their respective state pageants in June at the Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh. Winners of those pageants will compete at the national level.

Special guests will include 2008 Miss Maryland, 2008 Miss West Virginia and the Miss Pennsylvania executive director.

Contestants include:

Whitney Angeloni, 18, of Renfrew is the daughter of Frank and Sheilan Angeloni. She is a freshman at Butler County Community College. She will sing "A New Life." Her platform is Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.Danielle Hillwig, 21, of Chicora is the daughter of Boyd and Shirley Hillwig. She is a junior at Thiel College, where she is majoring in history and minoring in church music. She will sing "The Light in the Piazza." Her platform is lung health.Rachelle Rankin, 20, of Butler is the daughter of James and Lois Rankin. She is a junior majoring in graphic design at Edinboro University. She will do a monologue. Her platform is breast cancer awareness.Kristy Weber, 19, of Butler is the daughter of Eric and Sandi Kirby. She is a sophomore at St. Vincent College, where she is majoring in biochemistry and minoring in business. She will sing "Fever." Her platform is "Our Hearts: Our Choice."Kristen Workley, 19, of Prospect is the daughter of Edward Robinson and Barbara Workley. She is a freshman at Butler County Community College, where she is majoring in business administration. She will do a jazz dance to "All That Jazz." Her platform is diabetes.

Amber Alsop, 20, of Knox is the daughter of Edward and Denise (Alsop) Rhoades. She is a sophomore at Clarion University majoring in molecular biology. She will do a piano performance of "Courage of the Wind." Her platform is alcoholism.Melissa Caltabiano, 20, Mullica Hill, N.J., is the daughter of Joseph and Lisa Eivich. She is a junior at Widener University, where she is majoring in communication studies and minoring in legal studies and analysis. She will do a jazz dance to "Fever." Her platform is "Healthy Babies/Healthy Future."Samantha Clawges, 21, of Hadley is the daughter of Michael and Cynthia Clawges. She is a senior at Gannon University, where she is majoring in physician assistant studies and minoring in biology. She will do a tap dance to "Let's Go Crazy." Her platform is newborn screening.Whitney Covert, 21, of Orbisonia is the daughter of Thomas and Tammy Covert. She is a junior at Grove City College majoring in psychology and minoring in religion and families studies. She will do a lyrical dance to "Time of My Life." Her platform is "Teach a Man to Fish."Ashley Duespohl, 21, of Pittsburgh is the daughter of Thomas and Colleen Duespohl. She is a junior at Duquesne University, majoring in biology and premedicine. She will play "Sonata Pathetique" on the piano. Her platform is adoption.Sara Hass, 19, of Cos Cob, Conn., is the daughter of David and Wanda Read. She is a junior at Carnegie Mellon University, where she is majoring in clarinet performance and psychology. She will play Weber's Clarinet Concerto No. 1 on the clarinet. Her platform is autism.Jenna Knopsnyder, 20, of Somerset is the daughter of Clarence and Amy Knopsnyder. She is a junior at Towson University, where she is majoring in public relations and minoring in electronic media and film. She will do a vocal performance of "Lascia Ch'ia Pianga." Her platform is school bullying.Jolene Nieves, 21, of Central City is the daughter of Juan and Jacqueline Nieves. She is a senior at Seton Hill University, where she is majoring in history and political science. She will sing "A New Life." Her platform is youth voting and political awareness.Carly Rice, 17, of Meadville is the daughter of Frederick Rice and Deborah Wilson. She is a senior at Meadville High School. She will do a jazz dance to music by Canned Heat. Her platform is diabetes awareness.

Ashley Avolio, 13, of Washington is the daughter of Armondo and Kathy Avolio. She is in eighth grade at Trinity Middle School. She will do a lyrical dance to "I Am Changing." Her platform is children with special needs.Mackenzie Bart, 16, of Brockway is the daughter of Randy and Janice Bart. She is a sophomore at Brockway High School. She will sing "What I Did for Love." Her platform is universal newborn screening.Sarah Bishop, 16, of Butler is the daughter of Joseph and Lori Bishop. She is a sophomore at Butler Intermediate High School. She will sing "Orange Colored Sky." Her platform is visitation needs of the elderly.Alyssa Benamati, 16, of Curwensville is the daughter of William and Julie Benamati. She is a junior at Curwensville Junior Senior High School. She will do a jazz dance twirl to "A Chorus Line." Her platform is Pennies for Patients.Shannon Chandler, 16, of Brookville is the daughter of Andrew and Lisa Chandler. She is a junior at Brookville High School. She will sing "Via Dolorosa." Her platform is "Making a Difference."Katy Galimberti, 17, of State College is the daughter of Mark Galimberti and Elaine Barsness. She is a junior at State College High School. She will do a dance and twirl routine to "Right Now." Her platform is cancer assistance and awareness for patients.Anne Grill, 17, of Meadville is the daughter of John and Mary Grill. She is a junior at Meadville High School. She will sing "Good Morning Baltimore." Her platform is "Go Girls Go: Help Fight Childhood Obesity."Alyssa Guerrieri, 13, of Washington is the daughter of Gary and Elizabeth Guerrieri. She is in eighth grade at Trinity Middle School. She will do a musical theater and acro routine to "I Gotcha." Her platform is embracing a cause for cancer.Jessica Ice, 17, of Murrysville is the daughter of James and Christine Ice. She is a junior at Franklin High School. She will do a song and dance routine to "Here I Am." Her platform is "Teens can Make a Difference Through Mission Work."Mikayla Sonneborn, 14, of West Finley is the daughter of Richard and Marcia Sonneborn. She is a freshman at West Greene High School. She will play "Minuet" by Luigi Boccherini on the violin. Her platform is "Get Kids Active."Hannah Timm, 17, of St. Marys is the daughter of Robert and Sheri Timm. She is a junior at St. Marys High School. She will sing "The Wizard and I." Her platform is anti-tobacco education and awareness.Rebecca Zaneski, 13, of Edwardsville is the daughter of Stan and Linda Zaneski. She is a seventh grader at Wyoming Valley West Middle School. She will do a hip-hop dance to "WhenI Grow Up." Her platform is "Basic Exercising Can Keep You Healthy."

WHAT: Pageants for Miss Butler County/America, Miss Moraine State/America, Miss Mercer County/America, Miss Butler County Outstanding Teen/America, Miss Moraine State Outstanding Teen/America and Miss Mercer County Outstanding Teen/AmericaWHEN: 7 p.m. Feb. 28WHERE: Succop Theater, Butler County Community CollegeTICKETS: Available for $15 at the Dance Connection or by calling 724-285-3345.