31 young women seek pageant titles

February 17, 2010 Last Updated: February 17, 2010 02:12 PM Community

Miss Butler County/America

Contests slated Feb. 27 at BC3

Pageants to determine who will compete in the 2010 Miss Pennsylvania and Miss Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen pageants are set for 7 p.m. Feb. 27 at Butler County Community College's Succop Theater.

The local event will feature 31 young women: five vying for the Miss Butler County/America title; 15 vying for the Miss Moraine State/America or Miss Mercer County/America title; seven vying for the Miss Butler County Outstanding Teen/America title; and four competing to become Miss Moraine State Outstanding Teen/America.

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

Pageant directors and choreographers are Lee Garrard, Judy Hughes and Lucy Mudrick.

Emcees will be Kristy Weber, 2009 Miss Butler County/America; Amber Alsop, 2009 Miss Moraine State/America; Ashley Duespohl, 2009 Miss Mercer County/America; and Shannon Chandler, 2009 Miss Butler County Outstanding Teen/America.

Special performances will be offered by Hanna Timm, 2009 Miss Mercer County Outstanding Teen/America; Cecelia Pellegrino, 2010 Little Miss Butler County/America; and Jordan Luntz, 2010 Junior Miss Butler County/America.

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

Contestants include:

Whitney Angeloni, 19, of Renfrew is the daughter of Frank and Sheila Angeloni. She is a sophomore at Butler County Community College. She will do a vocal performance of "A New Life." Her platform is Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. Victoria Mysliwiec, 18, of Butler is the daughter of Thomas and Tammy Mysliwiec. She is a freshman at Grove City College majoring in biochemistry. She will sing "O Mio Babbino Caro." Her platform is Hunger in the Land of Plenty. Gretchen Perschke, 21, of Butler is the daughter of Dr. Timothy and Sharon Perschke. She is a senior at Washington and Jefferson College, where she is majoring in theatre and premedicine. She will do a euphonium solo of Concerto by Kees Schoonenbeek. Her platform is From Field to Dinner Table. Amanda Pope, 21, of Slippery Rock is the daughter of Daniel Pope and Denice Leshnock. She is a junior at Slippery Rock University, where she is majoring in elementary education with a minor in dance. She will do a jazz dance to "Remember My Name." Her platform is Saving Lives One Step at a Time. Jessica Sears, 18, of East Brady is the daughter of Peter and Cheryl Sears. She is a senior at Karns City High School. She will do a marimba to Concerto in A Minor. Her platform is Need for After-school Programs.

Jesseanna Binder, 19, of Point Marion is the daughter of Helmut and Kathy Binder. She is a freshman at California (Pa.) University, majoring in liberal studies and minoring in music. She will sing "I Hope You Dance." Her platform is Growing in Joy. Tristlyn Bixler-Kint, 19, of State College is the daughter of Shane and Shelly Kint. She is a sophomore at Penn State University. She will do a baton routine to "We Didn't Start the Fire." Her platform is THON For the Kids. Melissa Caltabiano, 21, of Mullica Hill, N.J., is the daughter of Joseph and Lisa Eivich. She is a senior at Widener University, where she is majoring in communication studies and minoring in legal studies and analysis. She will do a tap dance to "Hot Honey Rag." Her platform is Family Care: When a Parent is Diagnosed With Cancer. Samantha Clawges, 22, of Hadley is the daughter of Michael and Cynthia Clawges. She is a first-year graduate student at Gannon University, where she is in the physician assistant program and minoring in biology. She will do a tap dance to "Beat It." Her platform is Awareness of Newborn Screening. Kelsey Cost, 18, of Rossiter is the daughter of Paula and Michael Weakland and Scott Cost. She is a senior at Punxsutawney High School and plans to attend Arizona University, majoring in premedicine. She will do a hip-hop dance. Her platform is helping disabled children.

Elyse Healey, 23, of Oakdale is the daughter of G. Christopher and JoAnn Healey. She is a graduate student at Robert Morris University, majoring in political science and minoring in communication studies. She will sing "Art is Calling Me." Her platform is Think Ability: Mental and Physical Disabilities. Danielle Kaizer, 23, of Reynoldsville is the daughter of Thomas and Lori Kaizer. She graduated in 2009 from Thiel College, earning a business degree with a minor in legal studies. She will do a jazz dance to "Back in Business." Her platform on Alzheimer's disease is called Forget Me, Forget Me Not. Marissa MacIntosh, 23, of Ablington is the daughter of Robert and Maria MacIntosh. She is a 2008 graduate of LaSalle University, where she earned a degree in nursing with a psychology minor. She will sing "At Last." Her platform is Share the Wealth for Children's Health. Maria "Brooke" Miller, 20, of Grove City is the daughter of Ronald and Rita Miller. She is a sophomore at Grove City College, where she is pursuing a degree in psychology with a minor in business. She will sing "Gold." Her platform is Compassion International. Kristina Miller, 19, of Venetia is the daughter of Mark and Kimberley Miller. She is a freshman at the Georgia Institute of Technology, majoring in industrial and systems engineering and minoring in economics. She will do a baton twirling routine. Her platform is Democracy in Action: Ready, Set, Vote.

Jolene Nieves, 22 of Central City is the daughter of Jacqueline Nieves and the late Juan Nieves. She is a first-year graduate student at Drexel University, majoring in public communication. She will do a vocal performance of "I Am What I Am." Her platform is Youth Voting and Political Awareness. Jeanette Petruzzelli, 23, of Wayne is the daughter of John and Joan Petruzzelli. She is a junior at Thomas Jefferson University, where she is a nursing major. She will sing "Fly Me to The Moon." Her platform is Mending Hearts: survivors of Child Abuse. Rachelle Reynolds, 21, of DuBois is the daughter of Tim Reynolds and Jill Plyler. She is a 2009 graduate of the DuBois Business College, where she studied to become a clinical medical assistant. She will sing "Run" by Leona Lewis. Her platform is There are Angels Among Us. Carly Rice, 18, of Meadville is the daughter of Frederick Rice and Deborah Wilson. She is a freshman at Penn State University. She will do a jazz dance. Her platform is Diabetes Awareness. Cassandra Wasson, 21, of Conneautville is the daughter of Donald and Deborah Wasson. She is a junior at Gannon University, majoring in premedicine and biology and minoring in theology. She will do a jazz dance to "All That Jazz." Her platform is Healing Via Four-legged Friends.

Kayla Dasch, 16, of Butler is the daughter of Amy Tisdale and Lance Dasch. She is a sophomore at Butler Intermediate High School. She will do a dance and baton routine to "All That Jazz." Her platform is Help for Haiti. Caroline Holt, 13, of Butler is the daughter of Timothy and Nicole Holt. She is in eighth grade at Butler Junior High School. She will do a dance to "Walking on Sunshine." Her platform is The Elderly Should be Treated with Dignity and Respect. Tiffany Keffalas, 15, of Renfrew is the daughter of Jim and Karen Keffalas. She is a sophomore at Butler Intermediate High School. She will sing "What a Wonderful World." Her platform is Project Island Dog. Shannon McCarren, 17, of Butler is the daughter of Joseph and Valerie McCarren. She is a junior at Butler High School. She will sing "On My Own." Her platform is Supporting the Arts.

Clare Stevenson, 13, of Butler is the daughter of Bryan and Hollie Stevenson. She is in eighth grade at Butler Junior High School. She will do a dance to "Thoroughly Modern Millie." Her platform is educating People About Alzheimer's Disease. Allyson Stoner, 16, of Butler is the daughter of Roger and Cheryl Stoner. She is a sophomore at Butler Intermediate High School. She will do a piano solo of "Dance of Fire." Her platform is Help for the Homeless. Amanda Sybert, 14, of Butler is the daughter of Paul Sybert and Tammie Daubenspeck. She is in eighth grade at Butler Junior High School. She will sing "I Have Found Exceeding Joy." Her platform is Help for the Homeless.

Kaitlynne Kline, 15, of Carlton is the daughter of Mark and Kathy Kline. She is a sophomore at Cochranton Junior Senior High School. She will sing "Astonishing." Her platform is A.W.A.R.E. Protection against Skin Cancer. Mikayla Sonneborn, 15, of West Finley is the daughter of Richard and Marcia Sonneborn. She is a sophomore at West Greene High School. She will do a jazz dance to "Disturbia." Her platform is Working Toward Equality for Women and Girls. BreeOnna Springer, 13, of Ligonier is the daughter of Don and Tamra Springer. She is in eighth grade at Valley School of Ligonier. She will do a mermaid character dance. Her platform is Adopt a Family. Olivia Thomas, 16, of Grove City is the daughter of Eric and Paula Thomas. She is a junior at Grove City High School. She will sing "Gimme Gimme." Her platform is Urban Promise: A Ministry for Inner City Youth.

Binder, Bixler-Kint, Caltabiano, Clawges, Cost

Healey, Kaizer, MacIntosh, M. Miller, K. Miller

Nieves, Petuzzelli, Reynolds, Rice, Wasson

Dasch, Holt, Keffalas, McCarren

Stevenson, Stoner, Sybert

Kline, Sonneborn, Springer, Thomas

IF YOU'RE GOING

WHAT: Pageants for Miss Butler County/America, Miss Moraine State-Miss Mercer County/America, Miss Butler County Outstanding Teen/America and Miss Moraine State Outstanding Teen/America

WHEN: 7 p.m. Feb. 27

WHERE: Succop Theater, Butler County Community College

TICKETS: $15 at Dance Connection or at the door