2 winners crowned in pageants at BC3
BUTLER TWP — Two pageant winners were named Saturday evening, each taking one step closer to the Miss America crown.
Alycia McCullough, 22, of Cochranton was named 2006 Miss Butler County America and Lucy Hazelet, 19, of Saegertown was named 2006 Miss Moraine State America during a joint pageant held at the Succop Theater at Butler County Community College.
Both contestants will advance to the Miss Pennsylvania America Pageant to be held in June in Allentown. The winner of that pageant will advance to the Miss America Pageant.Also acknowledged during the 23rd annual Miss Butler County America Pageant were Ashley Duespohl, 18, first runner-up; Jo Marie Rankin, 19, second runner-up; and Taylor McLaughlin, 18, third runner-up. All are of Butler.<br></bR><br></bR>
Runners-up in the 10th annual Miss Moraine State America pageant included Kerriann Kada, 23, of Pittsburgh, first runner-up; Gina Cerilli, 19, of Greensburg, second runner-up; and Melanie Hildebrant, 20, of Nazareth, third runner-up.Hostesses for the joint pageant were Heather Pate, 2005 Miss Butler County America, and Darcie Bell, 2005 Miss Moraine State America.Candidates were judged in the categories of interview, talent, swimsuit, presence and poise. There were 12 contestants in the Miss Butler County pageant and nine in the Miss Moraine contest.<br></bR><br></bR>
The winner of each title will receive a $1,000 scholarship and entry into the state pageant. First runner-up for each title will receive a $400 scholarship, second runner-up will receive a $200 award and third runner-up will receive $100.McCullough is a student at Slippery Rock University, where she studies elementary education. As her talent she gave a dance performance to "Phantom of the Opera." She is the daughter of Greg and Darby McCullough of Cochranton.Hazelet is a junior at Indiana (Pa.) University, where she majors in psychology. She performed "Le Papillon" on piano for the talent portion of the competition. She is the daughter of Theodore and Paula Hazelet of Saegertown.
