State pageant has large field

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

June 21, 2008 Last Updated: June 21, 2008 01:36 PM Pennsylvania News

Brooke Miller Miss Butler County Miss America

27 look for spot in Miss America

NAZARETH — The 2008 Miss Pennsylvania pageant will feature a larger field of contestants than in past years.

Twenty-seven young women will vie for a spot in the Miss America pageant when this year's Miss Pennsylvania contest opens next month.

The pageant did away with two of the local contests — Miss Brockway and Miss Franklin County — and added four new local winners — Miss Northeast, Miss Northwest, Miss Richland Area and Miss Southeastern Pennsylvania.

The contestants will face two days of preliminary rounds before the winner is crowned following the finals on July 12. The winner will receive a $7,000 scholarship and earn a place in the Miss America pageant in January.

Last year's winner was Rachel Marie Brooks, who has championed autism awareness during her time as Miss Pennsylvania.

Representing Butler County and the surrounding region in the upcoming pageant are Brooke Miller, Miss Butler County/America, and Courtney Thomas, Miss Moraine State/America. The women were chosen from a pool of 15 women Feb. 23 during a joint pageant at the Succop Theatre at Butler County Community College.

Miller is the daughter of Ron and Rita Miller of Portersville. She is a recent graduate of Portersville Christian School.

Thomas is the daughter of Rodney and Kimberly Thomas of Sigel. She recently completed her freshman year at Shippensburg University.Other contestants, according to the pageant Web site, are:4 Miss Allegheny Valley: Courtney Blackhurst4 Miss Armstrong County: Kendria Perry4 Miss Cambria County: Tiffani Boyd4 Miss Central Pennsylvania: Ekanem Akpakip4 Miss Crawford County: Shauna Nicole Rice4 Miss Golden Triangle: Brittny Lynne Sparrow4 Miss Greater Berks County: Brina Courtney Morgan Williams4 Miss Greater Johnstown: Carmen Bloom4 Miss Greater Juniata Valley: Anna Welsh4 Miss Jewel of the West: Melissa Frances Pierce4 Miss Keystone: Lexie-Olivia Grant4 Miss Lehigh Area: Amy Anderson4 Miss MidState: Rachel Henry4 Miss Northeast: Andrea Helfrich4 Miss Northwest: Ashley Rebekah Duespohl4 Miss Philadelphia: Brintha Vasagar4 Miss Richland Area: Lucy Hazelet4 Miss River City: Katelyn Koval4 Miss Southeastern Pennsylvania: Jenna Renee Knopsnyder4 Miss Southwestern Pennsylvania: Shannon Doyle4 Miss Steel Valley: Kelsey Lynn Pitini4 Miss Susquehanna Valley: Sarah Timm4 Miss Three Rivers: Jessica Megliss4 Miss White Rose City: Amanda Lee Sellers4 Miss York County: Randi Levendusky