Pageant Press: Miss Lake Festival reigns

Miss Lake Festival reigns

Stansbury selected queen from eight in pageant

The Daily Standard

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

By Betty Lawrence

CELINA - Devon Stansbury will reign at this weekend's Celina Lake Festival after being crowned Miss Lake Festival 2010 on Monday evening at the Celina Fieldhouse.

Stansbury, 20, is a 2008 graduate of Parkway High School, Rockford, and is the daughter of Steve Stansbury and Marcia Ripley.

Dressed in light pink, Stansbury danced her way across the stage in a contemporary lyrical performance to "Free Fallin" for the talent portion of the scholarship pageant. Her long white gown with glistening halter bodice drew the attention of the five judges in the evening gown portion of the contest, and for the lifestyle and fitness division, Stansbury chose a two-piece aqua swimsuit.

Named first runner-up was Jena Sweigart, 18, a senior at Celina High School. She is the daughter of Jim and Jane Sweigart. Sweigart sang "Poor Wandering One" in the talent portion of the pageant, and her two-piece swimsuit was green. Glittering bands accented the neckline of her long pink gown for the evening gown competition.

The judges selected Rachel Hertenstein, 18, as the second runner-up. She is a 2010 Celina High School graduate and is the daughter of Mike and Sheryl Hertenstein.

Hertenstein performed the Broadway vocal "Show Off" in the talent portion of the competition and chose a strapless long blue gown for the evening gown division. Her two-piece swimsuit was dark blue.

Rounding out the queen's court was third runner-up Samantha Hartings, 18, a 2010 graduate of Coldwater High School. She is the daughter of Marvin and Janice Hartings.

Hartings performed a lyrical dance to "Wait Till You See My Smile" in the talent portion of the competition and wore a bright pink two-piece swimsuit for the lifestyle division.

Last year's Miss Lake Festival Queen, Cayla Hellwarth, crowned the new queen.

Eight young ladies competed for the crown and a chance to move on to the Miss Ohio pageant.

More than $17,000 in scholarships was awarded to contestants. The Western Ohio Education foundation provides $8,000 in matching funds to participants who attend Wright State University-Lake Campus.

As queen, Stansbury won the $3,800 Miss Lake Festival scholarship, as well as the $300 On-Stage Interview award and $200 People's Choice award.

First runner-up Sweigart earned a $1,800 scholarship award and the Fred Thees $600 Interview award.

Second runner-up Hertenstein received a $1,500 scholarship and the $600 Outstanding Talent award. Third runner-up Hartings received a $1,200 scholarship for her effort.

Contestant Emilee Langenkamp received the $600 Commitment to Excellence award and $500 non-finalist award. Also receiving the $500 non-finalist awards were contestants Roxanne Romack, Tori Puthoff and Jocelyn Staugler. Romack also received the $200 Barbara Wagner Memorial Award.

The talent portion of the competition accounted for the largest percentage (35) of the judges' total score. Private interviews held by the judges just prior to the pageant made up 25 percent, while other points came from evening wear, 20; lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit, 15; and on-stage interview, 5.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by Miss Lake Festival 2008 Ellen Bryan, who also served as hostess; 2009 Lake Festival Queen Cayla Hellwarth; and Miss Ohio 2009 Erica Gelhaus.

The pageant was dedicated in memory of Jackie Balfour, who served as pageant director from 1976 to 1993. Balfour passed away June 15, and a new pageant scholarship also was established in her name. Receiving that $150 scholarship was Puthoff.