PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Star City welcomed a new group of talented queens for the new year during a pageant held over the weekend.
The Mini Miss, Little Miss, Junior Miss and Miss Presque Isle pageant attracted over 250 in attendance at the Presque Isle High School auditorium last Saturday evening, April 1, 2017.
2016 Miss Presque Isle Emily Simonds opened this year’s pageant by giving thanks to her supporters and introducing emcees Sherry Locke of United Way and Jason Parent of ACAP.
AWARD WINNER — One of 2016 Junior Miss PI Taylor Hedrich’s final official duties was to recognize contestant Maddison Cleaves as the 2017 pageant’s high ticket sales winner. (Photo courtesy of Lyndsey Maynard)
Due to the number of contestants a combined pageant including eight girls graced the stage in pastels performing a dance routine to “Celebration” in line with this year’s theme celebrating 60 years of United Way of Aroostook, one of the pageant’s host organizations.
The sale of tickets for the pageant brought in around $3,000 for the United Way of Aroostook. The contestants raised close to $2,000 in sponsorships. The Miss Hospitality award went to 2017 Junior Miss Madison Hedrich, daughter of Jennifer and Todd Hedrich. She brought in over $1,000 in sponsorships on her own and she performed a contemporary lyrical dance to “Wherever I go”.
Madison’s sister, 2016 Junior Miss Presque Isle Taylor Hedrich, gave up her crown to her sister Saturday night. Taylor was last year’s Miss Hospitality winner.
The evening’s other crown winners were 2017 Mini Miss Presque Isle Natalie Putnam, daughter of Kristina and Cole Putnam. She performed “Do You Want to Build a Snowman”. 2017 Little Miss Presque Isle went to Johanna Cote, daughter of Jasmine and Jason Cote. She performed a jazz dance to “September”. 2017 Miss Presque Isle went to Yessenia Vilar, daughter of Jasmine and Jason Cote. She performed a lyrical dance to “Meet Me on the Battlefield”.
Miss Congeniality went to Madelynn Putnam and Maddison Hedrich. High Ticket Sales went to Madison Cleaves.
“I was so impressed with our contestants this year,” United Way’s Locke said. “All of the girls are so beautiful, talented and very community-minded. I look forward to working with the new queens throughout the year by providing them opportunities to be more involved with the United Way of Aroostook and the work we do.”
The evening’s other contestants were Samantha Andersen, daughter of Michelle and Brent Andersen. She performed a contemporary lyrical dance to “Because You Loved Me”. Kylie Scott, daughter of Janice and Anthony Scott. She played “On My Own” on the piano. Madelynn Putnam, daughter of Kristina and Cole Putnam. She sang “In Summer”. And Maddison Cleaves, daughter of Carli and Alan Cleaves. She performed a hip hop dance to “Ice Ice Baby”.
The United Way of Aroostook teamed up with the Presque Isle Rotary Club and the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club this year. Money raised from the pageant will help support the creation of a new playground at Riverside Park. Construction of the new playground is expected to begin summer 2018.
Jolene Kinney and assistant Brandy Cronin directed the 2017 pageant.
