Ford, Powers and LaPointe
named new Mapleton queens
Special to The Star-Herald
PRESQUE ISLE – In spite of the cool breeze blowing outside, the Presque Isle High School auditorium remained warm and the anticipation built April 10 as the curtain opened to reveal a ‘70s theme and 12 contestants vying for three Mapleton titles.
The PIRCTC student organizations served as pageant sponsors this year and sent representatives Brittany Lovely, SkillsUSA president, Maddasin Willette, FFA president and Adam Curtis, FBLA president, to welcome the audience and provide some background about their respective clubs. Naiomi Donovan, SkillsUSA member and Alyssa Huston, FBLA treasurer, were then introduced as Mistresses of Ceremonies for the pageant. By the end of the evening, Whitney LaPointe was crowned 2010 Miss Mapleton, Michaela Powers was crowned Mapleton’s first Teen Miss Mapleton, and Elena Ford was named 2010 Junior Miss Mapleton.
Rushing down the aisles to the stage in their ‘70s tie-dyed T-shirts, colored shorts, with only brightly colored socks on their feet, were all 12 contestants, along with the reigning 2009 Junior Miss Mapleton Hannah Stoutamyer and 2009 Miss Mapleton Paige McEachern dancing to “The Locomotion” in their opening number.
All 12 contestants competed in four categories: interview, which took place the Saturday prior to the pageant, casual wear and on-stage question, talent, and evening gown and on-stage question. The seven contestants competing in the Junior Miss Mapleton division were:
• Cassandra Buck, the 14-year-old daughter of Andy and Angela Buck, who performed a vocal selection titled “Set the World on Fire.”
• Naomi McEachern, the 13-year-old daughter of Bruce McEachern and Pamela McEachern, who presented a monologue, “Goldilocks’ Bad Wrap.”
• Michaela Dubé, the 11-year-old daughter of Mike Dubé and Valerie Black, who sang “Free to Be Me,” earning second runner-up in the Junior Miss division.
• Elena Ford, the 14-year-old daughter of Hank and Helena Ford, who performed a lyrical ballet routine to “Someday.” Ford earned the Talent Award, Photogenic Award, and was named 2010 Junior Miss Mapleton.
• Emma Langille, the 12-year-old daughter of Carroll and Jennifer Langille, who performed a hip hop/tap dance routine to “Car Wash.” After a vote by her peers, Langille received the award for Miss Congeniality.
• Stephanie Winslow, the 12-year-old daughter of Willie and Nancy Winslow, was the only instrumentalist in the group. She played “Fur Elise” on her flute.
• Hannah Guerrette, the 14-year-old daughter of Gary Guerrette and Carl and Kimberly Michaud, who presented a dance routine to “One Singular Sensation.” Guerrette received the award for high ticket sales, raising over $400 for the pageant sponsors, and was also named Junior Miss first runner-up.
Competing in the newly added Teen Miss division were:
• Michaela Powers, the 15-year-old daughter of Joe and Sue Powers, who performed a ballet dance en pointe to “Bella’s Lullaby.” Powers was named Mapleton’s first 2010 Teen Miss.
• Sarah McEachern, the 16-year-old daughter of Bruce McEachern and Pamela McEachern, who presented a clogging routine to “Turn the Beat Around.”
• Kali Warner, the 15-year-old daughter of Michael and Tina Warner, who sang “The Climb” during the talent presentations.
• Kathryn Sharp, the 15-year-old daughter of Daniel and Linda Sharp, who received the Teen Miss Talent Award for her vocal performance, “Temporary Home.” She was also named first runner-up in the Teen division.
Whitney LaPointe, the 18-year-old daughter of Bryan and Tanya LaPointe, was the only contestant in the Miss division. In order to qualify for the Maine Potato Blossom pageant this summer, LaPointe had to compete in front of a panel of judges in a typical pageant setting. She performed a lyrical ballet dance to “Breakable.” During the awards presentation, LaPointe was crowned 2010 Miss Mapleton by the 2009 outgoing queen, Paige McEachern. LaPointe will receive her scholarship that was made possible by Mapleton businesses at Senior Class Day in June.
Also providing pageant entertainment were Mapleton’s Little Miss and Pre-Teen Miss, who were crowned earlier in the afternoon April 10. 2010 Little Miss Mapleton Elizabeth Collins and 2010 Pre-Teen Miss Mapleton Marielle Shaw each performed their winning piano solos. 2009 Miss Maine Potato Blossom Queen Katelynn Hartt performed a piano solo and 2009 Junior Miss Mapleton Hannah Stoutamyer and 2009 Miss Mapleton Paige McEachern decided to perform individually, as well as together. I have attended numerous pageants and it’s not very often that reigning queens in the same town can find a talent to perform together, so this was a special treat! McEachern played “Brian’s Song” on the piano while Stoutamyer danced en pointe.
Following the fun parade of gowns, where the girls could relax as the judging portion was behind them, everyone said farewell to the 2009 Junior Miss, Hannah Stoutamyer and 2009 Miss, Paige McEachern. Stoutamyer read her farewell speech and the audience had a chance to view her year as queen in the form of a visual photo display while she took her final walk as Junior Miss, escorted by her father, Adam Stoutamyer and brother, Holden Stoutamyer.
Paige McEachern, 2009 Miss Mapleton, took her final walk as queen while her farewell speech was played, escorted by her father, Bruce McEachern. Both queens received farewell hugs and armloads of flowers before returning to the stage to assist with the awards ceremony. All contestants received beautifully framed photo collages that were created by the photography students at PIRCTC for their participation in this year’s pageant. Cook Florist provided the queens’ bouquets and carnations for each of the contestants. Assisting with the crowning of the new Teen Miss were SkillsUSA students, Lorraine Hughes and Naiomi Donovan.
In addition to those students already mentioned, others helping with the Mapleton pageants this year were Kacie Webber, Katie Roberts, Mariah Hanning, Jessica Stepp, Mackenzie Pinette, Chris Cawley, Dylan Mountain, JoLonna Gough, Jordyn Burby, Jordan LaFaver, Caitlin Fowler, Chelsea McNally, Macie Tompkins, Brooke Long-Postell, Haley McHatten, Ashley Nickerson, Anne Johnson, Cassandra Lunney, Ashleigh Lunney, Julia Lunney, Victoria Butterfield, Dylan Brooker, Derrick Page and Brandon Oakes.
The three clubs sponsoring the Mapleton pageants this year are working collaboratively on a community service project. The clubs, their advisers Amy White, Aaron Buzza, Erin Argraves, and Alan Curtis, along with PIRCTC Building Trades students and generous donations from local contractors and businesses, are all currently working together to build a house for a man that has volunteered over 20,000 hours to the Farm Mechanics program at PIRCTC. Anyone interested in stopping by the PIRCTC office to view the house as it progresses are encouraged to do so. The clubs would also welcome any additional donations to ensure their project is completed. Photo CDs of both Mapleton pageants, as well as DVDs are available to purchase by contacting Eva Murphy in the PIRCTC office at 764-1356.
Photos courtesy of Mackenzie Pinette
JUNIOR MISS CONTESTANT
Elena Ford pauses during her lyrical ballet routine during the talent competition.
Ford received the Junior Miss Talent Award and was named the 2010 Junior Miss Mapleton.
MICHAELA POWERS
Pauses on stage during the casual wear competition. Powers was named Mapleton’s first Teen Miss during the April 10 pageant.
MISS MAPLETON CONTESTANT
Whitney LaPointe poses during her lyrical ballet dance to “Breakable.” LaPointe was named 2010 Miss Mapleton.
TEEN MISS MAPLETON CONTESTANT
Sarah McEachern performs a clogging routine to “Turn the Beat Around.”
THE ONLY INSTRUMENTALIST
In the evening pageant, Junior Miss Mapleton contestant Stephanie Winslow played “Fur Elise” on her flute during the talent competition.
TEEN MISS TALENT AWARD WINNER
Kathryn Sharp accepts her trophy from 2009 Miss Mapleton Paige McEachern during the awards presentations.
EMMA LANGILLE
Completes her hip hop dance routine to “Car Wash” during the Junior Miss Mapleton talent presentations.
Langille was named Miss Congeniality by her peers.
JUNIOR MISS MAPLETON CONTESTANT
Naomi McEachern walks the stage in her evening gown.
KALI WARNER
Teen Miss Mapleton contestant, approaches the microphone to answer her on-stage question during the evening gown competition.
THE YOUNGEST JUNIOR MISS CONTESTANT
Michaela Dubé, takes to the stage in her casual wear. Dubé was named second runner-up in the Junior Miss Mapleton division.
PREPARING TO ANSWER
Her on-stage question in her evening gown is Junior Miss Mapleton contestant Cassandra Buck.
HANNAH GUERRETTE
Received a trophy for high ticket sales and was also named first runner-up in the Junior Miss Mapleton division.
Here, she pauses for the judges in her casual wear.
