Large number of contestants to vie for crown in Logan County pageant

[JULY 30, 2005]  Logan County Fair Queen Pageant director Deanne Mott is really excited about this year's event. With an uncommonly large number of young ladies -- 13 -- vying for this year's crown, it has taken a little more time and work, but Mott said she doesn't mind. She's particularly happy that all four of the county's public high schools -- Lincoln, Hartsburg-Emden, Mount Pulaski and Olympia -- are being represented.

Final modifications to the program are still being worked out, Mott said. Typically all of the girls are paraded up and seated on stage to be seen together, but the new mobile stage will not hold that many chairs. And the program will take a little longer than usual with so many contestants competing.

The queen pageant begins at the Logan County Fairgrounds grandstand at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

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Contestants

Danielle Barr
Chestnut

Seventeen years old; daughter of Lisa Barr and Daniel Seiler; graduate of Mount Pulaski High School; attends California Culinary Academy.

She says: Walking, exercising and dancing are some of my hobbies that I do the most. I also enjoy snow skiing, jet skiing, photography and baking. I would have to say, though, that my favorite hobbies are volunteering and participating and giving leadership and peer education seminars.

I was on the national honor roll three years in a row. I received an FCCLA Scholarship and a Rotary Youth Scholarship. I have been awarded the Outstanding L.I.F.E. student award, five-year 4-H award, section officer award, RYLA member award and three-year FCCLA member award.

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Alexandrea Davis
Lincoln

Nineteen years old; daughter of Elizabeth Davis and James Davis; graduate of Lincoln Community High School; attends Lincoln College.

She says: Soccer and cheerleading are some of my favorite sports to participate in, as I continued to play them competitively at Lincoln College. I also really enjoy tennis, cooking, fishing, reading and learning the German language.

Honors: Recipient of The Marvin D. "Swede" Johnson Scholarship for the student who best represents the ideals of Lincoln College, William B. McKinley Award for the student who fulfills the Lincoln College experience, Lincoln College Women's Soccer Scholarship, Lincoln College Cheerleading Scholarship, Lincoln College dean's list all four quarters.

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Jenna Leesman
Emden

Eighteen years old; daughter of Neil and Sheri Leesman; graduate of Hartsburg-Emden High School; attends Western Illinois University.

She says: Volleyball, softball and cheerleading are some of my favorite hobbies. In this last year my volleyball team participated in the IHSA state tournament -- the first time in 22 years our school had been there. Also my softball team played in and won the regional championship. This was the first time since the state split into two classes, A and AA.

Honors: National Honor Roll, "Who's Who Among American High School Students," Hartsburg American Legion Scholarship recipient, Hartem Alumni Scholarship recipient.

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Jessica Lindgren
Atlanta

Eighteen years old; daughter of James and Diane Lindgren; graduate of Olympia High School; attends University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

She says: I love to run, especially long distance, as I have participated in several 5K runs over the years. I also enjoy playing and watching basketball. I enjoy baking, movies, meeting new people, reading, hanging out with my friends, exercising, dancing, swimming and helping out my community.

Honors: Niki Hutchcraft Memorial Award, Top Distinguished Student, Masonic Lodge Scholarship, high honor roll for eight semesters, Pantagraph Scholar/Athlete Award, Illinois State Scholar Award, AGJA Scholarship winner, Graue Inc. scholarship recipient for 2005, Lincoln Kiwanis Outstanding 4-H'er Award 2005, two-time winner of three varsity letters, U.S. Army Scholar Athlete Award winner.

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Mia Martinie
Lincoln

Eighteen years old; daughter of Michael and Kathleen Martinie; graduate of Lincoln Community High School; attends Western Illinois University.

She says: In my spare time I enjoy running, boating with my family, which includes water skiing, wakeboarding and swimming. I love to shop, dance and play soccer. However, I also find it enjoyable to spend as much of my time as possible with friends and family.

Honors: Volleyball Team Leadership Award, Most Valuable Player in soccer for two consecutive years, Central State Eight All-Conference Team in soccer, Honorable Mention All-Sectional Team in soccer, Central State Eight Athletic-Academic Award for soccer and pompon squads for four years, Hugh O'Brien Leadership Award, academic high honors for four years, "Who's Who Among High School Students," Senior Student of the Month, National Honor Society Service Award.

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Carrie Meyrick
Middletown

Twenty years old; daughter of Diane Meyrick; graduate of Lincoln Community High School; attends Millikin University.

She says: I enjoy working out -- I run or bike daily, as well as practice yoga. I like to read fictional books -- my favorite author is Elizabeth Berg. I love spending time outdoors. I live in rural Middletown on 5 acres of wooded land, on which I like to spend time digging in the dirt, either landscaping or gardening.

Honors: Tabor Business Student of the Year, Executive Board Member of the Month, February Student of the Month, dean's list, National Dean's List, James Millikin Scholar nominee, Alpha Lambda Delta national honorary nominee.

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Laura Reeter
Mount Pulaski

Twenty years old; daughter of Randy and Sue Reeter; graduate of Mount Pulaski High School; attends Blackburn College.

She says: Volleyball has been such an important part of my life that it has become my greatest hobby and interest. This hobby has allowed me to begin my coaching career early. This past spring, I coached two Central Illini Club volleyball teams. I also enjoy playing volleyball, running, walking, watching sports, hanging out with friends and spending time with my family.

In high school I was selected from many other applicants to participate in Illini Girls State. I was voted by my city's constituents to be their city alderman. I also received full-ride scholarships to play volleyball for Lakeland Community College and Lincoln Land Community College.

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Ali Robinson
Lincoln

Eighteen years old; daughter of Steve and Barb Robinson; graduate of Lincoln Community High School; attends Southeast Missouri State.

She says: My favorite pastime is golf. I enjoy cheerleading and tumbling, and I also enjoy helping youth with these activities. I love listening to music and spending time with my friends and family. I am also a very big fan of shopping!

Honors: "Who's Who Among American High School Students" all four years; honor roll every semester; Principal's Leadership Award; Rotary Student Government Award; recipient of Illinois Elks Crippled Children's Corporation Scholarship for Physical Therapy, the Regional Achievement Award Scholarship and the Foundation Leadership Award Scholarship from Southeast Missouri State.

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Abrigail Sasse
Beason

Twenty years old; daughter of David and Gail; graduate of Lincoln Community High School; attends University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

She says: I enjoy camping with my family as well as scuba diving in Florida and various Caribbean islands. I also spend a great deal of time in the kitchen trying new recipes in addition to formulating my own. The highlight of my baking career was winning the 1998 Logan County Fair Cake Classic. In the summer, I enjoy horseback riding, water sports and hot-air ballooning.

Honors: James Scholar; dean's list; National 4-H Congress; scholarships -- Zonta Health Career, 4-H Foundation, Logan County Ag Day, Balloon Association of Greater Illinois and ACES Sard Giles; University of Illinois Mother's Association Book Award for a 4.0 grade-point average; Beason's 125th celebration queen.

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Kimberly Steffens
Lincoln

Nineteen years old; daughter of Dale and Bonnie Steffens; graduate of Lincoln Community High School; attends Drake University.

She says: I love to work out because having a healthy body is very important to me. I take ballet at Audra's Studio of Dance and enjoy cooking for my family, especially desserts. I also like vacationing with my family in Naples, Fla., and thinking of fun things to do with my friends. Reading is my passion, and I usually reread my favorite books. For the past 11 years, I have shown Hampshire sheep at the Logan County Fair and the Illinois State Fair, in both the 4-H & Junior Show and the Open Show.

Honors: 2004 January Student of the Month at Lincoln Community High School, "Killer Kicker" of the Railettes dance team, Illinois Hampshire Sheep Queen for two years, Merit Recognition Scholarship from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, dean's list at Heartland Community College.

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Amber Turner
Chestnut

Nineteen years old; daughter of Mike and Suzie Maxheimer and Scott and Julie Turner; graduate of Mount Pulaski High School; attends Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

She says: Some of my favorite hobbies are scrapbooking, tumbling, swimming and fishing in my pond. I also enjoy hanging out with my family and friends, watching movies about love stories, and dancing.

Honors: Homecoming queen; most humorous senior; most outgoing senior; "Who's Who Among American High School Students"; honor roll; cheerleading -- Most Improved, Most Spirited, National Cheerleaders Association All-American nominee; United States Achievement Academy Award; "Who's Who Among American High School Athletes"; basketball -- Defensive Player of the Year.

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Krista Ubbenga
Hartsburg

Nineteen years old; daughter of Kevin and Gail Ubbenga; graduate of Hartsburg-Emden High School; attends University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

She says: My favorite hobby is baking, especially creating new recipes. I used this passion to start a small baking business in high school as an FFA project. Being active is also important to me, and I especially love playing volleyball, running and swimming. Most recently, I became interested in country line dancing and enjoy learning as many new dances as possible!

Honors: U of I dean's list; State FFA Degree recipient; high school salutatorian; Illinois State Scholar; scholarships -- General Assembly, Logan County Ag Day, Merit Recognition, 4-H Foundation, Balloon Association of Greater Illinois, FFA: Cargill and Royster-Clark Inc., ACES: Homer White, Tomlin, Kunkle-Anderson.

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Christina Xamis
Lincoln

Twenty years old; daughter of Jim and Cathy Xamis; graduate of Lincoln Community High School; attends University of Missouri at Columbia.

She says: Traveling is one of my favorite hobbies because it has helped me learn firsthand more about my favorite interest, my Greek heritage. I also enjoy Greek dancing, jet skiing, working out, volunteer work, attending sporting events, shopping and spending time with my family and friends.

Honors: National Principal's Leadership Award recipient, University of Missouri Column's Scholarship, Vulcan Scholarship, News Channel 20's Athlete of the Week, Academic All-Conference Team, Citizenship Award and homecoming queen.

[LDN and news release]