Winners crowned at pageant
By STACIE MORGAN
Sentinel reporter
2/24/03
LEWISTOWN - Although the night was chilly and rainey, and the
auditorium was only half full, the room radiated the warmth of the
nervous yet somehow confident smiles of 19 talented young ladies all
hoping to find their place in their sun as one of two pageant queens
crowned at the 2003 Miss Central Pennsylvania Scholarship Pageant.
While 19 were hopeful, only two could win, and Saturday night
appeared to be the night for Alison Kemerer Irwin of Meadville and
Linsey Leska of Belle Vernon to "Soak Up the Sun" as the new Miss
Greater Juniata Valley and Miss Central Pennsylvania, respectively.
The judges had their work cut out for them, especially in the area of
talent as the comments of John Metzger, executive director of the
pageant verified, "In all the years I've been involved with this
pageant," he said, "I have never seen so much talent on one stage in one
night. It's just been fabulous."
Indeed the talent glittered and seemed to dwarf the lights that
sparkled off the sequins of dance costumes and evening gowns. While the
majority of the talent centered on vocal pieces, there were also
pianists, dancers, acrobats, a flutist, baton twirlers and one
contestant who did American Sign Language to the song "I Can Only
Imagine."
With the backdrop of a sandy beach behind them, complete with a
lighthouse, the first all-contestant number included a preview of the
girls in swimsuits, though also sporting complimentary wraps. They
paraded around the stage, in rhythm, with beach balls as props and the
voice of Sheryl Crow belting out her popular song, "Soak Up the Sun,"
which was the pageant theme.
The evening was emceed by Kirstin Border Snow, titleholder of Miss
Pennsylvania 1994, and Rocco Palloto, morning show personality for MERF
Radio. One accented the other, and the two shared easy bantering with
one another and the audience.
Additional performances were given by Tiffany Hawbaker, Miss Greater
Juniata Valley 2002, and Libby Montiel, Miss Central PA 2002. A special
song was sung by Hawbaker and her father, James.
"Unforgettable" originally sung as a duo by Natalie Cole and her
father Nat King Cole, described the scene the two Hawbakers presented as
they danced arm-in-arm with a look of tenderness and pride on both
faces.
The night progressed with not only talent, which counted for 30
percent of each contestant's score, but poise and presence in evening
wear, lifestyle and fitness in swimsuits, and an overall composite score
(each worth 10 percent) with an interview counting for 40 percent.
Each performance, each easy glide across the stage by a contestant,
every light-hearted joke told by an emcee, every scratching of a pencil
on a tally sheet made by a judge, and every whisper by an audience
member served to build to the evening's pinnacle when Kirstin Border
looked expectantly at the judges' table and asked, "Judges, may I have
the results?"
There was no drum roll, no audible intake of breath that could have
spoken louder than the silence permeating the Lewistown High School's
auditorium in the moment before Border opened the envelope and
announced, "second runner up, Linda Luong." The graduate of Kutztown
University radiantly smiled and graciously accepted her bouquet. "First
runner up," said Border, "Dana Anderson." Anderson, of Kersey, also
smiled with excitement as she squeezed the hand of Luong. Again, a
quietness settled over the room, and an almost tangible anticipation
emanated from the remaining contestants and audience members.
Miss Greater Juniata Valley, Alison Irwin was called first. A genuine
and animated surprise immediately registered upon her face. Her jaw
dropped, her eyes danced and a smile quickly replaced the open mouth.
When the name of Linsey Leska was spoken in conjunction with the title
of Miss Central Pennsylvania, her slight frame began to shake and some
in the audience heard her excited soprano voice say, "Oh, oh, oh!"
The lights were raised and the audience was on its feet while hands
clapped and shouts of encouragement were yelled from family members. The
winners were hidden in the pack of contestants that surrounded them with
hugs and tears.
As the crowd of well-wishers and picture takers thinned, the winners
had a moment to comment on their immediate feelings.
"I'm really, really excited," said Irwin, whose eyes continually
scanned the crowd, fellow contestants and others upon the stage. "But
I'm just so glad my great, great grandmother was able to be here. That
means so much to me."
Leska gave a big smile, held out her hands and said, "I'm elated, but
look at my hands, I'm still shaking."
Although only two could be titleholders, there were others who earned
awards: The award for non-finalist interview was given to Laura King of
East Brady; non-finalist talent was given to Amy Anderson of
Northampton, who did a pointe dance; the highest scoring contestant in
evening wear was Lena Galicki of Mocanaqua; the encouragement award was
given to Anderson; and the highest scoring award in interview was given
to Irwin, who also earned the swimsuit award.
The pageant complete, a new adventure was just beginning for Irwin
and Leska, who will soon be spending their year representing
Pennsylvania through statewide appearances and promoting their
individual platforms - Hands United Against Domestic Violence, Irwin,
and Promoting Self-Esteem, Community Involvement and Volunteerism to
Young Women, Leska.
Both women gratefully acknowledged their parents, as well as many
others, and looked forward with great anticipation to the year they know
would be full of fun as well as challenges."