Sandy Little Crowned as 2007
Popcorn Festival Queen
Sandra Little,
along with her friends and that included all those who were
contestants in this year’s Festival Scholarship Pageant, did expect
to participate in a pageant. Sandy and her friends had never done
anything like this before. But after Ms. Little was crowned as the
2007 Popcorn Festival Queen; she now
has experience under her sash.
Ms.
Little was very surprised at winning the
pageant and was pleased to have won
the
scholarship that came with the title. Sandy said it was fun
and enjoyed having fun with her friends as well. As Sandy said to
the reporters, “I have a chance to wear my 2007 Northview High
School promo dress one more time in the evening gown competition.
The
Pageant took place on Saturday, 25 August at Traditions in downtown
Brazil. Little was one of five contestants that participated. Olivia
Kumpf was First Runner Up and Megan Keller was awarded Second Runner
Up. All will receive scholarships at their school of choice. Sandy
is the daughter of Jim and Donna Little of Staunton.
The
competition for all contestants included a pre-pageant interview
with three judges, evening gown display, on-stage impromptu
questions by Emcee Eric Brown, and a dance number choreographed by
Dana Daub of the Dance Factory. Ms. Little’s question impromptu
question was “Which teacher had made the most impact on her life”.
Nervously, she gave a great response.
Popcorn Festival
President Evelyn Brown stated “Each of these girls is a quality
contestant. Each one of these girls has never been involved with a
pageant before and each contestant looked like they had done it many
times."
Pageant director Melissa Medearis (2006 1st Runner Up)
was very pleased with how the pageant went and everyone enjoyed the
free popcorn and lemonade during the event. Melissa did discuss how
much fun it was to be doing this for the
Festival and “…felt is was a blast to do.” Last year’s 2006 Festival
Queen Heather Palmer gave her final goodbyes to the group and was on
hand to crown Ms. Little. Heather placed in third place last year at
the Indiana State Festivals Association Pageant which she earned
another scholarship. Janice Cox, who serves as the Festival’s
vice-president and Pageant Committee chair person stated “We were
excited and thrilled last year that our first Festival Queen Heather
Palmer placed third at the State Competition and we hope that Sandy
Little will take one of the top two honors these year.”
The
three judges this year were Terre Haute residents Jim and Pam
Bertoli along with WTWO news reporter Katie Shane. Jim Bertoli head
up the Wabash United Way and Pam Bertoli is the granddaughter of
Orville Redenbacher who the Popcorn Festival honors each year with a
Festival.
Prior
to crowning Ms. Little 2007 Festival Queen, Ms. Palmer stated in her
good-bye speech that she was extremely honored to be the first
Popcorn Festival Queen. “Tonight is not about who will finish first,
it’s about creating those memories that will last a lifetime.”
