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 1^st 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.”