Chelsea Kent is crowned new ?Miss Onaway?
A touch of the 1950s came to the OHS Cafetorium last Friday as Chelsea Kent became the new Miss Onaway at the 2006 Miss Onaway Scholarship Pageant.
Kent, the daughter of Bruce and Wendy Szymoniak, won the talent award for the comedy skit ?Chelsea on the Phone.? She also won Miss Congeniality.
The six contestants held hands as mistress of ceremonies Kymberli Wregglesworth announced contestant number three Nicole Hillis as first runner-up, but when it was time to hear the judge?s decision regarding who would wear the Miss Onaway crown for the next year, Kent could be seen saying something that could only be heard by her fellow contestants.
?I WAS SAYING, Wendy has it,? said Kent, of contestant number two Wendy Norman. ?I thought she did a really good job.? Kent added that she was surprised to hear her name instead.
?I think she is the youngest of eight children and she has learned all of their good qualities,? said Wendy Szymoniak. ?She really puts them to good use.? Kent will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
In addition to winning first runner up, Hillis, who is the daughter of Jerry and Sally Hillis, took the ticket sales award and evening gown competition.
Other contestants, all of whom gave a great effort were: Heather Stalker, Britini Wregglesworth, Tierra DeYoung, and Norman.
ENTERTAINMENT WAS provided by 2005 Miss Onaway Debra Osantowski, who sang ?Stupid Cupid,? a 1950s hit from Connie Francis.
She was assisted by stage hands Nathan Brasseur and Tony Madison, who left audience members with one of the night?s most memorable moments when they parted the curtains and appeared on stage in cupid outfits, bow
Wregglesworth said there was some behind the scenes difficulties in trying to secure judges, but that did not come through on stage.
?The performance itself, the public would have never known that there were difficult things going on in the background. ?I am thrilled with the results, and I am thrilled with the way every single one of the girls did,? said Wregglesworth. ?They did fantastic and showed off their personality quite a bit, and I am very, very happy.?
A long list of donors of gifts and certificates for the contestants and a list of many of the pageant workers were included in the pageant program. Kent will reign over the Onaway Fourth of July festivities in the coming week, including the annual Fourth of July parade Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.