Julia Lewandowski crowned the new Miss Posen 2009
by Richard Lamb, Advance Editor
Julia Lewandowski danced her way to the Miss Posen title last Friday. The daughter of Mark and Denise Lewandowski won the talent portion of the event with a graceful dance and won the poise and appearance award. A student at the Dance Center in Alpena since preschool, she danced to ?Let Yourself Go? for her talent presentation.
Elysha Peters, the daughter of Greg and Kris Peters and the late June Jodoin, earned first runner-up and won the coordination award. For her talent she presented drawings she had done along with reading a poem dedicated to her mother and her grandmother. Second runner-up Janice Ciarkowski, the daughter of Grace and David Ciarkowski, did a comedy skit where she portrayed a host of a cooking show preparing a potato dish. Cheryl Romel won the congeniality award. Other contestants included Emily Kroll, Natasha Finley and Kaitlin Hirschman.
Master of ceremonies Conrad Bruski, afternoon host at WATZ radio in Alpena, said he really dreads reading off the winners in a pageant because he considers all the contestants winners.
?What you do, coming on stage and what it does for your personality and for your growth as a person is very important. The numbers don?t really mean anything. You all did a wonderful job,? he told the contestants before announcing the top three. Miss Posen 2008, Bonnie Schmitz had kind words to say about her court from the past year in her farewell.
?We?ve all gone through so much together and I know I?ll remember you forever. We are entering a new part of our lives, but let?s keep all the memories we have
Rex and Sherry Manning of Prestige Productions provided the audio for the event while Penny Seiler, Allison Misiak, Meg Romel and Alletta Misiak helped out the contestants in the dressing room.
Brenda Gauthier, Michelle Styma and Angie Krajniak provided makeup by Mary Kay. Judges were Ken Connon, Carol Witherbee and Erin Fleming while Julie Rouleau served as auditor.