The 2014 Miss Tooele County Scholarship Pageant will be held at 7 p.m. this Saturday at Grantsville High School.
According to pageant director Abi McNeill, this year’s pageant has seven excellent contestants. Each had to meet criteria to qualify to compete, such as age, being a county resident, GPA, etc.
“I think it’s going to be a tough competition,” she said. “I’m glad I’m not judging it. The judges will have a big load on their plate.”
McNeill, who is a former Miss Tooele County and has been the pageant’s director since last year, said the contest will have five volunteer judges.
The judges do not live in Tooele County, and all come from diverse experience and career and vocational backgrounds, she added.
McNeill said this year’s pageant is again made possible due to cash donations and in-kind contributions provided by local businesses, organizations and individuals.
The 2014 Miss Tooele County will receive a $1,750 scholarship. Additional scholarships include $1,000 for the first attendant and $750 for the second attendant.
McNeill explained Miss Tooele County and her attendants provide a variety of volunteer services for communities and events throughout the year, like the Tooele County Fair, Easter Egg Hunt, art shows and more.
The pageant Saturday is expected to last two hours and is open to the public, said McNeill. Admission is free.
Here are this year’s pageant contestants:
Lacie Lambert
Talent: Dancing
Lambert, 17, is the daughter of Michael and Caroline Lambert. In the fall, she will be a senior at Stansbury High School. Lambert enjoys playing the piano, running, sketching, dancing, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves any type of music she can sing to, pasta and the color blue.
Vanesa Brandariz
Talent: Singing the theme song from Final Fantasy 13 “New World” by Charice.
Brandariz, 17, is the daughter of Carlos and Aurora Brandaris. She will be a senior at Stansbury High School this fall. She enjoys participating in theatre arts, video gaming, reading mangas and watching anime. Brandariz loves sushi, Leona Lewis and the color mint green.
Annie Butterfield
Talent: Singing “Willow Song” from the opera The Ballad of Baby Doe.
Butterfield, 19, is the daughter of Lynn and Sue Butterfield. She is studying strategic communication at the University of Utah. She enjoys gymnastics, cheerleading, horseback riding and singing. Butterfield loves pasta, the book “Ella Enchanted” and the color red.
Mallory Serr
Talent: Singing and Dancing to “Hello Dolly” by Barbara Streisand, the title song from the hit 1969 musical she stared in.
Serr, 18, is the daughter of Lane and Ammie Serr. She is attending LDS Business College in pursuit of a degree in accounting and financial management. Serr enjoys dancing, especially ballet. She also enjoys running, reading, singing and spending time with her family. Serr loves muffins, anything she can sing or dance to, and the color pink.
Kendra Martell
Talent: A self choreographed samba.
Martell, 18, is the daughter of Andrea Sweat and Jonathon Martell. This fall, she will attend Brigham Young University-Idaho where she will major in exercise physiology. Martell enjoys dancing, volleyball and time spent at her work. She loves anything made with chicken, musicals and the color purple.
Abigail Nordgren
Talent: Accompanied by her life-long friend, she will sing “I Dreamed a Dream” by Calude-Michel Schonberg.
Nordgren, 17, is the daughter of Travis and Heidi Nordgren. In the fall, she will begin her education and Dixie State College. Nordgren adores music, having her nose stuck in a book and appreciates of sports. She also loves fruit, “Pride and Prejudice” (a Jane Austen classic) and the color pink.
Whitney Leakehe
Talent: Performing a Tahitian dance to the island sounds of Tahitian drums.
Leakehe, 17, is the daughter of Tony and Rebecca Leakehe. She will be a senior at Tooele High School this fall. She enjoys sharing her ideas and working with people, volleyball, basketball and hula dancing. Leakehe loves mangos, summer and the color red.
Information on pageant candidates was provided by Abi McNeill, director for Miss Tooele County Scholarship Pageant, and compiled by editor Dave Bern.