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Paynesville Press - June 16, 2004

Eight vying to become new Miss Paynesville

By Kayla Welle

Eight young women will vie for the title of Miss Paynesville on Monday, June 21, at 7 p.m. The pageant will be held in the Paynesville Area High School Auditorium. Admission is $6.

Miss Paynesville and her two princesses will be crowned by the outgoing royalty - Miss Paynesville Amy Roberg, First Princess Rachel Sogge, and Second Princess Kayla Welle.

The candidates will be judged on three different areas - poise and appearance, talent, and interview.

Angela Wunsch
Angie Wunsch Angela Wunsch, the 18- year-old daughter of Karen Wunsch, graduated from PAHS this spring and plans to attend Ridgewater College in the fall.

Angela's community activities involve being 4-H club secretary, being in her church choir, and doing various volunteer work through 4-H.

Her school activities include band (section leader), BPA (vice president), danceline, peer tutors, and yearbook. Angela has also been a Girls Stater, attended state BPA for two years, and has achieved superior honors for her band competition.

In her free time, Angela enjoys bowling, cooking, and singing in the car. Angela is currently employed by Hilltop Restaurant, which is also her sponsor.

For her talent, Angela will play a clarinet solo.

Ashley Spanier
Ashley Spanier When Ashley Spanier is not camping, rollerblading, or hanging out with her friends and family, she is probably practicing her volleyball, gymnastics, or softball.

The 17-year-old daughter of Dean and Jeanne Spanier will be a senior at PAHS in the fall. She is also involved in pops choir, band, choir, peer helpers, violent prevention group, youth advisory, student council, and prom committee at PAHS.

Her outstanding awards include earning bronze, silver, and gold merit awards in band and choir, being inducted into the National Honor Society, and being a Girls Stater alternate.

Ashley has also been involved in volunteering at church activities and at Red Cross blood drives.

Ashley is employed by the Pilgrim Inn, which is also her sponsor.

Ashley will sing "I Thank You" by Rebecca St. James for her talent.

Katie Nelson
Katie Nelson Katie Nelson, the 17-year-old daughter of Pastor Dave and Diane Nelson, enjoys being secretary for the Southwestern MN Synod Lutheran Youth Board, being a Sunday School teacher, being in worship band, helping with children's community education, playing sports, helping with Vacation Bible School, and being a day camp helper.

At PAHS, where Katie will be a senior in the fall, she is involved in National Honor Society, Student Council, peer helpers, SADD, STAR, gymnastics (captain), softball, volleyball, prom committee and choir.

She has also been the winner of the Paynesville Human Rights Commission Essay contest in eighth grade, earned bronze and silver choir medals, and was voted Most Valuable Player at a University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse summer volleyball camp.

If she has any spare time, Katie enjoys camping, scrapbooking, sewing, reading, writing, cleaning, and organizing.

For her talent, Katie will play a piano solo.

Katie is employed by the Lake Koronis Assembly Grounds and is sponsored by Steve C. Whitcomb Insurance.

Samantha Moser
Samantha Moser Samantha Moser loves playing sports, dancing, hanging out with friends and family, scrapbooking, listening to music, and watching baseball.

The 17-year-old daughter of Joe and Roxy Moser, she is also active in her church being a mass server and a member of the youth group.

As a senior in the fall, Sam will be involved in volleyball, basketball, track, peer helpers, prom committee, band and pep band. She is also an aid in a kindergarten class at PAES. Sam has lettered in three sports and earned a superior excellent score on her solo and ensemble piece for band.

She is employed at the Paynesville Corner Drug and Dombrovski Agency. Corner Drug is her pageant sponsor.

Sam will play a drum solo for her talent.

Brittany Lieser
Brittany Lieser To find Brittany Lieser on Saturday mornings, you could probably watch her coaching little girls in volleyball and basketball.

The 17-year-old daughter of Bob and Diane Lieser was inducted into the National Honor Society this spring and will be a senior at PAHS in the fall. Brittany is also involved in the prom committee, volleyball, basketball, and track. During the 2004 track season, she served as captain. In basketball, she earned All Conference honorable mention.

In Brittany's spare time, she enjoys singing, participating in sports, and spending time with her friends and family.

Brittany is employed by Harbor Inn and also works on her family's farm. Her pageant sponsor is Community First National Bank.

For her talent in the Miss Paynesville Pageant, Brittany will sing a vocal solo.

Kendra Johnson
Kendra Johnson If you can catch Kendra Johnson between hurdles, she could tell you that she likes spending time with friends, playing sports, rollerblading, swimming, snowboarding, and shopping with her mom.

The 17-year-old daughter of Joanne and Guy Johnson, she is active in volleyball, basketball, track (where she holds the school record in the 300-meter hurdles and is also a captain), peer helpers, peer tutoring at the elementary school, and prom committee at PAHS.

As a junior this spring, Kendra was inducted into the National Honor Society. She also earned All Conference in track and honorable mention in basketball.

Outside of school, Kendra is a Sunday School teacher and a fifth and sixth grade basketball coach. She will give a patriotic speech featuring a homemade iMovie for her talent.

Kendra is employed by Paynesville Inn and Suites and Harbor Inn. Her sponsor for the pageant is Corner Floral.

Valerie Callenius
Val Callenius Aside from being a twin, Valerie Callenius loves to sing, dance, swim, scrapbook, play sports, hunt and fish. The 17-year-old daughter of Connie and Tony Karger and Wayne and Marci Tokach will be a senior at PAHS in the fall. She participates in choir, band (section leader), jazz band, pops choir, volleyball, danceline (captain), softball (captain), prom committee, peer helpers and student council.

Val was voted freshman homecoming attendant and Paynesville Idol at the school dance. She has earned gold medals for accomplishments in choir and band, superior ratings in both band and choir solos, and received Gatorade Will to Win athlete award in 2003 in softball.

She also participates in various volunteer fundraisers and Girl Scouts outside of school.

Val is employed by Hilltop Restaurant. Her sponsor for the pageant is Elite Photography.

Val will sing a vocal solo for her Miss Paynesville talent.

Holly Bennett
Holly Bennett Holly Bennett, who graduated from PAHS this spring, plans to attend Minnesota State University-Morris next year.

The 18-year-old daughter of Mike and Deb Bennett was involved in danceline, choir, pops choir, band, pep band, softball, BPA, student council, and National Honor Society at PAHS. Holly is also an active member of the Girl Scouts, church youth group, adult church choir, worship band, and is a lesson and gospel reader at her church.

Holly has received the Girl Scout Silver Award, has placed second at regionals and state in BPA, and has also lettered in band and choir.

Her hobbies include reading, being with friends, being outside, and sewing.

Holly is employed by Tuck's Cafe which is also her sponsor for the Miss Paynesville Pageant.

She will play a French horn solo for her talent.



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