Annual Miss Paynesville contest to be held

Kandace Bengtson

Kandace Bengtson is the 17-year-old graduate of Tony and Deb Bengtson. She is active in her church, participating in youth group and mission trips to Arizona, Colorado, and Kentucky. She has also served the community for 11 years through Girl Scouts, for which she earned the Silver Award.

In school Kandace participated in both football and basketball cheerleading and earned letters for four years. She was a student aide and a member of BPA.

Her hobbies include horseback riding, classic cars, music (oldies), snowmobiling, motorcycling, four-wheeling, lake sports (wet jetting and swimming), and rollerblading.

Kandace will put her spunk into the form of a skit for the talent portion of the contest. She is sponsored by her employer Paynesville SuperValu.

Morgan Martinson

Morgan Martinson, the 17-year-old senior of Luke and Laura Martinson, stays involved in her church by singing in the choir, operating as the president of the Church Youth League, and being part of God's Allstar Puppeteers.

Morgan participates in a variety of school activities, from the fine arts and sports to tutoring her peers. Among her activities are band, choir, marching band, pops choir, peer tutor, peer helper, D.A.R.E. role model, volleyball, and track. In choir she was awarded state superior ranking for a solo, and in track and field she has earned All Conference honors in the discus for two years in a row.

Some of the things Morgan enjoys most are hanging out with friends, looking at stars, and singing with her family in church.

Morgan will share her vocal skills for the talent portion of the contest. She is sponsored by her employer, the Paynesville Dairy Queen.

Mindy Meagher

Mindy Meagher, the 17-year-old senior of Pat and Lorie Meagher, is an active athlete in both basketball and volleyball. She is a member of the National Honor Society, and keeps involved in the community through girl scouts, for which she was acknowledged with the Silver Award.

Mindy gets involved with youngsters through the PALS program, and keeps her mind fresh by playing in both concert band and marching band. She is in BPA and is the alternate girls stater. She also represents her peers on the prom committee.

For her talent Mindy will perform a patriotic speech. She is sponsored by her employer, the Wishin' Well Cafe & Floral.

Nicole Schlangen

Nicole Schlangen is the 17-year-old senior of Dale and Julie Schlangen. She is involved in church conventions and retreats, and is an active youth group member at St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Lake Henry. She is also a youth liaison for St. Margaret's Catholic Aid Association.

At school she mixes things up with jazz band, volleyball, softball, pep band, marching band, and peer tutors. She is an honor student and an aide at the middle school. She is a section leader in band, and at last year's solo and ensemble contest she was awarded a state superior ranking and best at site.

Nicole's hobbies include reading, listening to music, playing flute, hanging out with her family and friends, and working at the Pilgrim Inn and Joel's Family Foods.

Nicole's talent performance will be a flute solo. She is sponsored by Joel's Family Foods.

Laura Stoneburner

Laura Stoneburner, the 17-year-old senior of Bob and Jane Stoneburner, is a member of her church youth group and has been on mission trips to Arizona and Red Lake.

She is a member of the National Honor Society and is a human rights essay winner. She plays the saxophone in concert band, jazz band, and marching band. She sings in both choir and pops choir, and keeps her limbs limber in volleyball.

Laura's hobbies include: swimming, skiing, haircutting, rollerblading, tubing, playing saxophone, working at Tuck's Cafe, snowmobiling, sailing, running, and spending time with family and friends.

For her talent she will be performing a saxophone solo. She is sponsored by her employer, Tuck's Cafe.

Jacqueline Utsch

Jacqueline Utsch is the 18-year-old graduate of Chuck and Ruth Utsch. She was a cheerleader for basketball and was in danceline. She is a member of the National Honor Society and was a peer tutor and student aide. As an honor student and letterwinner, she shared her leadership by serving as president of BPA.

Jacqueline has received awards for cheerleading and danceline, and has competed at both the region and state levels for BPA. Her hobbies include music, singing, dancing, animals, and cars.

For her talent Jacqueline will dance. She works at Paynesville SuperValu and is sponsored by Ruthie's Hair Design.

Ashley Wall

Ashley Wall, the 17-year-old graduate of Dan and Lori Wall, is a religion teacher at St. Louis Catholic Church and a volunteer at junior high athletic events. She is no stranger to athletic events herself, being involved in volleyball, basketball, and track. She was a letterwinner, a peer helper, a teacher's aide, and a member of the Bark staff.

Ashley is a member of the National Honor Society and was awarded an achievement scholarship by St. Cloud State University. She enjoys sports, reading, hanging out with friends, hanging out at the lake, shopping, and surfing the net.

During the talent portion of the show Ashley will sing. She is sponsored by her employer, H&L Express and A&W.