MOUNT VERNON — The final evening of the 2008 Ohio’s Junior Miss scholarship program unfolded for the 35th time at the Memorial Theater on Saturday night, before a crowd of enthusiastic and vocal supporters. This is the 50th year for America’s Junior Miss.
Lauren Gessner, competing as Mahoning County Junior Miss, was named 2008 Ohio’s Junior Miss. First runner-up was Kelsey Ballew of Ross County; second runner-up was Diana Wieser of Allen County; program finalists were Kendra Sherbourne of Morrow County and Megan Howard of Northridge.
Each host father escorted “his” Junior Misses onto the stage, where the young women thanked their hosts. As each left the stage, she presented the red rose she carried to outgoing Ohio Junior Miss Kathleen Voss, who would later take her last walk as Ohio’s Junior Miss across the stage.
The Red group, contestants 1 through 9, presented their fitness and self-expression routines, and the blue group, contestants 10 through 18, presented their talents. Dance figured prominently, with Megan Howard tap-dancing to “My Heart Belongs To Daddy,” Kendra Sherbourne performing a sensual Middle Eastern tribal dance and Kasi Eastep a jazz dance she choreographed herself.
Students of the Straub Dance Studio, Westerville, where Voss studied for 14 years, presented high-energy numbers performed by girls and young women skilled in tap and ballet. Mr. Dance Ohio, Casey Bogosian, gave tap-dance performances.
Former Junior Miss program participants, affectionately referred to as “has-beens” or “forget-me-nots,” took the stage to relate their stories of virtually cost-free college educations thanks to the program scholarships they won. Dana Ullom-Vucelich, who served as emcee, said the women think of Mount Vernon as their second home.
“Without you,” Barbara Jo Bednarczuk, 2006 Ohio’s Junior Miss, told the audience, “we wouldn’t all be doing what we are doing and loving it so much. Thank you.”
Becky Jo Peterson, executive director of the America’s Junior Miss program, Mobile, Ala., also addressed the audience.
“I knew about Mount Vernon,” she said, “but I had no idea how picturesque it is. Thank you to the people of Mount Vernon for supporting this program. How fortunate you are to have Lee Thomas and Laura Szenas as your state chairs. I hope you realize what a wonderful job they do here for your daughters.”
Ullom-Vucelich then led a surprise presentation in honor of Szenas and Thomas, who are volunteers, noting they were named 2005 State Chairpersons of the Year, the highest award in the OJM franchises.
“When the national finals take place,” she said, “these two ladies take Mobile by storm ... including making some 6,000 buckeyes for gifts.”
Addressing the teary-eyed Szenas and Thomas, who were presented with bouquets of white roses by their husbands, she added, “This is an ‘atta girls.’ We want to work with you for the next 50 years and celebrate the 100th anniversary of OJM.”
As the award presentations began, the Junior Misses spontaneously reached out to hold hands.
Winners of the Fitness awards were Gessner and Sherbourne.
Winners of the Self-Expression awards were Sherbourne and Diana Wieser of Allan County.
Interview awards went to Gessner and Kelsey Ballew of Ross County.
Winners of the Talent awards were Wieser and Sherbourne. The awards were sponsored by Mary Kim Elkins, a 2008 judge and 1987 OJM, as a way of “giving back” to the program that she said gave so much to her.
Three Scholastic Awards, sponsored by Mark L. Miller in memory of his wife, 1971 OJM Mary Beth (Buffy) Simmons Miller, went to Gessner, Brielle Stark of Delaware County and Krista Palmer of Warren County. The Overall Scholastic Award, sponsored by Miller in memory of long-time volunteer Paul E. Slaughter, was presented to Wieser.
Larry and Renee Gessner and their son, Troy, joined the newly crowned OJM on the stage. Renee was nearly speechless, but managed to say, “I’m just so thankful and so grateful.”
“I’m very happy,” said Larry Gessner. “She has worked hard at everything she has accomplished. Thank you to her host family, the Morgans, and their daughter, Veronica, and the wonderful people in this program.”
For the Voss family, it was a bittersweet weekend.
“Oh, my gosh,” said Carolyn, Kathleen’s mother, before the show began. “I get tears just thinking about it. Kathleen was crying tears of joy from all the excitement earlier this evening. This all takes a lot of time for these girls, while they’re trying to get ready for college. We know the time she devoted to it. It makes you proud.”
“It’s a lot easier, as parents watching, than last year, the sitting on pins and needles, crossing our fingers,” noted Kathleen’s father, Greg. “We’re just going to enjoy the show.”
Kathleen’s sister Jaclyn, age 7, wasn’t sad, but excited. She said she wants to be a Junior Miss when she grows up.
“I can’t wait to see Sissy and get one of the roses,” she confided.
