2007 Jr. Miss…Girls Just wanna have fun

By ELAINE SANDMAN

Staff Writer

As the curtain opened, excitement filled the air as family, friends and local community members gathered in Becker Auditorium to see who would win this year's coveted title Jr. Miss. With the excitement at its highest point, Ellen Pi'ilani Gatchell was named the 2007-2008 Jr. Miss.

"I was shocked and very proud," Gatchell said. "I'd done my best and had fun doing it, which I guess came through during the evening."

Gatchell added that she really enjoyed working with and spending time with all of the other contestants.

"I wish all of us could have become Jr. Miss, and I look forward to representing our community for the next year," Gatchell said. "I decided to become a contestant when I was looking for ways to fund college. A friend of mine Pam Hittle, explained the possible opportunities available in participating in the Jr. Miss Program. I thought about it and decided it would be a good experience, as well as a lot of fun to help out in the community."

This year's theme was the "80s Revisited," and titled "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." Throughout the evening, members of the audience chuckled and commented about the phrases and outfits the contestants used during their various performances.

The stage scenery, dance, exercise, dress and speech, transported the Jr. Miss contestants back through time to the 80s, a time when comments like "totally rad dude," were hip.

As these talented young women entertained the audience, the judges carefully watched and noted how each performed throughout the night.

The "Be Your Best Self" category is part of the America's Jr. Miss positive youth outreach program. The goal is for the contestants to incorporate a positive, personal approach in working with young people while encouraging self-esteem, and thereby helping them successfully deal with the challenges they face. The "Be Your Best Self" message stresses the importance of incorporating six elements into one's life; morality, integrity, honesty, love, respect and hope.

"We were all nervous about the audience performance because our rehearsals didn't seem to be going as well as we thought they should," Gatchell explained. "But in the end, I think each of us did very well in the final performances. I want to thank everybody involved in the Jr. Miss program."

Ellen's parents David and Eldora Gatchell, said they were amazed at the commitment this program demands of the contestants.

"The event tonight was a wonderful pageantry of these girl's abilities," they said. "Ellen sets positive goals for herself, and we are very proud of her accomplishments."

Ellen said she was grateful to the Knights of Pythias for sponsoring her. The fitness portion of the program was a choreographed dance that allowed the contestants to work as a team while highlighting their physical condition.

The year's Jr. Miss and runners up included:

Jr. Miss, Ellen Pi'ilani Gatchell, won the "Fitness" category and performed a Hawaiian Hula Dance titled "Lovely Hula Hands." She was sponsored by Knights of Pythias.

First runner up, Kristina Turpin, won the "Self Expression" category and sang "Angel." She was sponsored by the Bonners Ferry Chamber of Commerce.

Second runner up, Samantha Hiatt, won the "Talent, Judges Interviews and Scholastics" categories and played "Bel Jardin" on piano. She was sponsored by Better Boundary County Coalition.

Third runner up, Rayanne Elizabeth McLeish, sang "Designer Genes" and was sponsored by Boundary County Community Theater.

Fourth runner up, Samantha Kelly, won the "Scholastics" category and performed "Only Hope," on the piano. She was sponsored by American Legion Post #55 & Auxiliary.

Rachel Janet Brown performed a jazz style dance, "Puttin on the Ritz," and was sponsored by Bonners Ferry Eagles Aeries #3522. Devri Solomon won the "Scholastics" category, did a comic skit "Muscles," and was sponsored by Friends of the Arts. Tara Munson played the "Waltz from Sleeping Beauty" and was sponsored by Bonners Ferry Lion's Club. Briana Denning won the "Be Your Best Self" category, presented an art show titled "The Puzzle of My Life," and was sponsored by Idaho Women in Timber. Amanda Jean Hittle did "Step Up" in a modern dance form and was sponsored by the Masons. Kyra Brigitte Grow sang "Fly me to the Moon," and was sponsored by Beta Sigma Phi. Hannah Jo Cady performed stand up comedy titled "Random Acts of Comedy," and was sponsored by Boundary County Education Association. Anya Krmpotich won the "Spirit of Junior Miss," and performed on Saxophone "Illustrations of Life," and was sponsored by Kaniksu Health Services.

Melody Braden used guitar and voice to perform "When you say nothing at all," her sponsors were the Bonners Ferry Rod Benders. Katie Richardson performed a monologue titled "My Secret place," and was sponsored by the Bonners Ferry Rotary Club.

"The girl's performance tonight was amazing," Program Coordinator Shelly Hoisington said. "All fifteen girls displayed their "Best Self" on stage and off. They worked together and genuinely inspired the crowd with their grace, talent and personality."

The national sponsors of America's Junior Miss include: The Mitchell Company, Alabama Power, Encore Rehabilitation, Inc., and Wintzells Oyster House. National category sponsors include Mobile Gas and Regions Bank. Governmental support is furnished by the City of Mobile, Mobile County, and the State of Alabama, with special support from the Mobile Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. The 2008 Americas Junior Miss National Finals will be held in June 2008. For more information about Americas Junior Miss Program, visit the official AJM website at www.ajm.org.