10 vying for title in 60th Miss Monroe County program
Ten local young women are vying for the title of Miss Monroe County in the 60th Miss Monroe County Scholarship program, to be held at 6 p.m. Saturday at the La-Z-Boy Center/Meyer Theater on the campus of Monroe County Community College, 1555 S. Raisinville Rd.
Reserved seating tickets are $25 each. For tickets, call Laurie Loveland, Miss Monroe County board member and ticket chairperson, at (734) 735-1039.
“60 Years of Legacy” is this year’s event theme.
In honor of the program's anniversary, previous Miss Monroe County titleholders have been invited to return to the show and be a part of the festivities. About 20 plan to attend. At 5 p.m., guests can meet the former titleholders in the atrium and get autographs.
“There is also a special section in this year's program book celebrating the legacy of the 60 years of Miss Monroe County,” Dione Oerther, executive director, said. “The Forever Miss Monroe Countys are also being celebrated with a video production that is being produced by our current Miss Monroe County 2021, Kendall Madison Comer, that will be shown on-stage for the opening of the second act. The Forever Miss Monroe Countys who are in attendance will also be officially announced and celebrated on-stage after the video production.”
Kendall also prepared a video tribute to celebrate the life of the Honorable Judge Michael Weipert, who was a long-time emcee for the program and who passed away in March. The video will be shown during the program.
More: Miss Monroe Outstanding Teen, Miss Monroe County Princess event Wednesday
Meet the candidates
Claire Isabel Bacarella
Hometown: Monroe
Age: 18
Education: Freshman at Michigan State University; 2022 Monroe County Community College graduate and 2022 Monroe County Middle College graduate
Social impact initiative: Girls Lifted Up
Scholastic/career ambition: Obtain a bachelor’s degree in journalism and become a broadcast journalist
Talent: Classical ballet en pointe to “Don Quixote Act III: Quiteria’s Variation (The Fan)”
Parent: Angela Bacarella
Emilee Ruth Breitner
Hometown: Ida
Age: 21
Education: Junior at Eastern Michigan University; 2019 Ida High School graduate; 2022 Monroe County Community College graduate
Social impact initiative: Creating Pathways
Scholastic/career ambition: Obtain a bachelor’s degree in secondary education
Talent: Musical theater vocal to “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Miserables”
Parents: Jeff and Lori Breitner
Savanna Rose Callahan
Hometown: Dundee
Age: 18
Education: Freshman at Monroe County Community College; 2022 Ida High School graduate
Social impact initiative: The Big Sister Body Project
Scholastic/career ambition: Obtain a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering
Talent: Broadway vocal to “Gimme! Gimme!” from the musical “Mamma Mia”
Parents: Jeremy and Stephanie Callahan
Ella Marie Foshag
Hometown: Monroe
Age: 19
Education: Monroe County Community College
Social impact initiative: Solely Yours
Scholastic/career ambition: Will decide this year
Talent: Speed painting to “Lazy” by Marilyn Monroe
Parents: Robert and Lori Foshag
Hannah Rose Huston
Hometown: Ida
Age: 18
Education: Freshman at Monroe County Community College; 2022 Ida High School graduate
Social impact initiative: Music for Mental Health
Scholastic/career ambition: Master’s degree in mathematics in secondary/post-secondary education
Talent: Flute solo to “Menuet” from “L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2” by George Bizet
Parents: Brad and Melissa Huston
Ashlee Mary-Grace Metdepenningen
Hometown: Newport
Age: 19
Education: Monroe County Community College; 2021 Jefferson graduate
Social impact initiative: Multiple Sclerosis
Scholastic/career ambition: Labor and delivery nursing
Talent: Dancing
Parents: Michael and Rebekah Metdepenningen
Celeste Nicole Milligan
Hometown: LaSalle
Age: 21
Education: Junior at Eastern Michigan University; 2019 Monroe High School graduate; 2022 Monroe County Community College graduate
Social impact initiative: Read to Succeed
Scholastic/career ambition: Obtain a bachelor’s degree in social work
Talent: Jazz dance to “A Little Party”
Parents: Veronica and Ricky Jennings and Charlie and Michele Milligan
Payton Perry-Radcliffe
Hometown: LaSalle
Age: 21
Education: Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in integrative studies at Grand Valley State University; 2019 Adrian High School graduate
Social impact initiative: Unity Through Diversity
Scholastic/career ambition: Planning to attend dental school with hopes of owning a dental practice
Talent: Vocal performance in French to “La Vie en Rose”
Parents: Kendra Radcliffe and Mark Perry
Laynie Rae Tipton
Hometown: Monroe
Age: 18
Education: Freshman at the University of Toledo; 2022 Carlson High School graduate
Social impact initiative: Ray4Hope: Adopt a Grandparent
Scholastic/career ambition: Obtain a bachelor’s in biology and a master’s in craniofacial biology to become an orthodontist
Talent: Vocal solo to “Try” by Colby Caillat
Parent: Shelley Ray and Jason Tipton
McKenzie Renee Valente
Hometown: Monroe
Age: 19
Education: Studying fine art at Monroe County Community College; 2021 St. Mary Catholic Central High School graduate
Social impact initiative: Mending Minds
Scholastic/career ambition: Obtain a degree in fine arts and become a full-time dance instructor
Talent: Lyrical dance to “Something in the Water”
Parents: Timothy and Milinda Valente
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: 10 vying for title in 60th Miss Monroe County program
