Shining bright in Lewistown: Women show off talents at local Miss Pennsylvania pageant

By Nick Malawskey, Sentinel reporter, nmalawskey@lewistownsentinel.com

Sentinel photo by BRADLEY KREITZER Tyana Riddley and Elena LaQuatra hug Saturday during LaQuatra’s farewell speech. LaQuatra honored Riddley with a miniature crown. The two share a hearing impairment.

LEWISTOWN — After 30 years of competition, the stars are still shining bright in the Juniata Valley.

On Saturday, the area celebrated the 30th anniversary of its involvement with the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant, a celebration that culminated with the awarding of four crowns in a tradition that has only grown stronger over the years.

As always at the Miss Central Pennsylvania/Miss Greater Juniata Valley pageant, the contestants delivered stellar performances on Saturday. However, there were some who were destined to outshine the rest.

Maybe it was the haunting lyrics of Ekanem Okon Akpakip, of Hughesville, which stole the judges’ hearts.

Her Italian aria certainly won attention during the talent competition, as she projected a voice seemingly too big for herself.

Or the poignant voice of Anna Marie Welsh, of Brookville, and her song “A New Life,” which stood out strong and also captured the audience’s attention.

At the end of the evening, Akpakip would be named Miss Central Pennsylvania, and Welsh would take the title of Miss Greater Juniata Valley.

But their crowns were not won easily, as each of the young ladies shined in the various competitions.

In the teen competitions, beginning its own tradition in its third year, two teens were crowned this year.

The Miss Central Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen title was awarded to Erica Bristor, who defied gravity at times with her routine “Kiss of the Spiderwoman,” and the Miss Greater Juniata Valley Outstanding Teen award was bestowed upon Hannah Timm, who sang and danced her way into the heart of the audience with her routine “I Want to be a Rockette.”

They all will move on to compete in the state pageant in July at Nazareth Area High School.

But it wasn’t an easy or quick journey to the titles for these young ladies, who competed in a variety of competitions before the crownings.

The evening opened when John Metzger, executive director of the Miss Central Pennsylvania Scholarship Organization, recapped the exciting events of the past year, which began in the Lewistown High School Auditorium.

It was there that Elena LaQuatra was crowned Miss Central Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen, allowing her to move forward to the Miss Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen Competition in Nazareth, which she would win.

LaQuatra would then journey to Orlando, and be named second runner up in the national competition.

Metzger said it was “tremendously exciting” to watch LaQuatra’s rise, as well as the accomplishments of Miss Greater Juniata Valley Rachel Henry and Miss Central Pennsylvania Lauren Zumpino.

“We are indeed proud of the accomplishments (of all three),” he said.

Following Metzger’s remarks, Master of Ceremony Rocco Pollato, now in his seventh year with the pageant, guided the rest of the evening with his usual charm.

After the opening number and introductions, the pageant jumped into the talent competition, where the Miss contestants showed a variety of abilities in song and dance — including local competitors Jade Marie Gross and Shannah Rae Boring, each of whom showed their love of dance through their routines.

The talent competition also opened the door for some unique performances, such as an electric violin piece by Courtney Elizabeth Thomas, back again for her second year of competition, and an original poem reading dedicated to the Children’s Miracle Network by Natasha Marie Kline.

After the Miss talent competition, there was the teen fitness and Miss swimsuit competitions. LaQuatra also took to the stage and performed a dance routine to “You Can’t Stop the Beat.”

An old favorite, Chris Ruble, returned to the pageant and performed a poignant rendition of “At This Moment.”

And then the teen contestants returned to the stage to showcase their talents.

There were jazz dances and piano recitals. Brandi Lawrence played an inspiringly up-tempo “Minute Waltz,” and Crystal Chilcott turned the stage into ice with her roller-blade routine to Antonio Vilvaldi’s “Summer.”

Miss Greater Juniata Valley Rachael Henry said she was “always amazed at the amount of talent” at the competitions.

After the teen talent competitions, each Miss contestant returned to the stage to answer a question about her platform, followed by the teens who answered questions selected in a random drawing, such as “What do you like best about school?” or “Where do you see yourself in 10 years.”

Then Rachael Henry returned to the stage and hooked the audience with her song “This Must Be Love.” Next was the evening wear competition, where the Miss contestants glided across the stage in their finest gowns.

No sooner had the Miss contestants finished than the teen competitors strode onto the stage one by one in their own sparkling evening wear.

The end of the evening was an emotional affair, as Elena LaQuatra, Rachael Henry, and Lauren Zampino each took the stage separately to deliver their farewell speeches.

Henry said the past year was “a year full of change” for herself, but there was always the constant of being Miss Greater Juniata Valley.

“A titleholder isn’t just about winning, it’s about the lives around you that you affect,” Henry said. “I’m a different person for having been a part of it. This crown is more than just a title.”

Zumpino described the past year as “humbling.”

“It is most humbling and a blessing to have a chance to live out your dreams. One year ago, I did get the chance and it has been an awesome experience,” she said.

Like all the young women, Zumpino gave an emotional thank you to pageant organizer John Metzger and his wife, Rosie.

“I grew up loving Miss America, but individuals like you allow girls like me to have a chance,” Zumpino said. “It truly has been an honor to work with you.”

LaQuatra took her final time in the spot light to say goodbye, but also to pay tribute to a young lady she met at Lewistown’s annual Kid Connection.

“Fate works in funny ways,” LaQuatra said of her meeting with Tyana Riddley, a hearing impaired child from the Lewistown area.

Riddley is currently living in Pittsburgh, where she is attending Depaul School for the Hearing and Speech Impaired, the same school LaQuatra attended.

At the pageant on Saturday she was napping, and had to be awakened by LaQuatra — the noise from the audience didn’t bother her, because she wears a cochlear implant, similar to one worn by LaQuatra, who also overcame a hearing impairment early in life.

As a tearful LaQuatra placed a small crown on her head, Riddley awoke with a smile.

“There is no way to put into words the amazing year I have had,” LaQuatra said tearfully. “Lewistown is like my second home ... miracles happen here.”

Section: News    Posted: 11/19/2007