MAPLETON, Maine – Thanks to the student organizations at the Presque Isle Regional Career and Technical Center, Mapleton has five new queens. After decades of sponsoring the Mapleton pageants, the Mapleton Ladies Extension decided to step down this year as pageant sponsor. The student clubs and their advisers at Presque Isle High School – SkillsUSA, FFA and FBLA – were approached earlier this year to see if they might be interested in taking over. The three clubs have joined forces to take on a huge community service project, requiring a large amount of funds to see it through to completion. With that in mind, advisers Amy White, Aaron Buzza, Erin Argraves and Alan Curtis, along with their club members, signed on to serve as sponsors for this year’s pageants.
Taking to the podium in their official dress, Maddasin Willette, FFA president, Brittany Lovely, SkillsUSA president, and Alyssa Huston, FBLA treasurer, each addressed the audience to provide some background about their respective clubs. Once completed, they introduced the Master and Mistress of Ceremonies for the afternoon, Aaron Buzza and Erin Argraves, FFA advisers. To be in “theme,” wearing his own version of a ‘70s “retro” shirt, Buzza welcomed everyone to the afternoon pageant. He briefly explained the community service project the three clubs are currently collaborating on. The clubs, along with PIRCTC Building Trades students and the generous donations from local contractors and businesses, are all currently working together to build a house for a man that has volunteered over 20,000 hours to the Farm Mechanics program at PIRCTC. Buzza encouraged anyone interested in stopping by the PIRCTC office to view the house as it progresses and welcomed any additional donations to ensure the project is completed.
Sporting tie-dyed T-shirts with peace signs reminiscent of the ‘70s, nine young ladies, along with 2009 Little Miss Mapleton Jaidyn Blake, took to the Presque Isle High School auditorium stage to compete for the titles of Little Miss Mapleton and the first Pre-Teen Miss Mapleton. The April 10 afternoon pageant opened with an energetic dance routine to the ‘70s hit “Car Wash,” choreographed by PIRCTC SkillsUSA club member, Ashley Soucy. The stage decorations included old records hanging from the ceiling, a life-size Volkswagen bus and two Volkswagen beetle cars. The vehicles were created and painted by Eva Murphy, PIRCTC administrative assistant, and club members Haley McHatten, Ashley Nickerson, Maddasin Willette, Jessica Stepp, Anne Johnson, Cassandra Lunney, Ashleigh Lunney, Julia Lunney, Victoria Butterfield, Dylan Brooker, Derrick Page and Brandon Oakes.
Contestants participating in the evening pageant in the Junior Miss, Teen Miss, and Miss Mapleton divisions made an on-stage appearance to introduce themselves and their individual talent selections for the evening.
All nine contestants competed in four categories: interview, which were held prior to the start of the pageant, sportswear, talent, and party dress with on-stage question.
The six girls competing in the Little Miss division were:
• Taylor Ellis, the 9-year-old daughter of Brian and Renee Ellis. Ellis performed a dance routine to Miley Cyrus’ “Hoedown Throwdown.” She was escorted by 9-year-old Mason Bushey, son of Sean Bushey. During the awards presentation, Ellis received a trophy for high ticket sales. She and her family sold 105 tickets, raising $630 for the sponsors’ community service project.
• Delaney Alward, the 7-year-old daughter of Chris and Wendy Maple and David Alward. Delaney sang “Maybe” from the musical “Annie.” She was escorted by her 10-year-old brother, Dustin, son of Chris and Wendy Maple and David Alward.
• Abbigayle Quirino, the 9-year-old daughter of Bert and Karie Quirino. She performed a hip hop dance routine to “Start the Party.” Quirino was escorted by 9-year-old Jason Dumais, son of Michael and Stephanie Dumais.
• Elizabeth Collins, the 9-year-old daughter of Darren and Michelle Collins, was named the 2010 Little Miss Mapleton. She “entertained” the audience with a piano solo titled, “The Entertainer” by Scott Joplin, earning her the Talent Award. Eight-year-old Noah Flynn, son of Robert and Jennifer Flynn, was Collins’ escort for the afternoon.
• Paige McHatten, the 7-year-old daughter of Matt and Kelly McHatten, was named first runner-up for her jazz dance routine to “Swing With Me.” McHatten was escorted by 8-year-old Christopher Bearden, son of Jeff and Kathy Bearden.
• Alexis Getchell, the 6-year-old daughter of Rick and Tammy Getchell. She donned a white chef’s hat and coat while signing, “On Top of Spaghetti” during the talent portion of the afternoon. Getchell was escorted by 7-year-old Holden Stoutamyer, son of Adam and Kristi Stoutamyer.
The three contestants in the newly added Pre-Teen division were:
• Lacy Condon, the 10-year-old daughter of Troy and Bobbi Jo Condon and Rick and Tammy Getchell. She played an “Oooga Booga Boogie/Boogie Man” medley on the piano. Jeremy Stevens, the 11-year-old son of Tina Ruest, was Condon’s escort for the afternoon.
• Marielle Shaw, the 11-year-old daughter of Robert and Paula Shaw, was named Mapleton’s first Pre-Teen Miss. She also received the Talent Award for her American folk song, “Red River Valley” she played on the piano. Caleb Page, the 11-year-old son of Tyler Page and Nadiene Deschaine, escorted Shaw during the party dress portion of the pageant.
• Brittany Warner, the 11-year-old daughter of Michael and Tina Warner. She sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz” during the talent competition. Warner was escorted by Logan Berry. He is the 11-year-old son of Philip and Heather Berry.
Also providing some pageant entertainment were all three 2009 Mapleton queens: Jaidyn Blake, 2009 Little Miss Mapleton; 2009 Junior Miss Mapleton Hannah Stoutamyer, and 2009 Miss Mapleton Paige McEachern. Just prior to her vocal selection, Buzza briefly interviewed Blake. He asked her what advice she would give the girls competing in the pageant and she said, in part, to “have fun and remember you’re all winners, no matter what!”
Before the two new queens were crowned, Blake took her final walk as the 2009 Little Miss Mapleton, escorted by her father, Jeff Blake. After collecting farewell hugs and an armload of flowers, Blake returned to the stage to assist with the awards presentation. Each contestant received a trophy and the escorts all received tickets to the upcoming Anah Temple Shrine Circus, thanks to Shriners Gordon Buzza and Phil Walton. Cook Florist provided the queens’ bouquets and a pink carnation for each of the contestants. SkillsUSA members Lorraine Hughes and Naomi Donovan crowned Mapleton’s first Pre-Teen Miss, Marielle Shaw. All three reigning queens, Blake, Stoutamyer, and McEachern took part in crowning the 2010 Little Miss Mapleton, Elizabeth Collins.
As the director of this pageant, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following members of the PIRCTC clubs that assisted in this pageant (in addition to those already mentioned): Katie Roberts, Kacie Webber, Lorraine Hughes, Mariah Hanning, Mackenzie Pinette, JoLonna Gough, Naomi Donovan, Jordan LaFaver, Caitlin Fowler, Chelsea McNally, Macie Tompkins, Brooke Long-Postell, and advisers Amy White, Aaron Buzza, Erin Argraves and Alan Curtis, and PIRCTC Director Larry Fox and his Administrative Assistant Eva Murphy. The time, effort and countless hours that were devoted to this pageant were greatly appreciated! Photo CDs, as well as DVDs are available to purchase by contacting Murphy in the PIRCTC office at 764-1356.