Who will be the 2014 Miss Penn Yan?

PENN YAN—The annual Miss Penn Yan pageant will take place during this year’s StarShine event Friday, Dec. 6, in the village. Starting at 8 p.m., each of the 15 contestants will be presented and discuss what they would do if they were in charge of Penn Yan for one day. Once a winner is announced, the title will be passed down from the 2013 Miss Penn Yan, Hannah Gaston. Profiles for each contestant are listed below.
1.  Demi Battin:  The daughter of Paul Battin and Elaine O’Dell, Demi is sponsored by the New York State Sheriff’s Association. Demi is in the debate club and has participated on the varsity basketball, lacrosse and softball teams at Penn Yan Academy. Demi has carried out community service with her youth group, hosts at The Switzerland Inn, and has been a Camp Iroquois counselor for the NYSSA Sheriff’s summer camp. If Demi was in charge of Penn Yan for a day, she would work to make our community closer by “holding dinners, in which everyone is welcome, cleanups and shelters to help animals and the unfortunate.”
2. Abigail Blauvelt:  The daughter of Steven and Melissa Blauvelt, Abigail is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Yankee Theatre Company. Abigail is involved in the chorus, drama club, and pep club at Penn Yan Academy and has played varsity tennis and track and field. Abigail is also a Girl Scout of 12 years who is currently working on her Girl Scout Gold Award. If Abigail was in charge of Penn Yan for a day she would “offer skills classes where kids could go to not only learn a skill that might help them in their future, but more importantly to open their minds to what they could do.”
3. Danielle Chidsey:  The daughter of Roger and Ann Chidsey, Danielle is sponsored by the Penn Yan Kiwanis Club. Danielle plays varsity soccer, basketball and lacrosse at Penn Yan Academy. During the school year, Danielle also volunteers at Christmas for the Needy and HUBBA.
Danielle’s hobbies include photography and ceramics.  In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her friends and family. One of her favorite pastimes is target practice and hunting with her father and sister. If Danielle was in charge of Penn Yan for a day, she would “provide a safe environment for kids to have fun and enjoy the day with their friends.”
4. Olivia Clinton:  The daughter of Rob Seifert and Anita Perez, Olivia is sponsored by the Izaak Walton League. Olivia plays varsity tennis and is in the international club and masterminds. She goes on mission trips with the Memorial Presbyterian church.  She is a Girl Scout and is in Big Brother, Big Sister. Olivia’s hobbies include reading, gardening, fishing and baking.  She also enjoys kayaking with her sisters and taking day trips with her family. If Olivia was in charge of Penn Yan for a day, she would “plan an activity fair to which anyone can come and learn about good communication skills, tolerance, and public safety in a fun, controlled environment.”
5. Alana Cropley: The daughter of Denny and Penny Murphy, Alana is sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW. Alana is a member of the American Legion Junior Auxiliary, has been a Girl Scout for 10 years, has been a member of the Keuka Kokanees synchronized swim team, and volunteers with the Lion’s Club in various activities. Last summer Alana spent two weeks in the “Leader in Training” program at Camp Cory and is registered to go back this coming summer for the “counselor in training” program. If Alana was in charge of Penn Yan for a day, she would “try to decrease the amount of drugs in our schools.”
6. Amelia P. Johnson:  The daughter of Dan and Deb Johnson, Amelia is sponsored by the Penn Yan Rotary Club. Amelia plays in the jazz and pep bands and participates in the drama and international clubs. She also plays tennis.  Amelia is a volunteer firefighter, a girl scout, and helps campaign for candidates seeking a political office. If Amelia was in charge of Penn Yan for a day, she would “clean up the boat launch...visit the elderly and disabled, assisting them, and participating in activities... and host a dinner and donate the proceeds to Christmas for the Needy.”
7. Mary Katherine Killen: The daughter of Patrick and Anne Killen, Mary is sponsored by the Yates County Coalition of Police Services (Y.C.C.O.P.S.). Mary is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and has academic honors at Penn Yan Academy. She is the debate club president, participates in the drama club, master minds, and Interact.  Mary participates and fundraises for Krossin’ Keuka, Relay for Life, and the Crop Walk. If Mary was in charge of Penn Yan for a day, she would create “a day of awareness and education for both parents and teens, focusing on issues such as cyberbullying, sexting, and the safe use of web cams and chatrooms.”
8. Brianna Mahan: The daughter of Tammy Mahan, Brianna is sponsored by the Milo Lodge 108 Free and Accepted Masons. Brianna plays Penn Yan varsity soccer and lacrosse. She models for a company called Barbizon in Syracuse/Liverpool and attends the Benton church with her family. Brianna also used to take an elderly individual to pet therapy once a week. If Brianna was in charge of Penn Yan for a day, she would “try to improve as many things that needed to be changed or fixed that people are not satisfied with... [and] promote and get us a nice community center...”
9. Kimberly McConnell: The daughter of Anntoinette Crouch, Kimberly is sponsored by the Loyal Order of Moose 2030. Kimberly is the FFA vice president at Penn Yan Academy, is working to become a preschool teacher through the BOCES program, and tutors young children. Kimberly enjoys scrapbooking, playing tennis and showing rabbits. If Kimberly was in charge of Penn Yan for a day, she would “go to the hospital... [and] start a chain reaction [by giving them hope so that they could] influence something positive to happen.”
10. Katie McNinch: Daughter of Christopher and Lisa McNinch, Katie is sponsored by the Yates County Cultural Center (YCCR). Katie helps out with FFA activities, participates in ski club, and is a member of the pep club.  She works on the family farm and works during the summer at the Esperanza Rose. Katie also runs 5k’s and babysits. If Katie was in charge of Penn Yan for a day, she would “introduce people to our local food resources and teach them how to take advantage of them.”
11. Stephanie Owens: The daughter of Steve and Shirley Owens, Stephanie is sponsored by the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Stephanie is a member or the National Junior Honor Society, the art club, the debate club and Masterminds. She is the yearbook editor, plays the violin, and plays soccer and runs track and field. Outside of school, Stephanie participates in Interact Club. If Stephanie was in charge of Penn Yan for a day, she would “encourage the coming together of the younger and older generations that we have throughout the community.”
12. Abigail Santora: The daughter of Brian and Alison Santora, Abigail is sponsored by the Catholic Daughters of America. Abigail is a member of the Drama Club, 4-H, plays softball, participates in cross country running and plays the violin. She is the secretary of the Teen Ambassadors, participates in Teen Council and is the lector and lector scheduler at St. Michael’s Church. If Abigail was in charge of Penn Yan for a day, she would “declare an ‘Unplug to Outreach’ day... we would walk away from our TVs, computers, and tablets to visit someone such as a nursing home resident tor an elderly neighbor.”
13. Emily Smith: The daughter of Andrew and Tammy Smith, Emily is sponsored by the Penn Yan Lions Club. Emily is a member of the National Junior Society and is the Yearbook Editor. She participates in Masterminds, is the Debate Club Treasurer, and plays varsity tennis and track. Emily is a member of the student council and international club. She also holds a part-time job at the Valley Inn. If Emily was in charge of Penn Yan for a day, she would “get the youth involved by having business owners assign tasks to them around their building that they don’t have enough time to do themselves...this presents an  ideal opportunity to learn responsibility and obtain a good work ethic.”
14. Amber Snyder: The daughter of Randy Paddock and Anne Thompson, Amber is sponsored by the Penn Yan BPO Elks Lodge 1722. Amber is a Big Brother, Big Sister at Penn Yan Academy. She is a chicken BBQ turner/volunteer staff member. She is also a waitress/server at various occasions.  Amber also volunteers at the Humane Society and the Elks Lodge. If Amber was in charge of Penn Yan for a day, she would “have a day to restore, clean up, and improve locations in Penn Yan.”
15. Kelsha Wells: The daughter of Gary Wells and Wendy Dame, Kelsha is sponsored by the Penn Yan Chapter of FFA. Kelsha is a past Girl Scout, is a Big Brother, Big Sister, and plays varsity tennis. She plays in the band and participates in the drama club. Kelsha is also a delegate of FFA and has attended the National FFA Convention. Kelsha’s participates in the FLTCC’s BOCES Conservation class. If Kelsha was in charge of Penn Yan for a day, she would “help the less fortunate families by obtaining crops from local farmers/producers... by encouraging healthy/nutritious choices we could help reduce obesity and starvation.”