Coal Queen pageant to be held Sunday
Sidney Popielarcheck
Caleigh Wanson
Chelsea Feudale
Gabrielle Omatick
Jenna McCracken
Johnna Purcell
Julie Sealy
Kaylee Antill
Kendall Lewis
Lesley Tift
Mackenzie Moore
Marina Stefano
CARMICHAELS – Twelve girls from a three-county area will compete at the Carmichaels Area Senior High School Auditorium at 6 p.m. Sunday for the title of the 60th Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Queen. The new queen will follow in the footsteps of 2012 Coal Queen Ashley Avolio of Trinity Area High School.
To compete for the title of Coal Queen, a constestant must be entering her senior year of high school.
Candidates for Coal Queen are judged on talent, poise, beauty and a private interview question presented to them by three independent judges from outside the area who are professionals in the fields of music, voice and dance.
At the end of the evening, awards are presented for top scores in the categories of interview, talent and evening gown. Special awards are also given to the contestant who raises the most bond money and the contestant is voted Miss Congeniality by her fellow participants.
Crowning the new queen will be Eric Salyer, vice president of Pennsylvania operations for Alpha Natural Resources. Salyer has more than 25 years’ experience in the mining industry, working with both Alpha and Massey Coal companies. He currently oversees Alpha’s AMFIRE and Pennsylvania Services subsidiaries, which include 16 active mines that employ 2,000 people.
The contestants are:
• Caleigh Wanson, daughter of Eric and Barb Wanson of Uniontown, will be representing Laurel Highlands High School.
Wanson is a member of the National Honor Society, SADD, Interact, Spanish club, yearbook staff, Junior Achievement and is a two-year member of the Penn State Fayette 4.0 Club.
She is captain of the varsity cheerleading squad, participates in track and field and studies tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, ballet and acro.
Her future plan is to earn a bachelor’s degree in either biomedical or chemical engineering.
• Gabrielle Omatick, daughter of David and Lori Omatick of Connellsville, will be representing Geibel Catholic High School.
Omatick is a member of the National Honor Society, French Honor Society, Math League, Gator Entertainers, chamber ensemble and SADD. She is president of student council and studies ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical and hip-hop.
Her future plan is to attend Penn State University to study industrial engineering.
• Johnna Purcell, daughter of Jack and Annamarie Purcell of Farmington, will be representing Uniontown Area High School.
Purcell is a member of Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society, Varsity Academic League, debate team, mock trial team, Spanish club, Model United Nations, the Junior Statesmen of America Organization and the Uniontown Cross Country and Track Teams. She studies ballet, pointe, violin and voice.
Her future plan is to attend law school to pursue a career in law and politics.
• Kaylee Antill, daughter of J.R. and Bobbi Antill of Greensboro, will be representing Mapletown High School.
Antill is the captain of the varsity cheerleading squad, a class officer, member of the softball and basketball teams, member of the student council, Academic League, Interact club, ski club and studies dance.
• Kendall Lewis, daughter of Mark and Jeanette Lewis of Carmichaels, will be representing Carmichaels Area High School.
Lewis is a member of the National Honor Society, yearbook club, SADD, student council and studies dance.
Her future plans are to attend college for forensics and work for the FBI.
• Mackenzie Moore, daughter of Gregory and Terri Bartolomucci, will be representing Bethlehem-Center High School.
Moore is a member of the Leo club, French club, show choir, chorus, student council, newspaper staff, yearbook staff, and youth traffic safety Council. She is the captain of the varsity cheerleading Squad and studies ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, musical theater, contemporary, hip hop and lyrical dance.
Her future plan is to attend a four-year college.
• Marina Stefano, daughter of Patrick and Christina Tesauro-Stefano of Connellsville, will be representing Connellsville Area High School.
Stefano is a member of the National Honor Society, student council, chamber ensemble, thespian honor society and the All-States Program. She studies piano, voice and dance.
Her future plans are to attend a performing art school to become a dance teacher and also to pursue a nursing degree with an emphasis on plastic surgery.
• Lesley Tift, daughter of Wes and Justine Tift of Rices Landing, will be representing Jefferson-Morgan High School.
Tift is a member of the chorus, color guard captain, secretary/treasurer of the marching band, drama club, foreign language club, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and the Upward Bound program.
Her future plan is to earn a doctoral degree in childhood disabilities with a focus on autism.
• Julie Sealy, daughter of Clark and Tami Sealy of Brownsville, will be representing Brownsville Area High School.
Sealy is a member of French honor society, Interact club, Tri-Hi-Y, SADD, the thespian society, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, and is treasurer for both the National Honor Society and the student council. She is a student of jazz, tap, contemporary, ballet and musical theater.
Her future plan is to earn a doctorate in physical therapy.
• Jenna McCracken, daughter of Chad and Jennifer McCracken of Waynesburg, will be representing Waynesburg Central High School.
McCracken is a member of the National Honor Society, prom committee and Alpha club. She is a student of jazz, contemporary, tap, ballet and acrobatics.
Her future plan is to attend medical school to either become a medical examiner or spinal cord surgeon/researcher.
• Chelsea Feudale, daughter of Beth Hutson of McClellandtown and James Feudale of Leechburg, will be representing Albert Gallatin High School.
She is a member of the National Honor Society, anti-bullying vlub, debate team, STAT Council (Students Taking Action Together), drama club secretary, student council treasurer, a varsity cheerleader, news anchor for AGTV and studies dance.
Her future plan is to become a teacher.
• Sidney Popielarcheck, daughter of John and Nikki Kinstlich Popielarcheck of Washington, will be representing Trinity Area High School.
Popielarcheck is a member of student council, SADD, chamber choir and performing arts academy. She is also involved in musical theater with the Pittsburgh CLO.
Her future plan is to attend Point Park College for musical theater.