Six girls competing to become Miss Rain Day
The six girls competing to become the next Miss Rain Day stand with 2016 Miss Rain Day Bryn Patton, center, and crown bearer Isabella Marie Wise. The 2017 contestants are, from left, Lakelynn Martin, Alizah Beth Roberts, Claire Dursa, Aliceon Clark, Rory Black and Eden Rogers.
Lakelynn Martin
Alizah Beth Roberts
Eden Rogers
Rory Black
Aliceon Clark
Claire Dursa
Isabella Marie Wise
WAYNESBURG – Six young women from towns throughout Greene County will compete in the 39th annual Miss Rain Day Scholarship Pageant. The competition, sponsored by Rain Day Scholarship Inc., will begin at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Waynesburg Central High School auditorium.
Contestants competing for the title of Miss Rain Day 2017 are:
Rory Black, 15, daughter of Rob and Betty Jo Black of Wind Ridge. Black will be a sophomore at West Greene High School. She will perform a contemporary dance routine to “Incomplete.”
Aliceon Clark, 15, daughter of Mike and Marcie Clark of Greensboro. Clark will be a junior at Mapletown High School. She will perform a Hawaiian dance to “He Mele No Lilo.”
Claire Dursa, 15, daughter of Joyce and David Dursa of Carmichaels. Dursa will be a sophomore at Carmichaels Area High School. She will perform a vocal selection titled “Not For the Life of Me” from Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Lakelynn Martin, 14, daughter of Mike and Kristy Martin of Waynesburg. Martin will be a freshman at Waynesburg Central High School. She will perform a vocal selection, “Fight Song.”
Alizah Beth Roberts, 14, daughter of Mary Annette and Charles Carter Roberts of Carmichaels. Roberts will be a freshman at Carmichaels Area High School. She will perform a lyrical dance to “Colors of the Wind.”
Eden Rogers, 15, daughter of Jason and Shelly Rogers of Sycamore. Rogers will be a junior at Waynesburg Central High School. Her act will include a tap dance performance to “Swing Love.”
Contestants will be judged on a personal interview and sportswear, talent and evening gown competitions. Awards will be presented to those with top scores in these areas, as well as Miss Personality, Miss Photogenic, Spirit Award, Scholastic Achievement Award and the Kelly Smotzer Memorial Award.
A Rain Maker Award will be presented to the contestant who collects the most scholarships, and the John O’Hara Award will be given to the contestant who composes the best essay on what Rain Day means to her. The Remo C. Bertugli Memorial Award will be presented, and will be based on the best essay on how a volunteer experience changed a contestant’s life.
Westmoreland County Community College once again will award the new Miss Rain Day a $2,500 scholarship should she choose to attend WCCC.
Contestants have already participated in several events this summer, including gathering in the Glass Room in Benedum Hall at Waynesburg University in May to officially kick off their quest for the Miss Rain Day title. Guests that evening included reigning Miss Rain Day Bryn Patton and 2017 crown bearer Isabella Marie Wise. Wise, daughter of Brian and Heather Wise of Mather, attends Jefferson-Morgan Elementary School and is a Rocket cheerleader. She also is a dancer for Barbara Moschetta’s Performing Arts Center in Fredericktown.
Miss Rain Day contestants also had their portraits taken courtesy of Bruno & Bruno Full Service Salon and Portrait Studio, were interviewed by WANB-Radio’s Doug Wilson, attended a Washington Wild Things baseball game and enjoyed a dinner-theater trip to Benedum Cultural Center in Pittsburgh to see the production of “Newsies.”
They also volunteered their time to raise money for the American Heart Association at a benefit clay shoot, which was Patton’s chosen service project. Additionally, they assisted with the Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation golf outing and will attend the Habitat for Humanity Rain Day 5K race July 29.
After the pageant, Miss Rain Day, her court and contestants will participate in the Rain Day Festival July 29, and the winners will perform for the festivalgoers.