Mail Tribune News - Annual pageant set April 15

Annual pageant set April 15

Nine women vie to be Miss Rogue Valley

Nine young Rogue Valley woman have thrown their hats into the ring with hopes of coming back with a crown.

The nine are finalists in the Miss Rogue Valley Scholarship Pageant to be held April 15 in Medford.

The competition, a preliminary to the Miss Oregon and Miss America pageants, begins at 7 p.m. at the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater. Tickets are $18 in advance.

The winner will travel to Seaside in July to compete for the state title. Miss Oregon then travels to Atlantic City in September as the state's representative in the Miss America Pageant.

This is the 38th year the Miss Rogue Valley Pageant has provided scholarship assistance to young women of Southern Oregon.

Here's a look at the nine finalists:

Kari Christine Coldwell, 19, is a student at Rogue Community College and at Southern Oregon University. Her parents are Ross and Barbara Coldwell of Ashland. She will sing "I'd Give My Life For You" for her talent presentation.

Candice Jolene Coots, 17, is a senior at Eagle Point High School. She has not decided which college she will attend in the fall. She is a daughter of Ron and Victoria Coots of Eagle Point. Her talent is a martial arts presentation.

Emmalee Finney, 18, is a senior at Crater High School. She is a daughter of Bill Finney of Medford and Sam Finney of Boulder, Colo. She plans to attend Oregon State University or Western Oregon University in Monmouth. For her talent, she will sing "How Lovely To Be A Woman."

Karlie Jean Friesen, 17, is a senior at North Medford High School. She plans to attend Oregon State University. She is a daughter of Darrel and Sue Friesen of Medford. She will tap dance to "The Dirty Boogie" for the talent portion of her competition.

Shawna Iwalani Lewis, 17, is a senior at Eagle Point High School. She is a daughter of Larry and Tina Lewis of Eagle Point. In the fall she will attend Oregon State University. Her talent is a gymnastic dance presentation.

Tanya Marie Lunt, 19, is a freshman at Southern Oregon University. She is a daughter of Keith and Vickie Lunt of Medford. Her talent is singing. For the pageant, she will perform "I'm The Greatest Star."

Allison Carrie Pallotta, 18, is a senior at Crater High School in Central Point. She is a daughter of Mitch and Julie Pallotta of Jacksonville. She plans to attend Oregon State University after graduating high school. For her talent competition, Pallotta will sing "On My Knees."

Chanda Bree Thomas, 18, is a senior at Crater High School. She is a daughter of Pat and Pam Thomas of Central Point. She plans to attend Rogue Community College. Her talent is a dance presentation of "Billy Jean."

Lauren Vander Lind, 18, is a senior at Ashland High School. She is a daughter of Larry and Liana Vander Lind of Ashland. She plans on attending Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., or Oberlin College in Ohio. For her talent presentation, she will play a cello solo.

Call 779-3000 to reserve tickets. Phone and mail orders include a service charge of $2 per order, regardless of the number of tickets ordered. Seating begins at 6:30 p.m. Late-comers cannot be guaranteed seating.