Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH WEBSTER - Fifteen young women are seeking the title of Queen of the Lakes in the 2025 Mermaid Festival Pageant.
Sponsored by the North Webster Lions Club and Shoop Sports & Youth Foundation Inc., the pageant will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday at the North Webster Community Center.
Queen and her court scholarships are provided by Shoop Sports and Youth Foundation Inc. Judging will be divided into interview, theme wear and formal gown. Four finalists will be chosen princesses for 2025. The queen will be chosen from the four finalists following the final question. The winner will hold the title of Queen of Lakes for one year.
The Queen of Lakes will receive a $2,000 scholarship; first runner-up, $1,500; second runner-up, $1,000; and the third runner-up will receive $500.
Mermaid Festival Parade Queen’s Conveyance Parade Scholarship Awards also are provided by Shoop Sports and Youth Foundation Inc. First place will receive $750; second place, $500; and third place will receive $250.
The Community Service Award is provided by the North Webster Lady Lions Club, with the winner receiving a monetary cash prize of $100. The recipient will be selected following a review of the community service information provided on the application.
Contestants’ schedule for Saturday, June 21 includes interviews and modeling practice, pageant practice, parade participation and the pageant begins at 7 p.m.
The contest is open every year to unmarried young ladies between the ages of 15 to 23 years old. The contestants can not be married, have ever been married or have had a child or be with child. Contestants can not be professional models.
Alphabetically, the contestants for this year are:
• Chloe Bolinger, 20, South Whitley, is competing as Miss Kuhn Lake. Her sponsor is Pierceton Masonic Lodge #377. She is the daughter of Rick and Melissa Bolinger and a freshman at Western Governors University.
• Ava Couture, 17, Leesburg, is competing as Miss Dewart Lake. Her sponsor is 7 Lakes Marina, Warsaw. The daughter of Jamie and Ryan Couture, she is a junior at Wawasee High School.
• Gabryal Faurote, 17, Pierceton, is competing as Miss Winona Lake. Her sponsor is Lee Anne Stewart Dance School, Dewart Lake. The daughter of Rachel and Timothy, she is a senior at Wawasee High School.
• Kaitlyn Fouts, 18, Warsaw, is competing as Miss Chapman Lake. Her sponsor is Jenkins Schaeffer Oil, Akron. The daughter of Greg and Lisa Fouts, she is a 2025 graduate of Warsaw Community High School.
• Gwendolyn Frank, 18, North Webster, is competing as Miss Center Lake. Her sponsor is Clayton’s Garden Center, North Webster. The daughter of Chris and Rhonda Frank, she is a 2025 graduate of Wawasee High School.
• Zaylee Guy, 18, North Webster, is competing as Miss Webster Lake. Her sponsor is North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce. The daughter of Ben and Elise Guy, she is a 2025 graduate of Wawasee High School.
• Kendell Jaress, 18, Syracuse, is competing as Miss Syracuse Lake. Her sponsor is Jaress Family Dentistry, Goshen. The daughter of Aaron and Amber Jaress, she is a 2025 graduate of Wawasee High School.
• Lillian Kelsey, 21, Warsaw, is competing as Miss Barbee Lake. Her sponsor is The River Coffeehouse, North Webster. The daughter of Chris and Paula Kelsey, she is a sophomore at Grace College.
• Josie Knowlton, 16, Walkerton, is competing as Miss Koontz Lake. Her sponsor is Awesome Holidays, Walkerton. The daughter of Dan and Maria Knowlton, she is a sophomore at John Glenn High School.
• Jordyn Leininger, 20, Pierceton, is competing as Miss Beaver Dam Lake. Her sponsor is Slack Shots, North Manchester. The daughter of Thad and Rochelle Leininger, she is a junior at Butler University.
• Graycee Sands, 21, Claypool, is competing as Miss Hill Lake. Her sponsor is Tangibles Resale and Consignment, North Webster. The daughter of Ryan and Devan Sands, she is a senior at Purdue University.
• Anna Shock, 18, North Webster, is competing as Miss Shock Lake. Her sponsor is Tippecanoe Township Trustee Chris Francis. The daughter of Mike Shock and Kelly Shock, she is a 2025 graduate of Wawasee High School.
• Rachel Studebaker, 18, Syracuse, is competing as Miss Wawasee Lake. Her sponsor is Studebaker Family National Association. The daughter of Robert and Laura Studebaker, she is a 2025 graduate of Wawasee High School.
• Ava Weldy, 17, Syracuse, is competing as Miss Shoe Lake. Her sponsor is Barefoot Cottage, Pierceton. The daughter of Dan Weldy and Darci Lutz, she is a senior at Wawasee High School.
• Jaclynn Worrell, 19, Syracuse, is competing as Miss Papakeechie Lake. Her sponsor is Mike Kissinger Surveying. The daughter of Jason and Emily Worrell, she is a freshman at Ball State University.
