Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - "I'm just shocked. I didn't know what to do with myself," said Lindsey Boyer Saturday after being crowned Miss Kosciusko 2001.
Boyer competed against nine other young women in the Miss Kosciusko Scholarship Pageant to win the crown at Wawasee High School. She is the 20th woman to hold the crown.
During her one-year reign as Miss Kosciusko, she will advocate educating youth to resist peer pressure. She chose that as her platform, she said, because "I was involved in an incident that involved peer pressure. I said no. All kids have (to face it). ... I hope to be able to go out and educate youth (on peer pressure)."
Boyer began competing in pageants only a few years ago in high school. She said she initially entered the pageant in hopes of receiving scholarship money for her accounting studies at Indiana University. However, she said, once she entered, it didn't take long for her to realize how much more it was than just a chance to win scholarships.
Miss Kosciusko 2000, Shiloh Butler, said Boyer can expect "no free weekends. She is going to be very busy." She said Boyer can use her title to promote her platform.
During the past year, Butler said, her experience "has been incredible." She was able to talk about her platform - mental health - and "it has just skyrocketed." She said she received many speaking engagements and got to network with many people.
"As a person," Butler said, "I've been able to step outside myself." Boyer, she said, will get to do the same.
To win the Miss Kosciusko title, Boyer had to compete in four areas, including interview, talent, swimsuit and evening wear.
For talent competition, Boyer played singer Celine Dion's "It's All Coming Back To Me Now" on piano with her own arrangement. She wore a long dress which was purple in back and black in front.
Her swimwear was a two-piece yellow and black swimsuit. Her evening wear was a full-length shimmering blue dress with a slit up the side.
Fourth runner-up was Alyssa Bott. She will receive a $500 scholarship. Third runner-up was Stephanie Wilson, who will receive a $600 scholarship. Second runner-up was Laura Warren, she'll receive a $700 scholarship. And first runner-up, who will become Miss Kosciusko if Boyer cannot fulfill her obligations for any reason, is Jenny Workman. She will receive an $800 scholarship.
Other winners Saturday include: Interview Award, Laura Warren; Talent Award, Melody Kuhn; Photogenic Award, tie, Lindsey Boyer and Jenny Workman; and Kiwanis Community service Award, Laura Warren.
All competitors will receive at least a $100 scholarship from the Miss Kosciusko Scholarship Program Inc. Other women competing for the crown included Kylie Carter, Leslie Custer, Callie Edgington and Jena Bessinger.
Master of cermonies was Miss Indiana 1999, Kelly Lloyd, with Miss Indiana 2000, Betsy Bobel, as guest.
Judges were state senator Robert L. Meeks, Kelly Kober, Lyn Rodgers, LeeAnn Happ and Mweni Ekpo.
The competition kicked off with all 10 women dancing to "Smooth," by Rob Thomas and Santana. Concluding the night, before the awards, the women performed to Christina Aguilera's "What A Girl Wants."
