By ORION LEMLER
Triton Junior Miss Board of Directors

The Triton Junior Miss Board of Directors is proud to announce the contestants vying for the 51st Distinguished Young Woman of Triton. On Saturday, Oct. 18, Kevin Boyer will return as master of ceremonies to present seven contestants to the community and panel of judges.

Tickets to the “Super Heroes” themed show are being sold by the contestants and will be available at the door the night of at a cost of $6 per person, free for children 5 and under.

The doors to Triton’s Performing Arts Center will open at 6:30 p.m. with the show starting at 7 p.m.

This year the Triton Junior Miss Board, along with numerous local sponsors will award $3,700 in scholarships to the seven Triton High School seniors. Preliminary awards include scholastic achievement, fitness, self-expression, talent and Spirit of Junior Miss.

The Spirit of Junior Miss award is voted on by all of the contestants on the basis of who best exemplifies the principles of Junior Miss.

The 2014 Distinguished Young Woman of Triton, Kayleigh Craig, will return to perform a talent and announce the 2015 winner along with first, second, and third runners up.

The 2015 Triton Junior Miss contestants are:

Kayla Marie Burkett

Kayla Burkett is the daughter of David and Trina Burkett and the foster daughter of James and Jenny Price of Tippecanoe. Kayla plans to attend Ball State and pursue a nursing degree. Her activities include choir, drama, and art club. She has volunteered at the elementary, church camp, helped build homes in Virginia, and rang bells for the military. Other interests include drawing, reading and writing books and songs. Burkett will be singing “If I Could Make a Living” for her talent.

Makayla Marie Musilli

Makayla Musilli is the daughter of Misty Musilli of Bourbon. She plans to attend Indiana Purdue University Fort Wayne to study business and marketing. Her activities include Future Business Leaders of America, student council, science club, Spanish club, key club, art club and cross country where she recently made All Conference Honorable Mention. She also enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with family and friends. Musilli will be doing the dance routine to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” for her talent.

Shelby Ranae Wagoner

Shelby Wagoner is the daughter of Megan and Troy Miller and Tom Wagoner of Etna Green. Her future plans are to attend IPFW and study photography. Activities include choir, FFA, show choir, art club, and softball. She has volunteered at softball camp, the elementary, and in the beef/pork food booth at the fair. In her spare time she enjoys fishing, camping, drawing, and babysitting her new nephew Jason. Wagoner will sing “A Thousand Years” for her talent.

Arianna Hope Nelson

Arianna Nelson is the daughter of Joseph and Shanna Nelson of Bourbon. Her future plans are to attend Indiana University South Bend to pursue a degree in nursing. Activities include teaching Sunday School, church activities, choir, the Nurses Assistant Program, Spanish club and book club. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, riding bikes, crafting and reading. Nelson will be doing sign language to the song “Amazing Grace My Chains are Gone” for her talent.

Kylie Michele Mason

Kylie Mason is the daughter of Brad and Angela Mason of Bourbon. Her future plans are to attend Butler University and study to become an elementary teacher and high school basketball coach. Her activities include church youth group, Principal Service Corps, Kosciusko Youth Leaders of America, key club, Spanish club, science club, tennis and varsity basketball. She also enjoys reading, running, shopping, and cleaning the house. Mason will be doing a basketball handling routine to the song “300 Violin Orchestra” for her talent.

Lillie Nicole Berger

Lillie Berger is the daughter of David and Jennifer Berger of Bourbon. She plans to attend Purdue University and become a wildlife biologist. Her activities include Girls State Delegate, student council, KYLA, choir, show choir, Spanish club, science club, FFA, Spirit Club, golf and softball. She also enjoys reading, nature walks, hiking, volunteering at the Bourbon Public Library, and playing with her dogs Troy, Clary, and Pickles. Berger will be singing “The Cups Song” for her talent.

Rachael Grace Chickering

Rachael Chickering is the daughter of Timm and Megin Chickering of Bourbon. She plans to attend Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis and become an elementary teacher or a child psychologist. Her activities include church youth group, praise team, elementary intern, Trojan Singers, student council, Spirit club, art club, Spanish club, yearbook and cheerleading. She was recently crowned Triton’s Homecoming Queen. She also enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, and watching Netflix. Chickering will sing “Hallelujah” for her talent.

Since it’s beginning, Junior Miss, now known as Distinguished Young Women, has awarded high school seniors scholarships for their academic and on stage performances.

Each contestant is judged in five categories: scholastic achievement, talent, interview, a fitness routine and self-expression on stage.

Before the show a panel of academic judges tally scores based on each contestants GPA and SAT scores factoring in the level of class difficulty. Another panel of judges scores the other four categories.

The day of the show contestants spend ten minutes with the judges for a personal interview.

The audience is able to enjoy the 90-second talent from each of the contestants, a fitness routine, and a self-expression portion that highlights the contestants grace under pressure.

Contestants are required to answer a question on stage while in their formal gowns.

The winner of Triton Junior Miss 2015 will join other senior girls from across the state to compete for Indiana’s Distinguished Young Women in Kokomo on Feb. 19-21 of next year.

The journey will continue for the winner of the state competition at the 58th annual America’s Distinguished Young Women Finals in Mobile, Alabama in June 2015.

National sponsors include The City of Mobile and Mobile County, Encore Rehabilitation, Mobile Gas, Regions Bank, and Wintzell’s Oyster House.