Queen of Lakes Pageant Celebrates Life at the Lake
Meghan Beer, seated, was crowned Queen of Lakes, June 22 at North Webster Community Center. Runners up, standing from left, are Lacey Helfers, Allison Stump, Savanna Creekmore. (Photo by David Hazledine)
NORTH WEBSTER — Meghan Beer was crowned Queen of Lakes at the 74th Annual Queen of Lakes Pageant held Saturday, June 22, at North Webster Community Center. The pageant, with its “Life at the Lake!” theme, started at 7 p.m., following a busy day of Mermaid Festival activities, including the parade, in which the 10 pageant contestants took part.
Meghan Beer moments after receiving her crown. During the final question, Beer, a Purdue sophomore, commented, “The lake, the sunshine and my grandparents…I can’t think of anything more special.”
Beer, who is also Miss Lake Wawasee, was awarded a $2,000 scholarship, provided by The Shoop Sports and Youth Foundation, Inc.. Also winning scholarships were the finalists in Beer’s court: First runner up, Allison Stump, Miss Winona Lake, $1,500; second runner up, Savanna Creekmore, Miss Webster Lake, $1,000; and, third runner up, Lacey Helfers, Miss Tippecanoe Lake, $500.
In addition to the queen and her court, other contestants also received awards from pageant sponsors, The North Webster Lady Lions: Ashley Larson, Miss Barbee Lake, received the Lady Lions Community Service Award; Katie Ksiezopolski, Miss Golden Lake, received the Lady Lions Miss Congeniality Award; and, Molly Jones, Miss Irish Lake, won the Lady Lions Theme Wear Award.
The theme wear award was decided by popular vote, with attendees donating money along with their vote. Half of the total goes to the winner and half goes to the Lady Lions’ in support of their many community service projects and activities.
Also winning awards for their floats in the Mermaid Festival Parade were the following: First place, Savanna Creekmore, $750; second place, Molly Jones, $500; third place, Allison Stump, $250.
74th Annual Queen of Lakes Pageant contestants and their sponsors were, from left: Katie Ksiezopolski, Miss Golden Lake, Winona Lake Fire Department; Ashley Strombeck, Miss Ridinger Lake, Jellystone Park; Chelsey Farling, Miss Syracuse Lake, Wawasee Custom Cleaning Service; Allison Stump, Miss Winona Lake, New Market; Lacey Helfers, Miss Tippecanoe Lake, Foellinger Theatre; Meghan Beer, Miss Lake Wawasee, 6 & 15 Convenience; Savanna Creekmore, Miss Webster Lake, North Webster Ski Bees; Lauren Brown, Miss Nyona Lake, Turf Master; Molly Jones, Miss Irish Lake, Ace Hardware; Ashley Larson, Miss Barbee Lake, Sleepy Owl. (Photo by David Hazledine)
Molly Jones won the Lady Lions Theme Wear Award at the Queen of Lakes Pageant. This is a people’s choice award, with pageant attendees also making donations with their votes. Half the proceeds go to the winner, and half go to the North Webster Lady Lions in support of their many community service projects. (Photo by David Hazledine)
Katie Ksiezopolski won the Lady Lions Miss Congeniality Award at the Queen of Lakes Pageant. This award was decided by a vote of the 10 contestants. (Photo by David Hazledine)
Ashley Larson, front right in blue, received the Lady Lions Community Service Award from the 2018 Queen of Lakes Mikala Mawhorter. (Photo by David Hazledine)
2019 Mermaid Festival Cutie Contest winners, front, from left, Queen Brynn VanLaeken and King Oskar Moreno-Elst made an appearance at the Queen of Lakes Pageant, where they were greeted by Phil Metcalf, master of ceremonies. 2018 Queen of Lakes Mikala Mawhorter, sitting at left, was on stage throughout the pageant. (Photo by David Hazledine)
2018 Queen of Lakes Mikala Mawhorter took her final walk during the 2019 pageant after giving a farewell speech. Mawhorter won the crown at age 20, the same age as her mother when she was Queen of Lakes. “My crown is a little bigger than hers,” Mikala joked. (Photo by David Hazledine)
