Best of Luck to Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen Pageant!

Tonight at 7 p.m. at the Renaissance Theatre in Mansfield a new Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen will be crowned! Fourteen high school students from around the state will compete; I'm sure children in the Princess program will participate and the Miss Ohio contestants will also be in attendance.

The outgoing Outstanding Teen is Sarah Hider. Sarah had a busy year promoting HIV/AIDS Awareness among her peers, competing in Orlando to be Miss America's Outstanding Teen and attending Miss Ohio locals, all while completing her senior year at Wooster High School. She was active in choir, majorette squad, French, History and Drama clubs and most impressive to me, she was division captain of the Speech and Debate team and placed in the Top 24 at the State Speech Tournament. This fall she will pursue Broadcast Journalism at Ohio University. She is an entertianing vocalist and dynamic young woman; hopefully we will see her back onstage in Mansfield as a Miss contestant in the coming years.

Sarah will be joined onstage tonight by Miss Ohio, Karissa Martin, former MOOT. Kelsey Ballew, and... drum roll please... the reigning Miss America's Outstanding Teen, Taylor Fitch! Taylor is a dancer who represented the state of South Carolina. She was in Mansfield to help with the Applebee's fundraiser; click here for pictures.


The Teens competing for Sarah's title are as follows; all photos and information were taken from the fantastic, new teen website.

#1. Scioto Valley's Outstanding Teen
Savannah Sexton

Age: 16
Platform: Teen Depression
Talent: Vocal





#2. Miami Valley's Outstanding Teen
Caitlin Jackson

Age: 16
Platform: Cancer Prevention
Talent: Vocal




#3. River Valley's Outstanding Teen
Emilee Lowe

Age: 15
Platform: Seat Belt Safety
Talent: the website lists Vocal, but I know she also dances...?


*Emilee has previously competed for Miss Ohio Teen USA and National American Miss.




#4. Portsmouth's Outstanding Teen
Brooklyn Thompson

Age: 14
Platform: Autism
Talent: Vocal




#5. West Central Ohio's Outstanding Teen Allison Stiger

Age: 17
Platform: The Four H's of 4H
Talent: Vocal




#6. Lima Lands' Outstanding Teen
Monica Bates

Age: 17
Platform: Childhood Cancer
Talent: Dance

* Monica competed last year as Miss West Central Ohio's Outstanding Teen.




#7. All*American City's Teen
Sophie Carter

Age: 15
Platform: Cancer Awareness
Talent: Vocal



#8. Southern's Outstanding Teen
Kara Beth Wagner

Age: 16
Platform: Discover the Gift of Giving
Talent: Vocal

* Kara was 2nd Runner-up last year as Portsmouth's Outstanding Teen.



#9. Fallen Timbers' Outstanding Teen
Sarah Eash

Age: 13
Platform: Get Up, Get Involved, Give Back to your Community
Talent: Dance

* Sarah has competed in National American Miss.



#10. Hamilton's Outstanding Teen
Veronica Wende

Age: 17
Platform: Tissue and Organ Donation
Talent: Vocal (Broadway, I think?)

* Veronica has competed in National American Miss.



#11. Lake Erie's Outstanding Teen
Kendall Diver

Age: 15
Platform: Make-A-Wish Foundation
Talent: Vocal





#12 Contestant-at-large
Chelsi Howman

Age: 16
Platform: Stop Bullying Now!
Talent: Dance

* Chelsi has competed at Miss Ohio Teen USA.


#13 Maumee Valley's Outstanding Teen
Emily Werling

Age: 16
Platform: BCAUS - Breast Cancer Awareness Using Song
Talent: Vocal (Classica, I think?)

* Emily competed last year as Miss All*American City's Outstatanding Teen.


#14 Grand Lake's Outstanding Teen
Kelsey Barrett

Age: 16
Platform: No-Body's Perfect
Talent: Vocal

* Kelsey was 2nd Runner-up in 2007 as West Central Ohio's Outstanding Teen and is the sister of Miss contestants, Jessica Barrett.