2009 Rain Day Pageant
Sunday, July 26th, 2009
4:00 p.m. - Carmichaels Area High School
MISS RAIN DAY PAGEANT 2009
Twelve young women from throughout Greene County gathered recently at the Glass Room in the Benedum Hall on the Waynesburg University campus to officially kick off their quest for the Miss Rain Day title.
The young ladies and their guests were treated to a dinner, courtesy of McCracken’s Pharmacy. Distinguished guests for the evening were Miss Elissa McCracken, 2008 Miss Rain Day, Miss Payden Policz, 2009 Crown Bearer, and Miss Elena LaQuatra, 2007 Miss Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen America.
The 31st annual Miss Rain Day Scholarship Pageant, sponsored by Rain Day Scholarship, Inc., will be held Sunday, July 26, at 4:00 p.m. in the Carmichaels Area High School auditorium.
The contestants will be judged on the basis of personal interview, sportswear, talent, and evening gown competitions.
Awards will be presented to those with top scores in these areas as well as Miss Personality, Miss Photogenic, the Kelly Smotzer Memorial Award, and The Remo C. Bertugli Memorial Award. Participation awards will be given to all contestants.
A Rain Maker Award will be presented to the contestant who collects the most scholarships, and the John O’Hara Award will be given to the contestant who composes the best essay on what Rain Day means to them.
In the next few weeks, the contestants will have their portrait taken courtesy of Bruno and Bruno photography, hold interviews with WANB Radio and “Crazy Dougie Wilson” and participate in ISAFE, a computer internet safety program being presented at the Greene County Day Camp, Miss Rain Day 2008, Elissa McCracken’s community service project.
They will attend a Wild Things baseball game with transportation provided by First Student and attend a special dinner and performance of “Legally Blonde” in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which (the dinner-theater) was sponsored by First Federal Savings and Loan of Greene and transportation provided by Lewis Limousine.
After the pageant, Miss Rain Day 2009, her court and the contestants will participate in the Rain Day Festival on July 29, and the winners will perform for the festival goers.
Miss Rain Day 2008 Elissa McCracken, the 17-year old daughter of Jack and Helen McCracken of Waynesburg is guiding the 2009 contestants through their quest for the title and will relinquish the crown to one of this year’s contestant.
Those competing for the title and the schools they attend are as follows:
• Joanna Allen, the 14 year old daughter of George and Georgeanna Allen of Waynesburg; Waynesburg Central High School
• Emily Block, the 15 year old daughter of Stan and Sandra Block of Waynesburg; Waynesburg Central High School
• Shelby Block, the 15 year old daughter of Stan and Sandra Block of Waynesburg; Waynesburg Central High School
• Melissa Brewer, the 17 year old daughter of Greg and Corina Brewer of Waynesburg; Waynesburg Central High School
• Kayla Coss, the 17 year old daughter of John and Jenny Coss of Waynesburg; Waynesburg Central High School
• Annie Dayich, the 14 year old daughter of Lou and Holly Dayich of Waynesburg; Waynesburg Central High School
• Kelcee Headlee, the 16 year old daughter of Amy and Derek Broadwater of Waynesburg; Waynesburg Central High School
• Shannon Morgan, the 14 year old daughter of Mark and Sharon Morgan of Waynesburg; Waynesburg Central High School
• Micaela Ruse, the 14 year old daughter of Chad and Rebecca Ruse of Carmichaels; Carmichaels Area High School
• Taylor Marie Rush, the 14 year old daughter of Greg and Samantha Rush of Waynesburg; Waynesburg Central High School
• Mikayla Sonneborn, the 15 year old daughter of Rick and Marcia Sonneborn of West Finley; West Greene High School
• Christa Ziefel, the 14 year old daughter of David and Cathy Ziefel of Nineveh; West Greene High School
In photo: left to right
Row 1 – Payden Policz - 2009 Crown Bearer, 2008 Miss Rain Day - Elissa McCracken, Christa Ziefel
Row 2 – Mikayla Sonneborn, Micaela Ruse, Shelby Block, Emily Block, Annie Dayich,
Joanna Allen
Row 3 – Shannon Morgan, Kelcee Headlee, Samantha Rush, Emily Coss, Melissa
Brewer
2008 MISS RAIN DAY CROWNED
Miss Rain Day 2007 Erica Bristor crowns Miss Rain Day 2008 Elissa McCracken
Elissa McCracken
Elissa McCracken, 16 year old daughter of Jeff and Helen McCracken of Waynesburg won the coveted crown at the 30th Anniversary of the Miss Rain Day Pageant. McCracken walked away with many awards which included the John O’Hara Essay Award, the Remo C. Bertugli Memorial Award; she was the top interview winner, top sportswear winner and top evening gown winner. She also received a scholarship to the West Virginia Junior College as the top interview winner. During the talent portion of the competition she played the piano and sang “Come in From the Rain”.
McCracken will be attending Waynesburg Central High School as a senior this fall. She is a member of student council, Spanish Club; The Future is Mine Club, High School Dance Club, and the 1st Presbyterian Church of Waynesburg. She is active in her community by teaching at her church’s summer vacation bible school, volunteering for Catholic Charities, as a teen helper in her church’s nursery and is a certified I Safe Mentor for Internet Safety. Her hobbies and other activities include 10 Years of studying piano and voice, dance, participating in musicals and baking and cooking ethnic foods with friends.
McCracken plans to attend, Ohio Northern University and major in pharmacy and law. Her ambition is to protect the rights of people by becoming a pharmacy attorney. Her honors and achievements include: National Honor Society, Miss Moraine State Outstanding Teen 2008, National Honor Roll, Young Miss Greene County 2006 and Who’s Who Registry of Academic Excellence
Members of the court were Kayla Coss, first runner up, Mikalya Sonneborn, second runner up, Ashley Claire Rush, third runner up and Kelsie Lapping, fourth runner up. Jade Kiger won the Rain Maker Award, Miss Photogenic went to Ashley Claire Rush, Miss Personality (chosen by her peers) and the Kelly Smotzer Memorial Award (chosen by the Rain Day Scholarship Committee) went to Coss. Robi Arbogast was the top talent winner.
The annual Miss Rain Day Scholarship Pageant sponsored by Rain Day Scholarship, Inc. and Penn Commercial Business and Technical School was held on Sunday, July 20th in the Waynesburg Central High School Auditorium in Waynesburg. The pageant awarded $7,500.00 in educational scholarships and bonds this year.
To read the winning essays in PDF format, click the appropriate essay listed below:
"What Rain Day Means To Me" Essay
Remo C. Bertugli Memorial Essay
To view the essays, you should install the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't have it already, download the Adobe Acrobat Reader software for free.
2008 Rain Day Court
Pictured left to right: Kelsie Lapping, 4th Runner Up; Mikayla Sonneborn, 2nd Runner Up; Miss Rain Day Elissa McCracken; Delaney Lohr, Crown Bearer: Kalya Coss, 1st Runner Up; Ashley Rush, 3rd Runner Up
2008 Other Winners
Rain Maker Award – Jade Kiger
Miss Photogenic – Ashley Claire Rush
Miss Personality – Kayla Coss
Kelly Smotzer Memorial Award – Kayla Coss
Top Sportswear – Elissa McCracken
Top Evening Gown – Elissa McCracken
Top Interview – Elissa McCracken
West Virginia Junior College - Elissa McCracken
Top Talent – Robi Arbogast
John O' Hara Essay Award - Elissa McCracken
Remo C. Bertugli Award - Elissa McCracken
