Pageant coming to Niswonger PAC

Information submitted

On July 27, the 2012 Miss West Central Ohio Scholarship Pageant will be held at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Van Wert. Co-hosted by 2012 Miss Ohio Elissa McCracken and 2009 Miss America Katie Stam, this pageant crowns two young women who advance to the Miss Ohio 2013 Pageant. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

Hailing from Ada, McCracken, 20, was the 2011 Miss West Central Ohio winner. Moments after being selected Miss Ohio, McCracken shared her excitement about winning the title: “I am really looking forward to my duties this year, traveling, meeting new people and getting the word out about my platform which is ‘Stop Cyber Bullying!’ I am excited to spread my message and represent this program to the best of my ability.”

As Miss Ohio, McCracken received a $10,000 scholarship sponsored by Newman Technology. For the talent portion of the competition, McCracken dazzled the crowd with her dynamic piano arrangement to “Cumana”. McCracken will represent Ohio at the Miss America Pageant on January 12, 2013, in Las Vegas, Nev. McCracken is a fourth-year pharmacy student at Ohio Northern University in Ada.

Stam is a 26-year-old motivational speaker and author, originally from Seymour, Ind., who currently resides in Indianapolis, Ind., with her husband, Brian Irk. She is a member of the board of directors for Ovar’coming Together; an organization dedicated to bringing awareness to ovarian cancer. She is also the vice president of Brand Awareness at Australian Gold.

The Miss West Central Scholarship Pageant awards two crowns that advance onto the Miss Ohio 2013 Pageant, along with over $75,000 in cash awards and scholarships presented. The contest is open to all area young women age 17-24 from Auglaize, Van Wert, Allen, Hardin, Mercer, Defiance, Paulding, Hardin, Shelby, Marion and Putnam counties. For entry information, call 419.852.0950 or visit the pageant website at www.misswco.com.

Kim Hohman’s Dance Works of Van Wert and The Dance Centre of Wapakoneta will be spotlighted during the show. Other guest appearances include Adam Calvert, from MTV’S “Taking The Stage” and area singers Mitchell Hernandez, Colin Stephens, and John Townsend.

Tickets are $20 and available at the door, at the NPAC box office or from a contestant. The Niswonger Performing Arts Center Box Office is located in the Grand Lobby at 10700 SR 118 S, Van Wert, Ohio. Phone is 419.238.6722 (NPAC). Visit us on the web at www.npacvw.org, Facebook or Twitter.

The show will be taped and televised at a later date on NBC and Fox Lima.