x
  1. Home
  2.  News
  3.  Local News

Wask named Miss Wantage 2016

| 27 Jun 2016 | 01:21
    Miss Wantage Kelly Wask stnds outside the Wantage Township Municipal Building.
    Miss Wantage Kelly Wask stnds outside the Wantage Township Municipal Building.
    PHOTOS BY VERA OLINSKI Lorenzo Blanco, left, talks to Mistress of Ceremonies Cindy Zajac, right, about orange.
    PHOTOS BY VERA OLINSKI Lorenzo Blanco, left, talks to Mistress of Ceremonies Cindy Zajac, right, about orange.
    Little Miss Wantage Mackenzie Joeli Zollinger, left is shown with Little Mister Wantage Lorenzo Blanco after winning their titles.
    Little Miss Wantage Mackenzie Joeli Zollinger, left is shown with Little Mister Wantage Lorenzo Blanco after winning their titles.
    Miss Wantage Kelly Wask sings "The Star Spangled Banner" during the Wantage Day opening ceremonies.
    Miss Wantage Kelly Wask sings "The Star Spangled Banner" during the Wantage Day opening ceremonies.

WANTAGE — Volunteers, judges, and contestants gathered at the Wantage Municipal Building to determine who would be the next: Miss Wantage 2016, Little Miss Wantage 2016, and Little Mister Wantage 2016.
Judges Sharyn Nest, Judith Zisa, and Donna Leuzzi judged Miss Wantage contestants based on: biography, appearance, poise, walk and grace, personality, and why the three contestants: Taylor N. Hendrickson, Anya M. Valkema, and Kelly M. Wask wanted to be Miss Wantage.
Wask was ultimately selected to be Miss Wantage 2016.
The judges' criteria to determine the Little Miss and Mister Wantage was: poise, appearance, and personality. The contestants for Little Miss were: Gabryella M. Abbott, Meadow Anderson, Alison Gaglioti, and Mackenzie J. Zollinger.
Little Mister contestants were: Lorenzo Blanco and Travis Vaughan.
Zollinger was selected to be Little Miss 2016; and Blanco was selected to be Little Mister 2016.
Four-year-old Blanco had memorable personality. When asked by Mistress of Ceremonies Cindy Zajac what his favorite color was, he emphatically stated, “My favorite color is orange, because it makes me happy!” He then continued to explain how he likes to drink orange juice, but he does not like to eat oranges.
Other contestants whispered their answers into the microphone.
Miss Wantage 2015 Nicole Chirico Chirico and Miss Wantage 2011 Megan Zummo gave words of wisdom to the Miss Wantage contestants. Each encouraged them to be involved in as many activities as possible and make new memories.
Miss Wantage's mother, Donna Wask, later said she had coached the three Miss Wantage contestants on the same softball team when they were in third grade. The team name was: “Sugar and Spice.”
After the pageant, Miss Wantage Kelly M. Wask beautifully sang the “Star Spangled Banner” during the Wantage Day Opening Ceremonies, dressed in gown, banner, and crown.
Wantage Recreation President Greg Williams then presented the new Miss Wantage, Little Miss Wantage, and Little Mister Wantage to the community in Woodbourne Park.