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Six candidates vie for Miss Niagara crown

ANNALISE COLENSO

NIAGARA, Wis. — A new Miss Niagara will be chosen when voters go to the polls Tuesday, April 4.

Niagara High School students, along with city and town of Niagara voters, will choose from among six students who were recently selected by the high school as the finalists for 2017.

Originated and sponsored by the Niagara Lions Club since 1968, the new Miss Niagara will have her coronation at the Niagara Lions Community Picnic on Saturday, June 24, when she will be presented with a crown and sash from Sarah Nawn, the current Miss Niagara.

ANNALISE COLENSO, 16, is a sophomore and the daughter of Renee and Jason Colenso. She is the second-oldest of four children and her siblings include Tristin (18), Ty (14), and Aiden (12).

Colenso is a very good student whose name is always on the honor roll. Her favorite classes this year include art, algebra, and biology. She is a wonderful artist and her art work has twice earned her “Artist of the Month” honors, once as a freshman and again this year as a sophomore. Colenso also participates in volleyball and has been active in club volleyball as well. She takes an interest in government by serving on the student council.

SYDNEY HOWEN

Colenso is a member of Badgers United, where she helps perform community service. She also has participated in the Spanish service trip and the Washington D.C. service trip. Colenso also is part of her church youth group and helps with church suppers.

When asked if she has a mentor or special role model, Colenso gave special mention to her Aunt Kerry “because she’s always in a positive mood. She helps me with anything I ask and is always there for me. She guides me in a healthy manner.”

In her free time, Colenso babysits and enjoys playing guitar and running. Spending time with family and friends is also important for her. She also enjoys baking and watching movies.

Although undecided at this time, Colenso is considering becoming a natural health doctor in the future.

SYDNEY HOWEN, 15, is a sophomore and the daughter of Crystal and Tim Howen. She is the oldest of three children and her siblings include Rio (13) and Ariana (10).

ABIGAIL MCCARTHY

Howen is a personable young lady who excels in academics. She is on the honor roll earning “High Honors” recognition. Her favorite class this year is metals.

Howen’s extracurricular activities include participating in Skills USA and Lake Superior autocross club racing. She also is active in student government serving as a member of the student council.

When asked if there is someone she looks up to as a mentor or role model, Howen gave credit to her teacher, Lance Ellis. “Mr. Ellis is someone I can trust. He is encouraging and he teaches me new things every day.” Howen also gave credit to her Aunt Shanna as “someone I can look up to and ask for help. She’s always there for me and I can talk to her about anything. I think of her as my big sister.”

In her spare time, Howen enjoys welding, photography, flying, hunting, and fishing. She also is in the process of earning a pilot’s license and plans on attending flight school this summer. She works part-time at the Red Brick Inn restaurant. She has volunteered at the Big Red Barn, Ford Airport Days, and often helps senior citizens by mowing lawns.

At this early stage of life, Howen says that her post-high school plans may include welding and aviation.

ABIGAIL PROVENCHER

ABIGAIL MCCARTHY, 17, is a junior and the daughter of Crystal and Tony McCarthy. McCarthy is the oldest of six children and her brothers and sisters include Jadah (14), Sierra (13) Brenden (8), Lexy (4), and Paisley (1).

McCarthy is a very good student as her name is consistently found on the honor roll. Her favorite classes are art, biology and health occupations.

McCarthy is active in several co-curricular activities. She is a multi-sports athlete who has earned varsity letters in softball and volleyball and earlier in basketball. Active also in club volleyball, she is a member of the student council. She enjoys forensics where she is a state medalist and also is a state qualifier with the Health Occupations Student Association. McCarthy also recently was honored by Niagara faculty who selected her for membership in the National Honor Society.

When asked if there was a special person she considers to be her mentor or role model, McCarthy did not hesitate to name her mother, Crystal. “My role model is my mom. She inspires me to work hard for what I want and believe in. No matter what, she always wants me to participate in every possible extracurricular I can be in because she knows what greatness I can accomplish.”

McCarthy has a positive record of participating and performing volunteer community service. She has volunteered at the Big Red Barn, at the Community Tree Lighting event, and also serves as a youth volleyball coach. McCarthy has also helped at the holiday service buying Christmas presents for needy families. In her spare time she enjoys volunteering at Family Ties Adult Daycare Center, playing club volleyball, and studying for forensic medicine for HOSA.

SYDNEY WEBER

After high school, McCarthy would like to travel and experience different parts of the world. Her career plan is to work in some medical field where medical expertise is particularly needed.

ABIGAIL PROVENCHER, 17, is a junior and is the daughter of Kari Johnson and Ed Provencher. She has a brother, Kevin Provencher (20).

Provencher is an excellent student and her name always can be found on the honor roll. She is well-liked by her peers and well-respected by her teachers. She has been chosen as Student of the Week on multiple occasions and recently was honored when faculty selected her for membership in the school’s chapter of the National Honor Society. While she enjoys all of her classes, Provencher said her favorites this year are theatre, graphic communications and psychology.

Provencher is active in a variety of extracurricular activities. She enjoys theatre and has been on the one-act team for three years, including last year when the team advanced to state. An alternate for Badger Girls State, Provencher also is active in forensics and is a state medalist.

When Provencher was asked if she had any person she considered as her mentor, hero, or role model, Abigail cited her mother and teacher, Ginger Anderson. “My mom is hard working,” she reflected, “and she has such a great heart. She gives me the best advice and is always there for me.” About Mrs. Anderson, Provencher said “She does so much for our school and she cares about everyone. I hope to be as strong and caring as both of them someday,” she concluded.

MADELINE WEST

Provencher works part time and she also carries volunteer work in several places. She works part-time at school in the Badger Care program. She also has been a blood donor, works concession stands, and volunteered at the local animal shelter. Provencher has also participated in the Costa Rica service trip and will participate in the Washington D.C. service trip this summer and assist with the fundraisers.

Provencher is inquisitive and loves to read and learn new things. She enjoys taking on new challenges. She also enjoys spending time with her friends and family.

Provencher’s future plans are to attend college and become a social worker.

SYDNEY WEBER, 16, is a junior and the oldest child of two children of Julie and Jeff Weber. She has a younger brother, Josh (14).

Weber is a good student who has made the honor roll every term. She has earned “Student of the Week” recognition her sophomore and freshman years and she recently was honored by the faculty when they selected her to become a member of the National Honor Society. While she enjoys most of her classes, when asked she listed health occupations, art, and English as her favorites this year.

Weber has many interests and she is active in a variety of extracurricular activities including volleyball, basketball, and track. She has shown herself to be a very good public speaker through her involvement in the Niagara forensics program and the Health Occupations Student Association. Sydney is a two-time state forensic medalist and also was a HOSA state qualifier for forensic medicine where she earned a bronze medal. Her other activities include band, yearbook, student council and club volleyball.

When asked if there was someone she would consider to be her mentor, role model, or hero, Weber pondered the questions and then said, “While many people come to mind, none more so than both sets of my grandparents. Together they have been married for a combined total of 113 years and counting, exemplifying the true meaning of loyalty, perseverance, and commitment. I can only hope,” Weber reflected, “to someday follow in their footsteps and prove that love can stand the test of time.”

Weber also has found the time to volunteer at many school and community service events. She has volunteered at the centennial, Lions Club picnic, the Big Red Barn, and Red Cross blood drives. She has worked with other teens raking yards for the elderly, serving as a youth volleyball assistant coach, helped at youth sledding outings and has served as emcee at multiple school activities. In addition, Weber volunteers and helps at her church serving as a youth leader and doing other things including nursing home Christmas caroling, helping at church suppers, pasty making, and Vacation Bible School.

Weber works part-time as a baby sitter. Her leisure time activities include fishing, baking, swimming, and camping. She also enjoys independently studying forensic medicine for health occupations.

Weber’s post-high school plans are to continue her education at a four-year college majoring in biology. Her long-term goal is medical school and becoming a physician specializing in rheumatology or pediatrics.

MADELINE WEST, 16, is a junior and is the daughter of Teresa West and Brett West.

West is an excellent student whose name is always on the honor roll. Well-respected by her peers and teachers, West will represent the school at Badger Girls State this summer and recently was further honored by the faculty when she was selected for induction into the National Honor Society.

West is a friendly personable young lady who has tutored other students and this year she lists advanced biology, chemistry, and pre-calculus as her favorite classes.

Beyond the classroom, West has a wide variety of interests and is involved in many extracurricular activities. A fine athlete, she has earned varsity letters in volleyball, basketball, and softball. She helped her basketball team to a winning record this year and distinguished herself by finishing second in the M&O Conference in rebounding.

She has been active in student government while serving as vice-president of her class and she also is a member of the student council. She has done well in forensics where she is a two-time state medalist. She also has been active in one-act play, and school yearbook. In the summer she competes in SAY soccer.

When asked if there is a special person she considers as her mentor or role model, West gives credit to her mother noting, “She has a very busy schedule but she always finds time for me. I attribute my sense of determination and drive to my mom. She also will drop everything to help me when I need it.”

West is and has been involved in many school and community service volunteer activities. She is a volunteer at Maryhill Manor, has volunteered at the Big Red Barn, and has served as a junior counselor at the sixth grade spring camp experience. In the past, she has helped at blood drives at school and at the community Christmas Tree Lighting event. She works part-time as a babysitter. Other leisure time interests include sports, hunting, fishing, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.

West’s goal for the future is to become a registered nurse. She will do so either through attending a university or while serving in the U.S. Air Force.

Submitted by Kerry Jon Grippen, Niagara Lions Club. Photos courtesy of Karen Klenke.

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