Niagara High School students, along with city and town of Niagara voters, will choose from among five students selected by their high school classmates to be the 2022 finalists.

The new Miss Niagara will have her coronation at the Niagara Lions Community Picnic on Saturday, June 25, when she will be presented with a crown and sash from the current Miss Niagara Haley Allred.

Candidates this year are juniors Morgan Borchardt, Erin Lukowicz and Abbey Tripp; and sophomores Emma Brasure and Aiva Champeau.

— Morgan Borchardt, 16, is a junior and the daughter of Mark and Christie Borchardt. The youngest of four children, Borchardt has two older sisters, 23-year-old Shelby and 19-year-old Faith and an older brother, Daniel, 21. She is a very talented young lady who has excelled in the classroom and also in multiple sports. Borchardt’s name consistently can be found on the honor roll. While she does well in all classes, her favorite classes this year include art and pre-calculus. She is well-respected by her teachers and peers for her hard work and pleasant demeanor. In addition to her athletic achievements, Borchardt also has earned “Student of the Week” recognition. Her nomination stated that “Morgan is an outstanding student athlete and great role model for all of the students at school. She is a conscientious student in the classroom and a leader on the court … Morgan’s positive attitude, commendable manners, and consistent willingness to lend a hand is an asset for any classroom, group, or team.”

EMMA BRASURE

Borchardt is a multi-sport athlete, earning varsity letters while starring in volleyball, basketball, and track. She excels in volleyball, where this year she earned first-team all-conference honors while also being named as the M&O Conference most valuable player as well as being chosen her team’s MVP while leading the Badgers to the M&O Conference championship. In basketball, Borchardt helped her team to a 16-9 record while scoring in double figures. She also excels in track, where she earned MVP honors.

Borchardt also participates in several other school co-curricular activities, as she is a member of the forensic team, art club, and Badgers United. During her flex time she can be found tutoring students who need some extra help. Borchardt also is active in the community, as she has done community service by volunteering at the Big Red Barn, meat raffles and Lions Club Picnic. She also serves as a referee for the volleyball tournament and the Shoot Your Shot fundraiser.

Borchardt named her sister, Shelby, as her role model or mentor. “She has always given me the best advice,” Borchardt said. “She is a very kind and respected person.”

Borchardt works part-time at the family business, Borchardt Auctions, and in her free time she enjoys playing club volleyball and hanging out with her friends.

Borchardt’s plans are to play volleyball at a yet-to-be determined Division 2 school, where she will study to become an architectural engineer.

AIVA CHAMPEAU

— Emma Brasure, 16, is a sophomore and the daughter of Tom and Ann Brasure. Her siblings include Michael, 31; Olivia, 20; and Reid, 8. Brasure is a very personable young lady who has distinguished herself in academics and co-curricular activities. She is an excellent student whose name is consistently found on the school’s high honors list. While she does well in all her classes, she lists her favorites this year as Spanish and biology. She enjoys athletics participating in volleyball, basketball, and track. Brasure also is active in theater, forensics and student government, having served as vice-president of her class and as a member of the student council.

Brasure cites her mother, Ann, as her mentor or role model. “My mom … she is like Super Woman,” Brasure said. “She handles a full workday schedule, gets my brother up and dressed for school, makes dinner and still finds time hanging out with our family. She is such a strong and independent woman.”

Brasure also has been honored to be selected as a Student of the Week. Her faculty nominator praised her writing. “Emma grasps all course work fundamentals with ease. Her optimistic mindset, continual effort toward her responsibilities, and willingness to take on any challenge are some of her greatest strengths.”

In addition to her busy academic and co-curricular schedule, Brasure also is involved at St. Anthony Catholic Church, where she is in a youth group for CCD, helping at church food concession stands and wherever needed. She also rings bells for the Salvation Army and helps with middle school youth volleyball.

Brasure works part-time babysitting and in her free time she likes to ice skate and participate in club volleyball. Although just a sophomore, Brasure is goal-directed. After high school, Brasure plans to attend college and study to become a pediatric oncologist.

ERIN LUKOWICZ

— Aiva Champeau, 15, is a sophomore and the daughter of Joe and Shanna Champeau. She is the youngest of three children. She has a brother, 23-year-old Camryn, and a sister, 20-year-old Elsa, along with sister-in-law Olivia. Champeau is a very strong student whose name can be consistently found on the high honors list. While she enjoys all her classes, Champeau says her favorite classes this year are economics and Spanish.

Champeau is very active in school activities as well as being deeply involved in church and community service volunteer work. She is a good athlete whose favorite sport is softball. Even though she was just a freshman last year, Champeau earned a varsity letter in softball and was a key contributor who helped her team to a second-place finish in the M&O Conference. Her talent did not go unnoticed, as she earned second-team all-conference recognition as well as her team’s Coach’s Award. She also participates in volleyball and basketball and during the off season she has played on traveling teams in both softball and volleyball.

Champeau is active in student government serving with the student council and as class secretary.

Champeau remembered her late grandfather, Jeff Champeau, as her mentor or role model. “He was the one who taught me my favorite sport along with my dad, Joe Champeau,” she said. “Ever since he passed away in 2018 from cancer, I have been playing the game for him. Softball is no longer just my sport but it is our sport.”

Champeau has been very involved in helping at her church as well as community service. She assists at fundraisers for the Knights of Columbus, including the duck race, steak fry and fish fries. She also helps at the Big Red Barn, Lions Club Picnic, and bowling tournaments selling 50-50 tickets. Her faith is very important to her and she has been very involved in church activities. Although young, Champeau was privileged to participate in an international youth week to the famous Medjugorje pilgrimage site in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

ABIGAIL TRIPP

Although she maintains a very busy schedule, she does enjoy baking, swimming, outdoor activities and spending time with her family and friends. Champeau also recently discovered that she loves to fish.

Although just a sophomore, Champeau is looking to the future. She says she would like to play softball on the college level. Her plans include going to college and majoring in business with a minor in Spanish. She would like to own her own bakery.

— Erin Lukowicz, 16, is a junior and the youngest of three children of Heidi Phillips of Niagara and David Lukowicz of Green Bay. She has an older sister, 22-year-old Amanda, and an older brother, Josh, 20.

Lukowicz is a very capable student and her name can often be found on the high honor roll. Her favorite subjects this year include math, advanced biology, and English. Lukowicz is a personable young lady whose efforts resulted in her being selected to be honored as Student of the Week. According to the faculty member who nominated her, “Erin is a great student. She is helpful and eager to learn. She puts in extra work inside and outside of the classroom. Erin is not afraid to ask questions that relate to content being taught, and she ensures full understanding for herself and her classmates during class discussion. Erin is a great classmate to her peers. She does a wonderful job making sure everyone is included.”

Active in student government, Lukowicz serves as vice-president of her class and has been selected by the faculty to attend Badger Girls State this summer.

Lukowicz names her sister, Amanda, as a role model or someone she looks up to, writing, “I have watched her work very hard and pursue her dreams. I hope to do that after high school. She is one of the nicest and most caring people I know.”

Lukowicz has many interests and participates in many extracurricular activities including volleyball, basketball, and track. She also is a member of the school’s forensic team and she is active with the Badgers United student organization, where she helps set up and clean at their events. Lukowicz also volunteers at school concession stands and sold 50-50 tickets at last August’s Mud Run.

She lists her leisure time activities as sports and spending time with family and friends.

While Lukowicz is undecided about her plans, she does intend to go to college.

— Abigail Tripp, 17, is a junior and the daughter of Bill and Tammy Tripp. She has two brothers, 20-year-old Austin and 14-year-old Alex.

Tripp is a personable young lady who is well-liked and respected by her peers and her teachers. She is an outstanding student whose performance in the classroom usually places her on the highest honors list. As a result, and in conjunction with her scholarship, character, leadership, and service, Tripp recently was selected for membership in the National Honor Society.

Tripp also has been recognized as a Student of the Week. As noted by the teacher who nominated her, “She exceeds classroom expectations and breaks through academic challenges with a positive mindset and the determination to do her personal best. She is well-mannered and respectful to her peers and teachers. Her bright and friendly personality is contagious, and she is a pleasure to have in the classroom. Abbey is a conscientious student and shows leadership within the classroom.”

Tripp is active in a number of school extracurricular activities, having participated in basketball, track and volleyball earlier in high school. Active in student government, she serves as her class secretary and has participated in One-Act Play.

Tripp names her brother, Austin, as mentor or someone who is her role model. “He is my role model because he has always been there for me,” Tripp said. “He has always pushed me to succeed. He is a person that has always treated people with respect and he tries to be the best person he can be.”

Tripp has compiled an outstanding record of community service. She has volunteered at the Aurora Mud Run, at the Lions Club Meat and Rifle Raffle, and at the Knights of Columbus’ steak fries. She helps at the school concession stands and volunteers at St. Anthony Catholic Church, where she is part of the Religious Education program.

Tripp works part-time babysitting and in her free time she enjoys reading and spending time with her friends and family.

Her plans including furthering her education at a four-year university, perhaps studying psychology.

The Niagara Lions Club originated and has sponsored the Miss Niagara competition since 1968.

(Karen’s Studio photographs)