Callahan awarded first runner-up
Polk County High School sophomore Aliyha Mullins was crowned Miss PCHS on Saturday, May 14.
Mullins was one of 12 contestants vying for the crown during a pageant held at the high school auditorium.
Polk County High School Junior Savannah Callahan won first runner-up.
Contestants were judged on an interview, talent, casual and formal wear.
Talent included dancing, singing and monologues from all 12 contestants.
Mullins, who performed a jazz dance to “My Boyfriend’s Back,” won the talent competition.
Miss Congeniality was awarded to Hope Sams.
The top five contestants, selected based on an interview, talent and modeling of casual and formal wear, were Helen Li, Callahan, Mullins, Brittany Phipps and Sabrina Schultheiss.
After the top five contestants were chosen, judges Karen McDowell, Sonya Monts and Kristen Pangle asked them questions onstage. Questions included:
• How the contestants feel about texting and driving
• What the contestants would do if chosen as Miss PCHS to serve as a good role model
• If chosen, whether and how they would express their faith and religion as Miss PCHS.
Other winners in the pageant included Schultheiss as second runner-up, Phipps as third runner-up and Li as fourth-runner up.
Miss PCHS 2010 Makenzie White crowned the winners, danced and did her final runway walk. Dance Dynamics’ Alyssa Fincher also danced, and master of ceremonies Cabell Brand performed by singing and playing guitar. Cole Preston also served as master of ceremonies.
Contestants for this year’s pageant, which was the third for the high school, included Callahan, Chelsea Kelly, Li, Ashley Lynch, Brooke McGraw, Mullins, Phipps, Kailey Russell, Hope Sams, Katie Sams, Schultheiss and Khadsha Webster.