Top row, l-r: Ally Knight (Good Hope), Averie Harris (Fairview), Gracie Thomas (Holly Pond), Haylee Dauphin (Cullman)
Bottom row, l-r: Hillary Holcomb (Vinemont), Raven Gilliland (West Point), Savannah Aaron (Cold Springs), Serah Hudson (Hanceville)
CULLMAN – The 2017 Cullman County Fair Queen Pageant is tonight, Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. in the Coca-Cola Theatre on the Cullman County Fairgrounds.
Representatives of the eight public high schools in Cullman County will compete on an equal basis for a $3,000 scholarship award (paid to the school in which she enrolls) given by the Cullman County Fair Association. The winner also receives a diamond pendant from Doug Doggett Jewelers of Cullman. The first alternate receives a $2,000 scholarship; in the event the winner is unable to fulfill any of her duties, the first alternate will serve in lieu of the Queen. The second alternate receives a $1,000 scholarship. Wallace State Community College gives a one-year scholarship in the field of performing arts to the winner of the talent portion of the contest. The Cullman Lioness Club awards $200 to Miss Congeniality. Lion Thomas Warhurst will emcee the pageant.
The eight contestants are:
Ms. Savannah Aaron – Cold Springs High School
Ms. Savannah Aaron, 17, is representing Cold Springs High School. Aaron, who is 5’1” with brown hair and hazel eyes, is the daughter of Tanya Aaron and Jeremy Aaron.
Savannah’s hobbies include cheerleading, dancing, volunteering, club activities and spending time with her friends and family.
Ms. Aaron will perform a jazz routine to Christina Aguilera’s “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.”
She is the Cold Springs senior class president and co-captain varsity cheerleader, is a member of the SGA and LEO Club, and is an FCCLA state medalist and UCA All-American Cheerleader. With UCA Camp Champions she performed at the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, receiving an invitation to try out for the UCA staff. She also volunteers at H.O.P.E. Horses, The Crossing and the community outreach clothing program at Cold Springs High School.
Savannah plans to attend the University of South Alabama to obtain a degree in sports physical therapy.
Ms. Haylee Dauphin – Cullman High School
Ms. Haylee Dauphin, 17, is representing Cullman High School. Dauphin, who is 5’9” with brown hair and green eyes, is the daughter of Danielle Dauphin and Gary Dauphin.
Haylee’s hobbies include dancing, singing, working in her church’s nursery, swimming and baking.
Ms. Dauphin will sing a medley of “Come in from the Rain” and “Stormy Weather.”
She is in LEO Club, FCCLA, has played in her school’s band for four years, served three years on dance line, is dance line captain, received superior ratings at marching competitions, and was Cullman High School’s Fair Queen talent winner.
Haylee plans to attend either the University of North Alabama or the University of Alabama in Birmingham, where she hopes to earn her degree before working as an OBGYN ultrasound sonographer.
Ms. Averie DeAnn Harris – Fairview High School
Ms. Averie DeAnn Harris, 17, is representing Fairview High School. Harris, who is 5’2” with red hair and hazel eyes, is the daughter of Brad and Kristy Harris.
Averie’s hobbies include singing, playing the flute and piccolo, spending time with her church family and youth group, baking, sewing, crocheting and spending time with special needs children.
Ms. Harris will sing “Part of Your World” from “The Little Mermaid.”
She is the FCA/Huddle Leader, a member of Aggies for Christ, Key Club secretary, student council 12th grade class representative, band drum major, first-chair flute/piccolo, and plays on the varsity soccer team.
Averie plans to attend Wallace State Community College for two years to earn her associate degree before transferring to Athens State to pursue a degree in elementary/collaborative education.
Ms. Ally Peyton Knight – Good Hope High School
Ms. Ally Peyton Knight, 18, is representing Good Hope High School. Knight, who is 5’2” with dark brown hair and green eyes, is the daughter of Jacob and Cindy Knight.
Ally’s hobbies include writing music, playing guitar, singing, English and dressage horseback riding, traveling and playing volleyball.
Ms. Knight will be performing an original song she wrote and composed entitled “The Problem with Girls.”
She is a member of the Fast Track Academy at Wallace State Community College where she made the Dean’s List and is a member of the Good Hope varsity volleyball team, where she has received All-County awards the past two years.
Ally plans to attend Wallace State Community College to earn her associate degree before transferring to the University of North Alabama to pursue a degree in business with a minor in music. Her goal is to one day work in Nashville in the music industry.
Ms. Serah Hudson – Hanceville High School
Ms. Serah Hudson, 17, is representing Hanceville High School. Hudson, who is 5’0” with brown hair and brown eyes, is the daughter of Wayne and Sherri Hudson.
Serah’s hobbies include listening to classic R&B music, cooking and trying new foods, shopping, babysitting her niece Kaydence, binge watching shows on Netflix, spending time with her youth group and traveling to new places.
Ms. Hudson will perform an Acro/Lyrical routine.
She is a member of FCCLA, TRIO club, SGA, LEO club, Hanceville High School’s track team and National Honor Society, and serves as senior class vice president.
Serah plans to attend college to pursue a degree in social work.
Ms. Gracie Alexis Thomas – Holly Pond High School
Ms. Gracie Alexis Thomas, 17, is representing Holly Pond High School. Thomas, who is 5’1” with brown hair and green eyes, is the daughter of Jed and Amber Thomas.
Gracie’s hobbies include singing, writing, running, hiking and volunteering.
Ms. Thomas will sing “House of the Rising Sun.”
She is a member of the varsity volleyball team, FCA, FCCLA, SGA, FBLA, Key Club and Beta Club and performs in the choir and ensemble.
Gracie plans to earn a degree in criminal justice from Jacksonville State University so she can later become a juvenile probation officer.
Ms. Hillary Holcomb – Vinemont High School
Ms. Hillary Holcomb, 17, is representing Vinemont High School. Holcomb, who is 5’6” with brown hair and blue eyes, is the daughter of Heath and Emily Holcomb.
Hillary’s hobbies include playing the piano and trumpet, reading, watching Netflix, volunteering with the “Back Pack Program,” and entertaining residents at her local nursing home, along with baking and cooking.
Ms. Holcomb will perform a medley of Floyd Cramer songs on the piano.
She is a delegate to the 2017 Alabama Lions Club High School Leadership Forum, was a member of the 2017 All-State Honor Band, part of the Alabama Lions High School All-Star Band and Cullman County Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership delegate, member of the National Honor Society, GEMS, Anchor Club, LEO Club, FCA, FCCLA and the Vinemont High School Marching Eagle Band.
Hillary plans to attend the University of North Alabama and play in the “Pride of Dixie” Marching Band while pursuing a biomedical engineering degree. After completing college, she plans to work at UAB Hospital to help change the lives of others.
Ms. Raven McKenzie Gilliland – West Point High School
Ms. Raven McKenzie Gilliland, 17, is representing West Point High School. Gilliland, who is 5’2” with dark brown hair and green eyes, is the daughter of Loren Gilliland and Greg and Toni Jenkins.
Raven’s hobbies include going to church, tumbling, cheerleading, riding horses and spending time with her friends and family.
Ms. Gilliland will perform a dancing and tumbling routine.
She is a member of FCCLA and a is varsity cheerleader.
Raven plans to the Wallace State Community College’s nursing program.
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