Five to compete for title of Miss Rain Day 2014
WAYNESBURG – Five young women from throughout Greene County gathered recently at the Glass Room in the Benedum Hall on the Waynesburg University campus to officially kick off their quest for the Miss Rain Day title.
Distinguished guests for the evening were Miss Stephanie Mitchell, 2013 Miss Rain Day; and Miss Bailey Barnyak, 2014 Crown Bearer. Stephanie is the 17-year-old daughter of Becky and Jim Mitchell of Carmichaels. Bailey is the six-year old daughter of Nikki Gasti of Carmichaels and Jeff Barnyak of Clarksville.
The 36th annual Miss Rain Day Scholarship Pageant, sponsored by Rain Day Scholarship, Inc, will be held Sunday, July 27, at 4 p.m. in the Jefferson Morgan Jr. Sr. High School auditorium.
The contestants will be judged on the basis of personal interview, sportswear, talent, and evening gown competitions.
Awards will be presented to those with top scores in these areas as well as Miss Personality, Miss Photogenic, the Kelly Smotzer Memorial Award, The Remo C. Bertugli Memorial Award, and returning this year, the Scholastic Achievement Award. Participation awards will also be given to all contestants.
A Rain Maker Award will be presented to the contestant who collects the most scholarships, and the John O’Hara Award will be given to the contestant who composes the best essay on what Rain Day means to them.
Westmoreland County Community College is again offering a tuition scholarship to Miss Rain Day 2014. The scholarship may be applied to any of Westmoreland County Community College’s 65 associate degree programs that prepare students for careers or provide the first two years of the bachelor’s degree.
Westmoreland County Community College President Daniel Obara noted, “On behalf of our Greene County Education Center, Westmoreland County Community College is pleased to offer a tuition scholarship to this year’s Miss Rain Day Pageant winner.”
The contestants have had their portrait taken courtesy of Bruno and Bruno photography, held interviews with WANB Radio and Doug Wilson, and attended a special dinner and performance of “Legally Blonde” at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh.
The contestants also spent an evening at the ball game watching the Washington Wild Things, and will volunteer their time at the Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation Golf Outing and Habitat for Humanity Rain Day 5K race.
After the pageant, Miss Rain Day 2014, her court and the contestants will participate in the Rain Day Festival on July 29, and the winners will perform for the festivalgoers.
Miss Rain Day 2013 Stephanie Mitchell is guiding the 2014 contestants through their quest for the title and will relinquish the crown to one of this year’s contestant. In her remarks to the 2014 contestants, Stephanie stated, “The title of Miss Rain Day 2013 has enabled me to represent Rain Day Scholarship Inc. on many different occasions. I have grown as an individual, met many new people, and most importantly been given the opportunity to give back to my community.”
Those competing for the title and the schools they attend are as follows:
n Kayla Pendland, the 16-year-old daughter of Kalem and Melinda Pendland of Clarksville and a junior at Jefferson-Morgan Junior Senior High School.
n Nina Rivera, the 16-year-old daughter of Chad and Eryan Coss of Waynesburg. She is a senior at Waynesburg Central High School.
n Caitlyn Ricco, the 14-year-old daughter of Tom and Carrie Ricco of Carmichaels. She is a sophomore at Carmichaels Area High School.
n Carly Riggi, the 15-year-old daughter of John and Josey Riggi of Rices Landing. She is a junior at Jefferson-Morgan High School.
n Morgan Voithofer, the 14-year-old daughter of Jason Voithofer and Heather Tokarcik, both of Carmichaels. She is a sophomore at Carmichaels Area High School.