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58 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, April 5, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend April 4, 2004 Cassie Tolman SOU student from Medford named Miss Rogue Valley By CLEVE TWITCHELL for the Mail Tribune Performance of an Andrea Bocelli vocal classic carried Cassie Tolman of Medford to victory Saturday night in the 42nd annual Miss Rogue Valley Scholarship Pageant. The 19-year-old Southern Oregon University freshman was crowned Miss Rogue Valley of 2004. She also won the evening’s major talent award in the pageant held at the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater. For her performance she sang "Time to Say Goodbye," a song made famous by Bocelli and also Sarah Brightman. Most of the lyrics are in Italian. Tolman won a $2,000 college scholarship as the new Miss Rogue Valley and $500 for the talent award. First runner-up was Julia Strickland, 21, of Central Point, a senior at SOU, winning $1,500. Advertisement Earning second runner-up honors was Rachel Wille, 18, of Eagle Point, an Eagle Point High senior, $1,000; the third runner-up was Aspen Gerten, 17, of Central Point, a senior at Crater High School, earning a $750 award. A non-finalist talent award worth $250 went to SOU sophomore Cassidie Conaway, 19, of Medford, who did a tap dance to "All That Jazz" from "Chicago." Conaway also won the Miss Congeniality award, good for a $250 scholarship. One other award, for best interview, worth $500, with the judges, was won by Strickland. Each contestant got another $600 for participating. As Miss Rogue Valley, Tolman goes on to compete in the Miss Oregon Pageant July 10 in Seaside. Tolman is majoring in both music and real estate at SOU. She was a contestant on the "American Idol" television competition in recent months and made it through the first three rounds. She has also performed in the all-state and all-Northwest choirs as well as the state solo finals. Her parents are Robert and Peggy Tolman of Medford. Each pageant contestant has a platform. Tolman’s is the National Kidney Foundation and support of organ donor programs. Other contestants chose causes that ranged from helping autistic children to feeding the hungry. This year’s pageant featured nine contestants instead of the usual 10. A spokeswoman said one of the original 10 had to drop out because of excessive schedule demands. The pageant featured one new area of competition — casual wear. The interview with the judges, held earlier in the day, counted for 40 percent of the overall score, talent 30 percent, casual and evening wear each 10 percent and fitness (swimsuit) 10 percent. Talent performances covered a wide range. Besides vocal selections, they included presentations on flower arranging and costume design and a dramatic reading about the atomic bomb and Hiroshima. Cleve Twitchell is a retired Mail Tribune editor and columnist. E-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times