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Eight vie for Miss Pear Blossom Winner reigns over parade, gets scholarship By KATHY MORGAN Eight young women will compete for the title of Miss Pear Blossom 2000 on March 25 in the auditorium of North Medford High School. The finalists, all high school seniors, were chosen from more than 40 who entered the initial competition. Collins Gorevin Hasapis Poole Rauch Sakraida Braly Lewis The final eight are Jamie Collins, 17, Cascade Christian High; Loretta Gorevin, 17, Phoenix High; Corinne Hasapis, 17, Ashland High; Kari Poole, 18, Crater High; Wendy Rauch, 18, South Medford High; Nicole Sakraida, 18, North Medford High; Courtney Braly, 17, Eagle Point High; and Ginny Lewis, 17, Prospect High. Each of the finalists was chosen on the basis of skills in leadership, community involvement, academic achievement and a written essay, according to Darcey Mann-Self, co-creator and pageant director. This year's pageant is dedicated to the memory of Patti Bills, who died last fall. Bills was a former director of the Medford's Visitor and Convention Bureau. She died in September 1999. Bills was a driving force behind the pageant. She co-created it in 1991 with Mann-Self and Val James. "The pageant was created to add a new dimension to the Pear Blossom Festival, and to add a scholarship opportunity," Mann-Self said. And scholarship is what it is about. Each princess automatically earns a $500 college scholarship. The winner becomes queen, reigns over the Pear Blossom Parade on April 8, and receives a $1,700 scholarship. Over the last nine years, the Pear Blossom Festival Association has given out more than $45,000 in scholarships to more than 70 young women in the community. The Senior Royalty Committee, headed by Mann-Self and composed of 15 judges from the community, chose the top five contestants from each school. Individual schools then selected their princess. During the pageant the young women will be judged on interviews with the judges, writing and presenting an essay and answering impromptu questions on stage. But the pageant will have pageantry as well. The songs and production numbers in the pageant revolve around the Pear Blossom Festival Theme "As Time Goes By." Entertainment includes dance numbers by the Dance Arts Center trio "Just for Fun." The Gentlemen Songsters Quartet will sing. There also will be a video presentation with singer Toni Garrett. The Talented Feet Rope Skipping Team will be on hand. And there will be a performance by the Bear Creek Country Dancers. A fashion show rounds out the evening. Brian O'Connor is master of ceremonies. This is the sixth year the radio personality with KCNA and KROG has added his touch to the evening. The Pear Blossom Junior Royalty court, selected earlier that day, will present flowers to the princesses. The pageant begins at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets, $5 for adults and $3 for students, are available at the door. Proceeds benefit the Pear Blossom Scholarship Fund. For more information, call 734-7327. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA