2016 Miss Mountain Lake, Little Miss crowns awarded Friday, June 17
Give my regards to Broadway,
Remember me to Herald Square,
Tell all the gang at 42nd Street,
That I will soon be there;
Whisper of how I’m yearning
To mingle with the old time throng,
Give my regards to old Broadway,
And say that I’ll be there e’er long.
Miss – and Little Miss – Mountain Lake candidates will be sparking life to these well-known George M. Cohan lyrics as they “Give their regards to ‘Broadway'” in the pageant that will determine the 2016 royal court. The pageant will be held on Friday evening, June 17, beginning at 7 p.m., in the Mountain Lake Public High School auditorium.
Twelve candidates will be vying to wear the crown of 2016 Miss Mountain Lake, with a eight little girls, who have just completed second grade, participating in the Little Miss portion of the pageant.
The Miss Mountain Lake candidates, who have just completed their junior year in high school, are, in alphabetical order, Liana Blomgren, Danica Dick, Jaden Hoek, Katherine Hofmann, Emily Jahnke, Rebekah Klassen, Lexia Peters, Kalley Rempel, Karen Soutthivong, Meredith Suess, Brook Sunderman and Kassandra Tellez.
The Little Miss candidates include, also in alphabetical order, include Audrina Bennett, Julia Brinkman, Reagan Christians, Kelby Janzen, Ashlyn Pfeiffer, Khloe Saelee, Lily Youngwirth and Aleena Vetsouvanh.
Craig and Deb Faber will serve as Master and Mistress of Ceremonies. Craig works for Christianson Farms, and Deb is a teacher for the St. James Public School District. They have three children, Jae, Jon and Joey.
Ticket prices are $6 for adults, $4 for students and preschool age is free.
Judging for Miss Mountain Lake is done through personal interview, sportswear dance, talent and poise and appearance. Coordinating the Miss Mountain Lake portion of the pageant are Alisa Nickel and Jami Peters.
The Little Miss is determining by drawing of the winning name. Jami Peters and Sarah Mendoza handle the duties coordinating the Little Miss contestants.
Quick look at the nine Miss Mountain Lake candidates (in alphabetical order)
Age: 17.
Parents and Siblings: Kyle and Kim Blomgren are her dad and mom. Her older brothers are Kyle Blomgren and Adam Blomgren, and her younger brother is Ryan Blomgren.
School: Mountain Lake Public.
In-School Activities: Cross Country, Girls Basketball, Track and Field, Senior High Band, Senior High Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, Senior High Choir, Senior High Show Choir, Mountain Lake Public High School Student Council, One-Act Play, Musicals/Drama, FFA and Trap Shooting.
Out-Of-School Activities: 4-H.
Employment: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at the Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake-The Village.
Hobbies: Hanging out with friends, playing sports, listening to and playing music and jamming to K-LOVE.
Future Plans: Undecided; but she will be attending college.
Talent: Vocal solo on Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” accompanying herself on guitar.
Pageant Sponsor: Stan Schroeder American Family Insurance.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Carmen (Syverson) and I telling each other every year that we aren’t going to race the Pow Wow Road Race – but somehow we end up racing anyway.
Age: 17.
Parents and Siblings: Steve and Cheryl Dick are her dad and mom. Her older siblings are Travis Dick and his wife, Katie; Danielle Mai and her husband, Holden and Tyler Dick.
School: Mountain Lake Christian
In-School Activities: Yearbook, Drama, Band, Choir, Mountain Lake Christian High School Student Council, Student Prayer Leader and Trash Can Ensemble.
Out-Of-School Activities: Church activities, flute lessons, piano lessons and voice lessons at Minnesota State University-Mankato.
Employment: KBQ, Inc. and The Matchless Gift, both of Mountain Lake.
Hobbies: Drawing, painting, singing, hanging out with friends and watching movies.
Future Plans: Her plans include attending college for Fashion Design and/or Music.
Talent: Vocal solo on an original song, accompanying herself on piano.
Pageant Sponsor: KBQ, Inc.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Working at the Mountain Lake Christian Food Booth and playing Mountain Lake Lions Bingo with her friends.
Age: 17.
Parents and Siblings: Trent and Pam Hoek are her dad and mom. Her siblings are her twin brother, Shadrick Hoek and younger sister, Meesha Hoek.
School: Mountain Lake Public.
In-School Activities: FFA, Senior High Band, Senior High Choir, Student Leadership, Volleyball and Senior High Jazz Band.
Out-Of-School Activities: Figure skating, Worship Team and youth group.
Employment: CNA at Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake-The Village and installer/bookkeeper for Hoek Outdoors Docks and Boat Lifts of Mountain Lake.
Hobbies: Water sports, spending time with family and friends, baking, watching movies, biking and walking.
Future Plans: Attend Minnesota State University-Mankato to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, get married and have a family.
Talent: Performing “This Is Amazing Grace” by Phil Wickham on the drum set, backed by the Worship Team.
Pageant Sponsor: Hoek Outdoors of Mountain Lake.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Being Little Miss Mountain Lake between second grade and third grade, watching the Monday Night Grande Parade, performing in the parade with the Mountain Lake Public High School Marching Band, eating egg rolls and milk shakes every day of Pow Wow, Sunday morning worship in Mountain Lake City Park and going on Midway Rides with Emily (Jahnke).
Age: 18.
Parents and Siblings: Perry and Cheryl Hofmann are her dad and mom. Her older siblings are Patricia Bartell and her husband, Robert, and Elizabeth, while her younger sisters are Victoria Hofmann and Christina Hofmann.
School: Mountain Lake Public.
In-School Activities: Senior High Choir, FFA and Trap Shooting.
Out-Of-School Activities: Bible Study.
Employment: Dietary Assistant at the Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake-The Village.
Hobbies: Spending time with friends and family and reading.
Future Plans: Attend college to earn a degree in Agriculture Education.
Talent: Reading an excerpt from the book, Tuesdays With Morrie, by Mitch Albom.
Pageant Sponsor: Mountain Lake Floral.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Eating Pow Wow Pups – and then riding the Sizzler six times.
Age: 17.
Parents and Siblings: Kurt and Heidi Jahnke are her mom and dad. Her older brother is Levi Jahnke.
School: Homeschooled at Corem Deo Academy.
In-School Activities: Mountain Lake Area Wolverine Volleyball and Track and Field and Mountain Lake Public High School Senior High Band and Senior High Choir.
Out-Of-School Activities: Piano lessons, youth leadership and youth group.
Employment: True Value Country Pride Services in Mountain Lake and as a lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor at Mountain Lake Public School’s indoor swimming pool.
Hobbies: Working out, knitting, spending time with friends and cleaning/organizing her room.
Future Plans: Undecided.
Talent: Piano selection, “River Flows in You,” by Yiruma
Pageant Sponsor: United Prairie Bank of Mountain Lake.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Riding Midway Rides with Jaden (Hoek) and making her crown was always safe when she was Little Miss Mountain Lake, seeing all the lights, smelling all the smells – and eating all the food.
Age: 16.
Parents and Siblings: Chad and Esther Klassen are her dad and mom. Her younger brothers are Luke Klassens, Zach Klassen and Caleb Klassen.
School: Mountain Lake Public.
In-School Activities: Cross Country, FFA, Senior High Choir and Senior High Show Choir.
Out-Of-School Activities: Youth For Christ volunteer and youth group.
Employment: Works at Klassen Farms of Mountain Lake and is a lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor at Mountain Lake Public School’s indoor swimming pool.
Hobbies: Reading, running, writing, watching movies and being with friends.
Future Plans: Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications.
Talent: Presentation of a poetry piece.
Pageant Sponsor: Edward Jones Investments of St. James.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Earning my Pow Wow wristband for Midway Rides by rock-picking for my grandparents. That equaled four hours of unlimited fun.
Age: 17.
Parents and Siblings: Steve and Julie Peters are her dad and mom. Her older sister is Janessa Peters.
School: Mountain Lake Public.
In-School Activities: Volleyball, Girls Basketball, Softball, FFA, Senior High Choir and Senior High Show Choir.
Out-Of-School Activities: Summer athletic programs and church activities.
Employment: NA.
Hobbies: Sports, rollerblading and hanging with friends and family.
Future Plans: Attend college with an emphasis on Health Care.
Talent: Vocal solo.
Pageant Sponsor: Marlo Peters Trucking of Mountain Lake.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Riding through the Monday Night Grande Parade with my dad in a Mountain Lake Fire Department fire truck.
Age: 17.
Parents and Siblings: Bryan and Carolyn Rempel are her dad and mom. Her older brother is Caleb Rempel, and her younger brothers are Braden Rempel, Noah Rempel, Devyn Rempel, Landen Rempel and Gracen Rempel.
School: Mountain Lake Public.
In-School Activities: Volleyball, Softball, FFA, Trap Shooting, Senior High Band, Senior High Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, Senior High Choir and Senior High Show Choir.
Out-Of-School Activities: 4-H, 4-H Ambassador and youth group.
Employment: Cashier at Cenex in Mountain Lake.
Hobbies: Camping, hunting and hanging out with friends.
Future Plans: Attend a four-year college.
Talent: Trumpet solo on “True Colors.”
Pageant Sponsor: Country Pride Cenex of Mountain Lake.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Going on Midway Rides with my friends.
Age: 17.
Parents and Siblings: Sakoul and Chantha Soutthivong are her dad and mom. Her older siblings include Jenny Soutthivong, Jasey Soutthivong and Billy Soutthivong.
School: Mountain Lake Public.
In-School Activities: Cross Country, Senior High Jazz Band, Senior High Band, FFA, Senior High Knowledge Bowl and Mountain Lake Public High School Student Council.
Out-Of-School Activities: Farmer’s Market and youth group.
Employment: Dietary Assistant at the Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake-The Village.
Hobbies: Bowling, gardening, cooking, singing and listening to music.
Future Plans: Attend college to major in Business Management.
Talent: Vocal solo on “Lead Me to the Cross,” by Brooke Ligertwood, accompanying herself on piano.
Pageant Sponsor: Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake-The Village/The Lodge.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Spending quality time with my family watching the Monday Night Grande Parade, as well as riding Midway Rides every year with my cousin, Jewel Soutthivong, and eating cotton candy and Slushies until we get sick.
Age: 17.
Parents and Siblings: Dan and Charlotte Suess are her dad and mom. She has a twin brother, Jacob Suess.
School: Mountain Lake Public.
In-School Activities: Volleyball, FFA, Trap Shooting, Windom/Mountain Lake Cobra Wrestling Stats, Softball, Senior High Choir and Senior High Show Choir.
Out-Of-School Activities: Youth group, mission trips, selling eggs and having fun.
Employment: Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor at Mountain Lake Public School’s indoor swimming pool.
Hobbies: Hanging out with friends and family, hunting, fishing and crafts.
Future Plans: Attend a four-year college.
Talent: Speech about Trap Shooting.
Pageant Sponsor: Quad Brothers Construction and Excavating of Mountain Lake.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Eating as much food as I can – because Pow Wow only comes around once a year.
Age: 17.
Parents and Siblings: John Sunderman and Angie Dick are her dad and mom. Her older brother is Levi Blahnik, and her twin brother is Alex Sunderman.
School: Mountain Lake Public.
In-School Activities: Volleyball, Girls Basketball, Track and Field, Senior High Band, Senior High Choir, FFA, First Day of School Committee.
Out-Of-School Activities: Youth group and camper/counselor at Camp Grace.
Employment: Cleaning the showroom and mowing lawn for Bargen, Incorporated of Mountain Lake.
Hobbies: Sand volleyball, biking, rollerblading and reading.
Future Plans: One year at YWAM (Youth With A Mission, an inter-denominational, non-profit Christian, missionary organization) and then return to attend college.
Talent: Flute solo on Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.”
Pageant Sponsor: Bargen, Incorporated of Mountain Lake.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Picking up candy thrown by groups taking part in the Monday Night Grande Parade, riding Midway Ride with friends, watching the Tuesday Night Talent Show – and eating a ton of chicken sandwiches (topped with pickles) from the Mountain Lake Christian Food Booth.
Age: 18.
Parents and Siblings: Jose Sr. and Rocio Garnica are her dad and mom. Her younger siblings are Brittany Garnica, Jose Garnica Jr. and Genesis Garnica.
School: Mountain Lake Public.
In-School Activities: Senior High Band, Senior High Choir, Senior High Show Choir, Volleyball, Manager for Track and Field and FFA.
Out-Of-School Activities: Bible Study, youth group, teacher for Faith Formation classes and mission trips.
Employment: Dietary Assistant at the Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake-the Village.
Hobbies: Dancing, baking, swimming and choreographing dances.
Future Plans: Attend college focusing on Social Work, with an emphasis on adoption.
Talent: Original Dance Presentation to Prince Royce’s “Bachata.”
Pageant Sponsor: Wilcon Construction of St. James.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Hanging out with my best friend, Kristina, every year.
