GHS beauties compete for titles

Thirty-four young women from the freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior classes at Gaffney High School will compete in the 2007 Miss Cherokeean pageant Saturday evening.

Themed "Disco Divas," the festivities will feature disco music from the 70s. A highlight of the evening will be the contestants performing a dance routine choreographed by GHS drama teacher Erin Fox to Abba's "Dancing Queen." Other entertainment will feature students from GHS who are members of the Southern Jewels Diamond Dance Team; vocal numbers by GHS student Laura Simmerson; and the GHS Village People (Kaleb McDaniel, Brook Moss, Johnny Clay Crocker, BJ Spencer and Tron Brannon) who will perform a parody.

GHS math teacher Todd Gardner will serve as the master of ceremonies for the evening.

The contestants were selected by votes of their classmates. Each class will have a class beauty and the senior with the highest score will be crowned Miss Cherokeean.

Awards to given include the Spirit Award, voted on by the girls to honor the contestant with the most dedicated and positive spirit throughout the competition; Academic Award, given to the contestants with the highest GPA for the first semester; and Service Award, given to the contestant with the most impressive community service record (winner chosen by the judges);

Judges come from outside the county and are professionals in the areas of communications, business, academics and performance of some type.

Contestants will be judged in interview with the judges, athletic wear/physical fitness, casual wear and formal wear.

The 2006 Miss Cherokeean Hayden Childers, and the 2006 Homecoming Queen, Brittany Gaffney, will be on hand to crown the winners.

The pageant gets under way at 6:30 p.m. in the GHS auditorium. Doors open a 5:30. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students with IDs, and free for children under six. Proceeds will go to fund publications of the yearbook, The Cherokeean, and the school newspaper, The Indian Post. Advisors from the publications, Mollie Vassey and Kristie Camp, are the pageant coordinators.

Senior contestants and their parents are:

Whitney Byers, daughter of Michelle Johnson and Dwayne Byers; Hayden Kidd, daughter of Richard and Haley Kidd; Krystal Lowery, daughter of Mary Brown Lowery and Bernard Lowery; Johnica Ortiz, daughter of Barbara and Terry Haney; Tiffany Posey, daughter of Sheila M. and Frankie L. Posey Sr.; Terrica Sims, daughter of Roxann Clyburn and Terry Sims; Krissy Smith, daughter of Floria and Kirkland Smith; Stacy Tessnier, daughter of Debra L. and Ricky G. Tessnier; and Heather Vess, daughter of Mark and Karen Vanderburg and Jimmy and Bobbie Vess.

Junior contestants and their parents are:

Shamaka Adams, daughter of Lillian and Edward Burris; Leah Belue, daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Shane Belue; Keely Coyle, daughter of Floyd and Tabatha Coyle; Felixicity Figueroa, daughter of Angie and Felix Figueroa; Kayla Gallman, daughter of Todd and Carol Gallman; Johnea Littlejohn, daughter of Earlene Tate and Dean Littlejohn; Latrice Palmer, daughter of Angela Palmer and William Palmer; and Tessie Woodlief, daughter of Jim and Sandra Woodlief.

Sophomore contestants and their parents are:

Kourtney Blankenship, daughter of Shelly Hipps and Larry Blankenship; Keiaria Dewberry, daughter of Sylvia Sims and Gregory Dewberry; Meldrika Dukes, daughter of Erica Dukes and Melvin Davis; Megan Gallman, daughter of Mark and Kathleen Gallman; Twyla Hardy, daughter of Darlene Hardy and granddaughter of Elizabeth Hardy; Lauren Patterson, daughter of David and Stacey Richardson; and Holly Wolff, daughter of Stanley Wolff and Detra Wolff.

Freshmen contestants and their parents are:

Ebone Ellis, daughter of Sara Ellis and Elybin Dawkins Jr.; Kara Harris, daughter of Susan and David Rich; Blythe Lowry, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Chuck Lowry; Morgan McCraw, daughter of Bruce and Patti McCraw; Katie Patterson, daughter of Craig and Lisa Patterson; Brianna Payne, daughter of Andrea Payne and Scott Payne; Jessie Scoggins, daughter of Milliard and Ginger Scoggins; Makiera Simmons, daughter of Carmela Cumberlander and Michael Simmons; Tierra Smith, daughter of Timothy Smith and Robyn Stevenson; and Morgan Whisenant, daughter of Tammy Whisenant and the late Jerry Whisenant.