Twenty-five young women will compete for the title of 2013 Florida Strawberry Festival queen at 6 p.m. Jan. 26, on the festival grounds.
Tickets, which go on sale Jan. 14, are $15 each and will be available at Hardee’s Fashions, 1501 N. Wheeler St.; Sunshine State Federal Savings and Loan, 102 W. Baker St.; and Regions Bank, 2302 Thonotosassa Road.
Reigning queen Chelsea Bowden will crown the winner of this year’s pageant, which is organized by the Plant City Lions Club.
Photos of this year’s contestants courtesy of Stephanie Humphrey, Stephanie Humphrey Photography.
THE CONTESTANTS
Madison Brooke Astin
• Parents are Sam and Buffy Astin
• Senior at Durant High School
• Student Government Association president and varsity cheer captain. FFA State finalist of ornamental horticulture demonstration, and best all-around cheerleader. Community service includes mentoring children at Turkey Creek Middle School, the Berry Walk Against Drugs and Toys for Tots.
• Plans to obtain a master’s degree in business marketing at the University of Tampa and manage her family’s 90-year-old farm
Kristin Nicole Bozek
• Parents are Melissa Bozek-Pfost and the late Doug Bozek
• Graduate of Strawberry Crest; freshman at Hillsborough Community College
• Member of the National FFA organization, Plant City First Baptist Church and the National Honor Society. Enjoys spending time with her friends, fishing and shopping
• Studying Marine Biology
Jessica Ann Brown
• Parents are Kenny and Denise Brown
• Senior at Plant City High School
• Member of the National Honor Society, 2013 Senior Executive Council, serving as class historian, student council, Civinettes, SADD and PCHS FFA. Loves seeing people from her community as a cashier at Grandpa Johnson’s BBQ. Enjoys spending time with family saltwater fishing. Volunteers her time mentoring young cheerleaders. Member of Plant City First Baptist Church.
Kelsey Morgan Brown
• Parents are Alicia and Aaron Pues and Derrick and Angel Brown
• Senior at Plant City High School
• Member of the Civinettes, Students Against Destructive Decisions and the National Honor Society. Has volunteered at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital for four years. Member of Knights Baptist Church. Has worked at Panera Bread for 18 months. Hobbies include being out on the boat with family, singing karaoke and going to the beach with friends.
• Future plans include earning a degree in the medical field from a four-year university
Sara Elizabeth Brummer
• Parents are Jeff and Laura Brummer
• Senior at Plant City High School
• Secretary of the National Honor Society, Vice-President of the World Language Club, Secretary of the senior class, student council secretary and member of Civinettes. Captain of the varsity cheerleading team and member of the flag football team. Hobbies include riding roller coasters, going to the beach and spending time with friends and family.
• Plans to pursue a degree in speech pathology at a four-year university
Emily Marie Colburn
• Parents are Ron and Pamela Colburn
• Home-schooled
• Volunteers at the YMCA as an assistant homeschool PE coach. Volunteers at St. Clements Catholic Church teaching 4th grade Faith Formation. Volunteers at the USTA HCC Tampa Tennis Center a a court monitor. Hobbies are exercising, Zumba, volleyball and reading.
• Plans to attend a four-year college and earn a degree in personal training
Lindsey McClain English
• Daughter of Chrystal English
• Junior at Plant City High School
• Vice-President of the Plant City Sr. FFA Chapter and serves as student advisor for the Hillsborough County FFA Federation. Member of the Civinettes, National Honor Society, Youth Alive Club and Florida Junior Cattleman’s Association. Has twirled batons competitively for 12 years. Hobbies include writing, drawing and volunteering with Relay for Life. Attends Plant City Church of God.
• Plans to study at the University of Alabama in mass communication/journalism
Samantha Kay Farkas
• Parents are George and Lisa Farkas
• Graduate of Durant High School; sophomore at Hillsborough Community College
• Member of Plant City Junior Woman’s Club and Turkey Creek First Baptist College and Career Ministry. Hobbies include baking, quilting and spending time with my family and friends.
• Goal is to become a neonatal nurse after obtaining a B.S.N. in nursing from USF
Kayla Danielle Faulk
• Parents are Michael and Kelly Mullis
• Attends Hillsborough Community College
• Member of Bethany Baptist Church. Hobbies include traveling with family, shopping, baking and volunteering at the South Florida Baptist Hospital.
• Plans to major in nursing to become a pediatric nurse
Kelsey Morgan Fry
• Daughter of Glenn and Kendra Harrell
• Senior at Plant City High School, ranked in the top 5% of her class with a 5.48 GPA
• Captain of the PCHS Varsity Swim Team, president of the Ronald McDonald Charity House Club and treasurer of the National Honor Society. Member of Plant City’s First Baptist Church. Enjoys participating in speech competitions, swimming competitively and spending time with my family.
• Plans to attend a university and major in marketing
Emiliy Paige Gonzalez
• Parents are Steve and Kim Gonzalez
• Senior at Durant High School
• Secretary of the Durant Senior Council. Competes and has gone to state twice with FFA for Ornamental Horticulture Demonstrations. Student leader in her youth group at Victory Worship Center.
• Plans to attend Hillsborough Community College and further her education at the University of South Florida to earn a degree in Biology
Nikki Lindsey Honaker
• Parents are Billy Honaker and David and Wendy Howell
• Senior at Durant High School
• Member of the FFA and Leo Club. Enjoys participating in past swine and steer projects. Member of River of Life Christian Center where she enjoys volunteering with different church events and her youth group. Hobbies include spending time with family and friends, shopping and laughing.
• Plans to pursue a degree in nursing at a local university
Ashton Victoria Houston
• Parents are Shannon Houston and Travis and Tracey Houston
• Honors graduate of Strawberry Crest High School and current freshman at Hillsborough Community College
• Teen volunteer at H. Lee Moffit Cancer Center. Hobbies include playing piano, decorating cakes, fishing with her papa, and spending time with family and friends.
• Plans to major in international business and accounting
Katlyn Nicole Joyner
• Parents are Darren and Lisa Joyner
• Senior at Strawberry Crest; dual enrolled at Hillsborough Community College
• Member of the National Honor Society. Employed at Panera Bread. Attends New Hope Free Will Baptist Church. Hobbies include running, shopping, baking, reading, helping others and spending time with family and friends.
• Plans to attend University of South Florida to pursue a degree in physical therapy
Madison Alyse Keene
• Parents are LaRoyce and Debby Keene
• Junior at Plant City High School
• President of Civinettes Service Club, member of the National Honor Society and ASL (Sign Language) Honor Society. Hobbies include volleyball, reading, dancing and spending time with friends and family.
• Plans to pursue an engineering degree from a major university
Courtney Lynn Kitchens
• Parents are John and Toni Kitchens
• Senior at Plant City High School
• Involved in Future Business Leaders of America, Youth Alive, Civinettes, National Honor Society, Chorus and the Raider Swim Team. Hobbies include swimming, designing websites, online shopping and watching old movies.
• Plans to attend Florida State University and major in computer engineering
Debra Jane Lentz
• Parents are Ken and Ruth Lentz
• Home Schooled Senior/dual enrolled; early admissions student at Hillsborough Community College
• Pursuing a career in singing and playing guitar. Hobbies include airsoft, music and roller-skating.
Ericka Dianne Lott
• Parents are Rick and Dianna Lott
• Junior at Plant City High School
• Plays varsity soccer and varsity volleyball. Member of the Civinettes, National Honor Society, Students Against Destructive Decisions and Plant City’s First Baptist Youth Group. Hobbies include going to the beach with friends, cooking and shopping.
• Plans to attend the University of Central Florida to study photography
Haley Elizabeth Ours
• Parents are Greg and Sharon Ours
• Graduate of Plant City High School, freshman at Hillsborough Community College
• Ambassador for the Florida Strawberry Growers Association. Attends Bethany Baptist Church. Member of the Plant City Junior Woman’s Club. Hobbies include running, spending time with family and friends, and baking and selling strawberry cookies to raise funds for Relay for Life.
• Plans to obtain a degree in education
Sarah Marie Pupillo
• Parents are Michael and Katrina Pupillo
• Senior at Durant High School
• Involved with student government, Leo Club and Durant Thespians. Member of the National Honor Society and Students All Connected.
• Plans to attend the University of Florida to pursue a double major in political science and education
Stephanie Dee Taylor
• Parents are Scott and Diane Taylor
• Senior at Plant City High School, ranked in the top 10 of her class
• Member of Civinettes, Students Against Destructive Decisions and the National Honor Society. Attends Plant City’s First Baptists Church and volunteers as a volleyball coach for young girls at the YMCA and Plant City Elite Volleyball club. Hobbies include baking cakes with her grandma, running with her dogs Cookie and Rusty, putt-putt golfing and working at Grandpa Johnson’s BBQ.
• Plans on attending a local four-year university pursing her dream of becoming an orthodontist
Jamee Lynne Townsend
• Parents are James and Cathy Townsend
• Junior at Strawberry Crest
• President of FFA. Member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta and Leo Club. Captain of varsity volleyball team. Vice President of the Senior Class Council. Hobbies include beach volleyball, public speaking, serving fellow FFA members and showing beef cattle at the Florida Strawberry Festival
• Plans to study Environmental law and play collegiate level volleyball
Catherine Marie Wellen
• Parents are Bob and Cathy Wellen
• Junior at Seffner Christian Academy
• Member of the National Honors Society, Vice-President of the Debate Club, member of the varsity volleyball team and chorus. Volunteered at a deaf school in Knockpatrick, Jamaica. Sings weekly in praise and worship band. Hobbies include coaching middle school girls basketball, baking, horseback riding, photography, traveling with family and playing guitar
• Plans to study medicine
Rebeckah Susan Wellen
• Parents are Bob and Cathy Wellen
• Senior at Seffner Christian Academy
• Member of National Honors Society, president of the Debate Club, member of varsity basketball team, member of ensemble and chorus, predicted valedictorian. Volunteered at deaf school in Knockpatrick, Jamaica. Sings weekly in church’s praise and worship band. Hobbies include coaching middle school girls basketball, watercolor painting, writing poetry, horseback riding, traveling and playing guitar
• Plans to study business law
Jordan Williams
• Parents are Jerrold and Julia Williams
• Graduate of Durant High School, freshman at Hillsborough Community College
Member of HCC’s science club where she participates in fundraisers for the prevention of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease
• Hobbies include kickboxing, mentoring her younger cousin in cheerleading and pageant competitions, and helping her family on their strawberry farm
• Plans to pursue a degree in dentistry from the University of Florida