The 2007 Swiss Wine Festival kicked off on Sunday night with the crowning of this year’s Princess and Prince of the festival. The scholarship program was held in the Center Stage Showroom at Belterra Casino Resort and Spa.
Dru Morgan earned the title of Swiss Wine Festival Princess from a field of 12 contestants; while Daniel Welch was honored as this year’s Swiss Wine Festival Prince out of seven candidates. Both will now reign over this year’s Swiss Wine Festival, which will be held in the Paul Ogle Riverfront Park beginning on Thursday, August 23rd, and running through Sunday, August 26th.
The duo also won $1,000 scholarships for earning their titles, with runner ups also earning scholarship money.
Princess Dru Morgan is the daughter of Angela Browning of Vevay and Michael Ferrell. She was sponsored by The Julia Knox House, and will be a freshman this fall at Ball State University.
She is a member of the Indiana National Guard in the military police corps; and during high school she was a varsity cheerleader, was captain of the varsity soccer team; and was president of the Key Club.
After college, her career ambition is to become a criminal psychologist for the criminal justice system.
Prince Daniel Welch will be a senior this fall at Switzerland County High School, and was sponsored by The German Corner. He is the son of Cindy Welch of Bennington and the late Scott Welch.
He is the president of the FFA chapter; and is vice president of the FCA. He was vice president of the junior class; and is a member of the basketball team and the golf team.
He plans on attending college to pursue a career in either pharmacy or engineering.
The first runner up for Swiss Wine Festival Princess was Megan Lohide. She was sponsored by Texas Gas Transmission Corporation in the program, and is the daughter of Mark and Lee Jaye Lohide of near East Enterprise. She will be a junior this fall at Indiana University Southeast.
She was the 2002 Edelweiss Teen Princess; 2004 Miss Switzerland County; and was the first runner up in the 2006 Edelweiss Princess program. She was a varsity cheerleader in high school.
Her career ambition is to become a secondary school math teacher.
The first runner up for Swiss Wine Festival Prince was Ian Sisson. He will be a senior this fall at Switzerland County High School; and was sponsored by Danner’s Hardware. He is the son of Rick Sisson and Tracy Schulz.
He is a member of the National Junior Honor Society; the student council; and the varsity soccer team; and plans on attending Indiana University of Purdue University and pursue a degree in nursing following graduation.
Emilee Waldron was named the second runner up in this year’s scholarship program. She is the daughter of Dorie and Greg Peelman of near East Enterprise and Tony Waldron. She will be a senior this fall at Switzerland County High School, and was sponsored by Tom T’s Electric.
She is a member of the National Honor Society; was second runner up in the 2006 Edelweiss Princess program; and was first runner up in the 2007 Queen of Hearts pageant. She was the first runner up in the 2007 Miss Switzerland County pageant; is a varsity cheerleader; and is the treasurer of the FFA.
Her career plans are to be a plastic and reconstructive surgeon.
The second runner up in the Prince program was Jacob Haskell. He was sponsored by Edelweiss Floral, and will be a senior this fall at Switzerland County High School. He is the son of John and Candis Haskell of Vevay; and Darlene and Ron Morton of Center Square.
He is active in the Switzerland County FFA chapter, serving as chapter advisor and chapter reporter; and is a member of the soccer team.
He plans on attending Indiana University and study to become an operating room nurse.
The third runner up in the Princess program was Morgan Ross. She is the daughter of Fred and Rita Ross of near Center Square, and will be a senior this fall at Switzerland County High School. She was sponsored by Danner’s Hardware.
She is a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, and prayer group; and the varsity basketball team. She is involved in the 4-H program, Pep Club, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Her career ambition is to attend college and study elementary education.
The third runner up in the Prince program was Loren Lamson, Jr. He is the son of Loren and Marla Lamson of Vevay, and was sponsored by G.G.’s Grill. He was also honored by his fellow contestants by being named as Mister Congeniality for the competition.
He attends Western Kentucky University; was a 10-year member of the Switzerland County 4-H program; and is a member of Riverview Southern Baptist Church.
His career ambition is to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.
The fourth runner up for Princess was Jenna South. She was sponsored by the Schenck Mansion Bed and Breakfast, and is the daughter of Mike and Volina South of near Vevay. She will be a freshman this fall at Ivy Tech Community College.
She was a four year member of the cheerleading squad while in high school; and was also involved in FFA, the Pep Club; and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Her career goal is to earn a degree in nursing at Ivy Tech, and also plans on taking EMT classes.
Devon Armstrong was selected as the fourth runner up in the Prince program. He is the son of Shane and Carla Armstrong, and was sponsored by Tom Stow/Final Grade.
He will be a senior this fall at Switzerland County High School, and is a member of the soccer and basketball teams. He plans on attending college to major in architectural and landscape design.
Ashley Thornton was selected by her fellow contestants as Miss Congeniality for this year’s program. She will be a senior this fall at Switzerland County High School; and is the daughter of Renee Dixon and Greg Thornton. She was sponsored by Twisted Ends.
She has earned inclusion in “Who’s Who Among American High School Students”; and is a member of the National Honor Society. She currently serves as the parliamentarian of the Business Professionals of America.
Following graduation, she plans on attending Vincennes University and study to be a mortician.
Other contestants in this year’s Princess program included: Sara Bovard, Olivia Castor, Asia Covington, Emily Lanman, Glenda Mefford, and Kim Vann.
Other prince candidates were Justin Wagner and Aarron Woeste.