The 2017 Swiss Wine Festival may start in the Paul Ogle Riverfront Park in a couple of weeks; but festival activities officially get started this Sunday evening, August 6th, when this year’s Edelweiss Princess is crowned.
The pageant will be held in the cafeteria at Switzerland County High School, and will begin at 6 p.m. A total of $1,900 will be handed out in scholarship money, with this year’s Edelweiss Princess earning a $1,000 scholarship.
There are four contestants vying for this year’s title:
– ARIANA D. BRIGHT is the daughter of Donald Bright and Georganna Ray; and she is being sponsored in the pageant by Shell’s Ice Cream and Grill. She’s 18 years old, and is a graduate of Switzerland County High School. Ariana will be a freshman this fall at the University of Southern Indiana.
In high school, she graduated with an Academic Honors Diploma; was a member of the National Honor Society; and was a delegate to Hoosier Girls State through the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a four year member of the varsity cheerleading squad, serving as co-captain her senior year; and also played varsity volleyball for two years.
Continuing her education, Ariana plans to pursue a career as a forensic criminologist.
– SUMMER JEWELL DICKERSON is 18 years old, and is a graduate of Switzerland County High School. She is the daughter of Mark Dickerson and Bridgette Miller, and is being sponsored in the pageant by the Cocoa Tan. She will be a freshman at Northern Kentucky University this fall.
She is the reigning Miss Switzerland County of the 4-H Fair; was the second runner up in the 2016 Miss Switzerland County pageant; and was the fourth runner up in the 2016 Edelweiss Princess pageant.
In school, Summer was President of the Business Professionals of America; was President of the Student Council; and was co-President of Students Against Destructive Decisions. She was the co-Vice President of the Senior Class; Vice President of the Junior Historical Society; and was also involved in the FFA and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Her career ambition is to have a career as a neonatal nurse in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
– CAMERON LEA RAY is being sponsored in the pageant by The Ridge Winery; and is the daughter of Katina Carter and Eric Ray. She is 18 years old, a graduate of Switzerland County High School, and will be a freshman this fall at Hanover College.
While in high school, Cameron was a member of the National Honor Society; the National Society of High School Scholars; and was active in the art club and the conservation club. She was a member of the varsity cross country team, and was a four time Regional qualifier and a two time Semistate qualifier. She also was a member of the track team, where she qualified for the Regional three times. She enjoys riding her horse and archery and hunting.
Cameron’s career ambition is to become a veterinarian and open her own practice here in Switzerland County.
-McKAYLI ALAINE SCUDDER is 18 years old, a graduate of Switzerland County High School, and is being sponsored in the pageant by RS Home Sales. The daughter of Chastity Scudder and Devin Scudder, she will be a freshman this fall at Hanover College.
McKayli was honored as the 2017 Prom Queen; was first runner up for the Fall Homecoming celebration and also was first runner up for the Winter Homecoming Celebration; and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Pep Club. She was also a member of the soccer and track teams while in high school. She is active in the Switzerland Baptist Church Youth Group; and enjoys working and making slime with her youngest sister.
At Hanover, McKayli plans on studying kinesiology.
This year’s Swiss Wine Festival will be held from Thursday, August 24th through Sunday, August 27th. For more information, go to www.swisswinefestival.org.