The 2005 Swiss Wine Festival will be held at the Paul Ogle Riverfront Park for four days beginning on Thursday, August 25th, but the festivities officially got underway this past Sunday evening when this year’s Princess and Prince were crowned.
The Prince and Princess Scholarship Program is sponsored by Belterra Casino Resort and Spa, and the program awards $3,800 in college scholarships to students.
Sunday night, Katie Wright and Kaleb Adams were the big winners in the program, with each earning a $1,000 scholarship to go along with being named as this year’s Princess and Prince.
The royals were chosen from a field of 10 Princess and eight Prince contestants, and will now reign over all of the festivities of the festival.
Princess Katie Wright is the daughter of B. J. Wright of near Five Points and the late Dr. Jerry Wright. She is 17 years old and will be a senior this fall at Switzerland County High School. She was sponsored in the program by Swiss Alps Printing, and is involved in 4-H, having earned numerous 4-H awards. She was the first runner up in the Miss Switzerland County pageant in both 2004 and 2005; and was the first runner up in the 2004 Edelweiss Teen Princess pageant. She is a member of the FFA; Pep Club; Pride Club; the Prom Committee; and is a volunteer with the Special Olympics.
She is unsure of her career choice after high school; but plans on attending college.
Prince Kaleb Adams is 18 years old and is the son of Bucky Adams and Pallas Meeks. He will be a freshman at Ivy Tech State College this fall; and was sponsored in the program by the Julia Knox House Gift Shop. He is a member of the National Rifle Association and the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association; and also participated in the 4-H program; FFA; and the National Historical Society.
He plans one day to become a fitness trainer; and also hopes pursue a career in culinary arts.
The first runner up in this year’s Princess program was Brittany Cole. She is 18 years old, and was sponsored in this year’s program by Karrie’s Kuts and Kurls. She is the daughter of Duane and Tammy Cole of Beatty Ridge, and will be a freshman this fall at Indiana University in Bloomington. In high school she was a member of the varsity volleyball, basketball, and softball teams; was first runner up for Homecoming Queen; and was the 2005 Prom Queen.
At Indiana University she plans on majoring in biology and will pursue a career in physical therapy.
Chancey Tyler May was honored as the first runner up in the Prince contest. He is 17 years old and is the son of Kathy and Reno May of near Pleasant. He will be a senior this fall at Switzerland County High School, and was sponsored in the program by the Front Porch Coffee Shop in Madison. He is a member of the varsity basketball and baseball teams; and is also a member of the Brushy Fork Baptist Church Youth Group.
Following graduation he plans on attending college, and although he hopes to play baseball in college, his college major is undecided.
The second runner up in the Princess program is Brianne Martin. She is 18 years old and was sponsored in the program by Danner’s Hardware. She is the daughter of Rebecca Martin of Vevay, and will be a freshman this fall at Indiana Wesleyan University.
Brianne plans on becoming a lawyer and have her own law firm; and also plans on having her own photography business.
The second runner up in the Prince program is Corey Dunaway. He was sponsored in the program by the Schenck Mansion Bed and Breakfast, and is the son of Martin and Chris Westerkamm of near East Enterprise. He is 19 years old, and will be a sophomore at Vincennes University this fall.
Following his graduation from Vincennes, he will begin his career working with Morton Construction.
Brittany Waddle is this year’s third runner up in the Princess program. She s the daughter Philip and Sandy Waddle of Pleasant Ridge Road, and was sponsored in the program this year by the Vevay Kiwanis Club. She is 19 years old, and will begin her sophomore year in the Indiana University School of Nursing this fall.
She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree at the IU School of Nursing, and plans on attaining her license as a nurse practitioner. She hopes to someday work on a pediatric hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplant unit.
Ryan Owings earned both the third runner up title in the Prince program and was also selected by his fellow contestants as Mister Congeniality. He is 18 years old and is the son Bob and Kathy Owings of near Bennington. He was sponsored in the program by the Vevay Kiwanis Club, and will be a freshman this fall at Indiana University in Bloomington, where he plans to pursue a career in the medical field.
Megan Lohide was crowned as the fourth runner up in this year’s princess program. She is the daughter of Mark and Lee Jaye Lohide of near East Enterprise, and was sponsored in the program by Vevay Newspapers, Inc. She will be a freshman this fall at Ball State University, where she is pursuing a degree in mathematical science, and plans to teach at the high school level.
This year’s fourth runner up in the Prince program is Mat Deaton. He is the son of Sheri Deaton of near Vevay and Todd Deaton of Vevay. He is 17 years old, and will be a senior this fall at Switzerland County High School. He was sponsored in the program by West Main Supply. Following graduation he plans on pursuing a career in civil engineering by attending either Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology or Tri State University.
Liz Hon was voted by her fellow classmates as Miss Congeniality. She is the daughter of Danny and Jennifer Hon of Hominy Ridge, and was sponsored in the program by Hon’s Dairy. She is 18 years old, and will be a freshman this fall at Missouri Valley College. She plans on majoring in marketing at Missouri Valley College.
Other princess contestants included: Jessica Akins, Abby Lanman, Mattie Waddle, and Lindsey Wright.
Other prince contestants included: Zach Getz, Shane Griffin, and Eric Brichto.