POULSBO — The Miss Poulsbo/Miss Kitsap organization is inviting Kitsap County to a “New Year’s in New York” event Jan. 10, at which two current titleholders will pass on their crowns.
Miss Poulsbo Amy Stadshaug and Miss Kitsap Samantha Przybylek will end their reigns early; the event has previously been held in early spring, but has been moved up to give winners more time to prepare for the summer Miss Washington competition.
In a farewell letter, Stadshaug said “enjoy the ride” has become her unofficial motto of her year as Poulsbo’s 55th titleholder.
“This program has helped me find my voice and the confidence to use it. I have confidence in myself and in the woman I am becoming,” she wrote. “I have learned and gained the courage to go beyond my words and make my visions reality; that great things start with one person and that I can be that person.”
During her reign, Stadshaug worked with Habitat for Humanity of Kitsap County and earned two awards at the Miss Washington competition.
“This program, the gracious and selfless volunteers who make this all possible, have become like a family to me and helped me see for myself what they have seen in me. There is nothing better than being surrounded by people who believe in you and who genuinely want you to succeed,” she went on to say. “I will never forget the first time I put on the bunad and the indescribable feeling of pride that came with it.”
The Miss Poulsbo 2009 contestants are:
Taylor Wall of Kingston, 18, is a senior at Kingston High School and plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in education and teach students in the second grade.
Wall will sing Taylor Swift’s “Tim McGraw” as her talent. She has chosen Breast Cancer Awareness — Finding the Cure as her platform issue.
Wall has served as a Race for the Cure team leader, is a Miss Kingston scholarship recipient and enjoys Spanish green olives.
Jenna Uher of Poulsbo, 20, is a 2006 North Kitsap High graduate. She plans to earn a master’s degree in nursing and work in an emergency room as a registered nurse.
Uher will sing KT Tunstall’s “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” for her talent. She has chosen Volunteerism in Schools as her platform issue.
Uher has been a member of the Junior National Honor Society and president of the Leaders in North Kitsap/Students Against Destructive Decisions group and is a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
Kelli Weedin of Poulsbo, 18, is a 2007 North Kitsap High graduate who plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in event and sport management and work as event manager for a nonprofit organization.
Weedin will perform the comedic monologue “The Other Step-Sister” as her talent, and has chosen Involving Youth in the Community as her platform issue.
Weedin is a St. Olaf Knights of Columbus Scholarship recipient, served as co-president, historian and treasurer of the North Kitsap High School Interact Club and can solve a Rubik’s Cube in under three minutes.
Heidi Nicks of Poulsbo, 22, is a 2005 North Kitsap High graduate and a current Seattle University junior studying nursing. Nicks plans to earn a doctorate of science in nursing and practice health care and disease prevention with an international nonprofit organization in under-served communities.
Nicks will sing Etta James’ “Someone to Watch Over Me” as her talent and has chosen Disease Prevention Through Healthy Lifestyles as her platform issue.
Nicks served as a Harborview Medical Center Burn Unit Lead Volunteer, fundraised for the Blue Nile Children’s Organization and became a vegetarian after eating tongue in Argentina.
Erika Scott of Suquamish, 18, is a North Kitsap High School senior with plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in neurobiology and work in research.
Scott will perform a flute solo of “Villanella” by Paul Koepke as her talent and has chosen Sexual Assault Awareness and Education as her platform issue.
Scott is a Key Club member, earned a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow award and has traveled to Italy, France and England.
Myriah Riedel of Indianola, 17, is a senior at The Trillium School. She plans to study Performance Theater and Musical Theater and have a successful Broadway stage career.
Riedel will sing “Someone Like You” from Broadway’s “Jekyll and Hyde” for her talent, and chose Investing in the Arts as her platform issue.
Riedel is has performed in 16 play productions, earned seventh place in the 2008 Washington B division state bowling competition and is musical director for the Kitsap Children’s Musical Theater.
The Miss Kitsap 2009 contestants are Angela Rose of Seabeck, Meika Bumbalough of Seabeck, Cherisse Martinelli of Bremerton, Valerie Mellon of Bremerton, Hannah Orando of Silverdale, Alicia Orkiolla of Silverdale and Rachelle Jensen of Port Orchard.
