Monday, July 24th, 2023

Miss Lake Festival crowned

By Leslie Gartrell
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

Caitlyn Cramer, 18, Celina, is crowned Miss Lake Festival 2024 during Sunday night's Miss Lake Festival Scholarship Pageant at the Harley C. Jones Memorial Rotary Amphitheater in Celina.

CELINA - Caitlin Cramer, 18, Celina, swept the competition and was crowned Miss Lake Festival 2024 during Sunday night's Miss Lake Festival Scholarship Pageant at the Harley C. Jones Memorial Rotary Amphitheater in the Bryson Park District.

In addition to winning the coveted crown and $3,000 scholarship, Cramer also won the $400 Commitment to Excellence Award scholarship and the $400 Jerry Deitsch Talent Award scholarship.

"This is my dream title and it has been my dream to go to Miss Ohio since I've been Miss Lake Fest (Outstanding) Teen," Cramer said after winning. "I'm just so excited for this year."

Cramer is a senior at Celina High School. She is the daughter of Curt and Leah Cramer. She was crowned Miss Lake Festival Outstanding Teen in 2019.

Cramer's social impact initiative was "Life is precious, wear a helmet." She said people should wear helmets to protect themselves from reckless drivers and other elements outside their control. She sang "Almost There" from the Disney movie "The Princess and the Frog" for her talent.

Maleah Lee, 19, Celina, won first runner-up and took home a $1,500 scholarship. She is the daughter of Diana Lee and a sophomore at Indiana University.

Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

Maleah Lee, 19, Celina, flies in the air during her contemporary dance.

Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

Paige Keuhne, 18, Celina, walks to center stage during the onstage question portion of the contest. Kuehne won the Miss Congeniality award and a $200 scholarship.

The Miss Congeniality award, whose winner is chosen by the contestants and members of the Lake Festival committee and includes a $200 scholarship, was given to 18-year-old Paige Kuehne of Celina.

Celina High School sophomore Allie Gray, 17, was crowned Miss Lake Festival Outstanding Teen 2024. She won a $500 scholarship, and she and Cramer also won flowers, a photoshoot, hair and makeup and a gown for the photoshoot.

Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

Celina High School sophomore Allie Gray, 17, is crowned Miss Lake Festival Outstanding Teen 2024.

First teen runner-up and winner of the teen Miss Congeniality award was Monica Hemmelgarn, 16, Coldwater. Hemmelgarn received a $300 scholarship as first runner-up and $200 as Miss Congeniality.

Cramer and Gray are the newest titleholders for the Miss Ohio 2024 season, and will have the chance to compete in the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program pageant in June 2024.

All non-finalists received a $400 scholarship, and each candidate also received $200 from sponsors to cover the costs of the pageant or to be used as additional scholarship money.

Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

Miss Lake Festival 2023 Grace-Ellen Rison, Celina, and Miss Ohio 2023 Madison Miller, Coshocton, greet the crowd as they walk to center stage.

Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

Coldwater High School freshman Alaina Froning, 14, curtsies after performing "The Rainbow Connection" from "The Muppet Movie" on piano.

Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

Miss Lake Festival contestants open the competition with a dance performance.

Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

Celina eighth-grader Makenna Harden, 13, deadlifts during the talent portion.

Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

Morgan Hunter, 18, Rockford, poses.

Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

Miss Lake Festival 2023 Grace-Ellen Rison, Celina, sings "Out There" from the Disney movie "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."

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