Miss Monroe County Scholarship Program

10/05/2025

🎉 A very special (and slightly belated) happy birthday shoutout to our Little Miss Monroe County Mini, Adalynn Henry, who turned 10 just one week ago today! 💕

Adalynn, your joy, kindness, and sparkle light up every stage and every room you walk into. We’re so lucky to have you as part of our Miss Monroe County family — and we hope your birthday was as sweet and full of love as you are! 👑💖

09/12/2025

💙 Love Like Bella 5K Memorial Fundraiser 💙

The Love Like Bella 5K Memorial Fundraiser is being held in memory of Bella Creque, a bright young life lost earlier this year to su***de after experiencing bullying. Bella’s story deeply touched our community — and it connected her family with MaKayla Dickinson, Miss Monroe County 2025, whose service initiative, Bigger Than Bullying: Reclaim Your Confidence, stems from her own experiences as a survivor of bullying.

This event is more than a race — it’s a movement. Together, we will:
✨ Honor Bella’s Life
✨ Stand in Solidarity against bullying
✨ Remind students they are never alone in their fight for confidence, safety, and belonging

📅 Event Details:
📆 Sunday, October 12, 2025
📍 Dundee Middle School Canopy
⏰ 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Race Begins at 9:00 AM

Proceeds from the 5K will support Bella’s family in giving back to the community and establishing a scholarship in her name, ensuring her legacy inspires hope and courage for years to come. Our goal this year is $5,000 to provide scholarships to local high school seniors.

📅 Deadlines:
👕 T-Shirt Orders Due: Tuesday, Sept. 23 → https://www.customink.com/fundraising/love-like-bella-5k-memorial-fundraiser-5350?utm_campaign=desktop-post-launch-v3&utm_content=love-like-bella-5k-memorial-fundraiser-5350&utm_medium=social&utm_source=copy-link&side=front&type=2&zoom=false
🏃 Race Registration Due: Friday, Oct. 10 → https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Dundee/LoveLikeBella5KMemorialFundraiser

Join us in running, walking, and standing up for kindness. Let’s lace up in Bella’s honor and help create a future that’s truly bigger than bullying.

09/08/2025

✨ National Recognition at Miss America ✨

We are beyond proud to share that two of our own received national awards at the Miss America level! 👑

🏆 Excellence in Leadership Award
Congratulations to our Executive Director, Dione Oerther, whose leadership and vision helped make it possible for us to award over $50,000 in scholarships to our 2025 Miss Monroe County and Teen contestants. Her dedication continues to shape opportunities for young women in our community.

📱 Social Media Excellence Award
Congratulations to our Social Media Manager and Mini Director, Brooklynn Lambert, whose creativity and strategy have grown our contestant roster and elevated the visibility of the Miss Monroe County Scholarship Program across social media platforms.

It takes passion, teamwork, and a strong community to grow a program like ours. We are so proud to see these efforts recognized on the national stage at Miss America 🤍👑

08/20/2025

08/20/2025

08/17/2025

Last night, we danced the night away and crowned a new representative 💙⚡️✨

Your new Miss Monroe County 2025 and winner of a $6,000 scholarship and a chance to compete at the Miss Michigan Pageant next June is…

👑 MaKayla Dickinson

✨1st Runner-Up and winner of a $2,500 scholarship is… Elizabeth Wirth
✨2nd Runner-Up and winner of a $2,000 scholarship is… Kynzie Riegel
✨3rd Runner-Up and winner of a $1,750 scholarship is… Josephine Nicols
✨4th Runner-Up and winner of a $1,500 scholarship is… Laynie Tipton

🤍The Overall Evening Gown Award and winner of a $500 scholarship is… Elizabeth Wirth
🤍The Reese Hindley Johnson-Miss Monroe County 2023 Overall On-Stage Question Award and winner of a $200 scholarship is… Marissa Manley

🏆The Tracy & Marsha Oberlieter Community Service Award and winner of a $500 cash scholarship is… Elizabeth Wirth
🏆Miss Congeniality and winner of a $500 cash scholarship is… Dakota Stokes
🏆The Miss America 1988 Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson Platform Award and winner of a $500 scholarship is… Matti Barnier
🏆The Miss Monroe County 2014 Alana Rae Wilson-Garant “Be The Difference” award and winner of a $500 scholarship is… Josephine Nicols
🏆The 3rd Annual Bill Gruber Memorial Scholarship Award and winner of a $1,000 scholarship is… Aleigha Parrack
🏆The Barbara Bussell-Baumgartner Memorial Award and winner of a $1,000 scholarship is… MaKayla Dickinson
🏆The Soroptimist International Award and winner of a $1,000 scholarship is… Celeste Milligan
🏆The First Merchants/Promedica Medical Scholarship First Runner Up and winner of a $750 1,000 scholarship is… Laynie Tipton
🏆The First Merchants/Promedica Medical Scholarship and 1st Runner up and winner of a $750 scholarship is… Makayla Dickinson
🏆The 12th annual Legacy Award and winner of a $1,875 scholarship is… Kynzie Riegel
🏆The Miss Monroe County 2010 Brittany Lynn Tincher-Kaczmarski “Style and Grace” award and winner of a $500 scholarship is… Kynzie Riegel

🩷The “Sweep the Stage Overall Talent Award” and winner of a $500 scholarship is… Josephine Nicols
🩷The Judy Graning Non-Finalist Talent Award and winner of a $500 scholarship is… Marissa Manley
🩷The Judy Graning Non-Finalist Interview Award and winner of a $500 scholarship is… Aleigha Parrack

😍Most Ads Sold and winner of $1000 cash scholarship and beauty bundle is… Laynie Tipton
😍1st Runner up for most ads sold and the winner of $500 cash scholarship and beauty bundle is… Josephine Nicols
😍2nd Runner up for most ads sold and the winner of $250 cash scholarship is… Alyssa Otto

💛Our non-finalists were each awarded a $500 scholarship. Those contestants are:
Matti Barnier
Dakota Stokes
Aleigha Parrack
McKenzie Valente
Celeste Milligan
Alyssa Otto
Marissa Manley
Callie Calvin

💚Additionally, each Contestant on this stage was awarded a $1,000 in-kind scholarship to Monroe County Community College!

So much more to come, but this night awarded these 13 young ladies over $47,000 in scholarship in ONE night! Congratulations to you all, we are so incredibly proud of you!

08/16/2025

✨ Farewell to Miss Monroe County 2024, Elora Russell ✨

This year has been one of growth, discovery, and purpose for Elora as she embraced the honor of serving Monroe County. From community events to the Miss Michigan stage, she carried herself with grace and determination, leaving her mark on this program and all who watched her journey.

Thank you, Elora, for giving yourself to this program. We are so proud of all you’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see where life takes you next 👑💕

08/16/2025

We’re honored to have a powerhouse panel to select our next Miss Monroe County 2025! 👑

✨Judge #1, Tiffany Cupp
✨Judge #2, AnnaMarie Osment
✨Judge #3, Troy Goodnough
✨Judge #4, Florence Buchanan
✨Judge #5, Lynette Dowler

Thank you all for volunteering your time to spend your day with us. We’re proud to have you all! 🤩

08/16/2025

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