Deborah Hammernik of Oak Creek is Miss St. Francis 2009
Over $8,000 in cash scholarships were awarded to the ten participants at the annual Miss St. Francis Scholarship Pageant, held on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at St. Thomas More HS Auditorium. Emcees for the program included Michele St. Marie-Boeklow who celebrated her 20th anniversary of being chosen Miss St. Francis in 1989 and Michelle Smukowski, Miss St. Francis 2005. They dazzled the crowd with a rousing rendition of “Shout” to an enthusiastic crowd of contestant and pageant supporters.
Deborah Hammernik, succeeded Elyse Wojciechowski as Miss St. Francis 2009. Deborah captured the judges scores and audience attention with her self-composed monologue “Breaking Boundaries” in the talent competition. She was sponsored by National City Bank, won the $2,500 scholarship, the George P George Congeniality $200 Scholarship and the $100 Pageant Promotion Ticket Sales Award. She also received gift and services packages from Andaré Fitness (Amber Antonio, owner) and From Hair On salon (Ceil Schwalbach, owner), $600 wardrobe allowance and other gifts totaling over $3,500.
Deborah will represent the St. Francis area at the Miss Wisconsin Pageant June 14-20, in Oshkosh, WI and in many area public events throughout the year.
1st Runner up and winner of a $1,500 scholarship was Tonya Popowski from Cudahy, sponsored by Allied Industries. Stephanie Obst, St. Francis, sponsored by PDQ Tooling was named 2nd Runner Up and won a $1,000 scholarship in addition to the Pageant Promotion Ad Sales $100 award.
All other contestants were awarded a $300 scholarship, they were Joanne Gestwicki (Cudahy) sponsored by Bay View Railing & Ornamental, Ann Hancock (South Milwaukee) sponsored by St. Francis Days, Marisa Hernandez (Oak Creek) sponsored by Advance Products, Natasha Josilo (St. Francis) sponsored by Bella Grace Tanning Salon), Mary Kappus (Cudahy) sponsored by St. Francis Lions Club, Amanda Latherow (Oak Creek) Sponsored by The Pageant Event and Angela Rask (Oak Creek) sponsored by St. Francis Dental Center. .
Additional special scholarship awards were also presented to Mary Kappus - Rob Schneider Non-Finalist Interview Award ($200) and to Joanne Gestwicki - Robert R. Freimuth Non-Finalist Talent ($200) and Memorial ($100) Awards.
