Miss Spirit crowned Miss Blossomtime 2023

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Lauren Vegter has wanted to be Miss Blossomtime for really long time.

“I’ve been dreaming about this since I was 5 years old,” she said during the “Blossomtime Salutes Our Roots” - themed pageant Monday, April 17, at the Mendel Center Mainstage at Lake Michigan College.

Apparently, Monday night was the night for dreams to come true: After competing against 20 other hopeful community queens for the more than two-hour pageant, Vegter, the 2023 Miss Spirit of Blossomtime, was crowned the 90th Miss Blossomtime by Miss Blossomtime 2022 Lillian Waggoner.

A 17-year-old senior at Lakeshore High School, Lauren is the daughter of Melissa and Charlie Vegter. She plans to attend either the University of Arizona or Oklahoma City University to double major in dance and business, then dance professionally, and later open her own dance studio in Southwest Michigan.

During a “getting to know you” segment, Lauren revealed that her diagnosis with Lupus prompted her to launch a social media platform to “raise awareness” of it as well as to “stay positive and organize community events.”

Joining Lauren as first runnerup is Miss Bridgman Javen Graves.

Javen is an 18-year-old senior at Bridgman High School and is the daughter of Joyce Graves and the late Jared Graves. She plans to enlist in the United States Navy to pursue a career in accounting and statistics.

In 2015, Javen was crowned Little Miss Bridgman,

“This is dream come truebeing up here and seeing the girls when I was younger and being here now is just amazing, I’m so proud of myself,” she said.

Second runner-up is Miss St. Joseph Olivia Ippel, the 17-year-old daughter of Abby and Ted Ippel and a senior at St. Joseph High School. After graduation, she plans to attend Grand Valley State University or Michigan State to run and study elementary education to become a kindergarten teacher.

Crowned Miss Congeniality was 19-year-old Miss Berrien Springs Linda Klein. She is the daughter of Amy and Glen Klein. She currently attends Lake Michigan College and plans to attend a four-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in nursing to become a labor and delivery nurse.

The People’s Choice winner was Miss Three Oaks/River Valley Ellie Lumley.

Karl Krause from Berrien Springs was crowned the 26th Mr. Blossomtime Sunday, April 16.

Karl is an 18-year-old senior at Berrien Springs High School and is the son of Gail and David Krause of Berrien Springs.

Karl hopes to attend college at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to major in business or finance to become a contractor and open his own construction company.

Karl’s sister, Kirsten Krause, was crowned second runner-up to Miss Blossomtime last year.

Joining Karl is first runnerup, Juswin Judge. Juswin is a 17-year-old junior at St. Joseph High School and is the son of Harpreet and Sutinderpal Judge. He plans to attend a four-year university to major in aerospace engineering. Nolan Crandall, an 18-year-old senior at Bangor High School, was crowned second runner up. He is the son of Barbara Ferguson and Thomas Crandall and plans to attend Eastern Michigan University to pursue a degree in electrical and computer engineering.

Crowned Mr. Nice Guy was Declan Finnigan, a 17-year-old senior at St. Joseph High School. He is the son of Annette and Michael Finnigan. He plans to attend Henry Ford College to get his bachelor’s degree in culinary arts.

The Showcase of Queens award winners for Photogenic were awarded to Miss Bridgman, Javen Graves; Miss South Haven, Kate Sprout; and Miss Stevensville, Nadia Arend. Commercial awards went to Miss Edwardsburg, Elizabeth Pederson; Miss Spirit, Lauren Vegter; and Miss South Haven, Kate Sprout. Communication awards went to Miss Bangor, Abigail Russell; Miss Hartford, Raven Ledesma; and Miss Spirit, Lauren Vegter. The princess program scholarship winners were Miss Benton Harbor, Madison Collins and Miss Edwardsburg, Elizabeth Pederson. The Community Queen’s Legacy Scholarship was awarded to Miss Eau Claire/ Sodus, Emilee Demski. The Southwest Blossomtime Sorority Scholarship was awarded to

Miss South Haven, Kate Sprout. The Good Luck Ad winner was Miss Hartford, Raven Ledesma. The Bob Braamse Community Service Scholarship was awarded to Miss Spirit, Lauren Vegter

The Kings’ award winners for Photogenic were awarded to Tyler Valentine, Benton Harbor; Corban Morrison, South Haven; and Juswin Judge, St. Joseph. Creative Entertainment awards went to Jordan Williams, Benton Harbor; Tyler Valentine, Benton Harbor; and Juswin Judge, St. Joseph. Communication awards went to Tyler Valentine, Benton Harbor; Karl Krause, Berrien Springs; and Juswin Judge, St. Joseph. King’s Legacy Scholarship was awarded to Josiah Pittman, Berrien Springs. The king’s non-finalist scholarship was awarded to David Rutherford, Coloma. The Lake Shore Masonic Lodge No. 298 Benton Harbor Scholarship was awarded to Emmanuel Yerenas, Hartford and Royce Daugherty, Watervliet. The Good Luck Ad winner was Noah Willemin, Stevensville. The Mr. People’s Choice winner was Noah Willemin, Stevensville.

Judges for the Mr. Blossomtime pageant were Andrew Skipper, Lisa Walters and Shane Blair. Judges for the Showcase of Queens pageant were Barbara Campbell, Corbin Wagner and Roxie Elliott.

Judges for the Miss Blossomtime pageant were Jim Campbell, Brandy Cox and Bret McAtee.

Former Miss Blossomtime 1988 Lanie Lu Von Behren and Lady of the Lake Athletic Director Phil McDonald emceed both pageants.