Little Miss Apalachin 2015, Daleanna Prosinski, presents newly crowned Little Miss Apalachin 2016, Ella Luker, with a floral bouquet at the Little Miss Apalachin contest held on June 4 at the Apalachin Firemen’s Field Days. (Photos by JoAnn R. Walter)
Ella Luker was crowned Little Miss Apalachin on Saturday, June 4 at the Apalachin Firemen’s Field Days. Little Miss Apalachin 2015, Daleanna Prosinksi, assisted in the crowning ceremony.
Ella attends Tioga Hills Elementary School and is the daughter of Steve and Debi Luker and the granddaughter of Rick and Lora Byerley of Albion, Pa. and Dave and Pam Luker of Florida.
Mariana Slocum was selected Little Miss Apalachin runner-up. A student at Apalachin Elementary School, Mariana is the daughter of Felicia Mott and Craig Slocum, granddaughter of Craig W. Slocum, Tina Slocum, Laurie Mott and Presho Mott, Jr. She is also the great-granddaughter of Craig and Jean Slocum.
Four contestants vied for the Little Miss Apalachin crown this year. All eight and nine year old girls residing within the Apalachin Fire District, two other contestants were Lily Card and Zoe Rose Bolynn. The contestants were judged on communication skills, personality and appearance.
Judges at the event were three members of the Apalachin Fire Department (AFD) – Jan Warner, safety officer and past captain and president; Mary Ann Cascarino, current fire commissioner and former fire chief; and Deb Henderson, a current EMT for the department.
Master of ceremonies, Michael Rhoden, talks to Little Miss Apalachin runner-up, Mariana Slocum, during a question and answer session during the Little Miss Apalachin contest held on June 4 at the Apalachin Firemen’s Field Days.
Each contestant participated in an interview with Master of Ceremonies, Michael Rhoden, a fire commissioner and 24 year AFD member, and also a former chief.
Questions delivered by Rhoden were well thought out and some a little serious, including a question to runner-up Mariana Slocum, who was asked, “What do you do in an emergency?”
Quick thinking on Mariana’s part, she replied, “I stop, drop and roll.” Mariana also shared that she has many pets at home, including a new fish she won at the Field Days.
Newly crowned Little Miss Apalachin, Ella Luker, shared an important sentiment with Rhoden which touched on the longevity of the Field Days and the Fire Department overall, “We need to help keep it going, so they can help people and save lives.”
Prizes were awarded to all contestants, and the winner and runner-up, along with Little Miss Apalachin 2015, rode in chauffeured vehicles during the firemen’s parade.
The AFD celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2013. The Little Miss Apalachin contest remains a community favorite since 1971. From 1960 through 1970, teenage girl contestants participated.
Click here to view photos from the parade.
From left, Little Miss Apalachin 2015, Daleanna Proskinski, Little Miss Apalachin 2016, Ella Luker, and Little Miss Apalachin runner-up, Mariana Slocum, pose together after the Little Miss Apalachin contest held on June 4 at the Apalachin Firemen’s Field Days.
From left, Deb Henderson, Jan Warner and Mary Ann Cascarino, all Apalachin Fire Department members, served as judges at the Little Miss Apalachin contest held on June 4 at the Apalachin Firemen’s Field Days.
