2017 Miss Raymond, Jr. Miss Raymond and Little Miss Raymond
Sheridan DiLeo Reigns as Miss Raymond 2017, Jr. Miss Raymond is Aurora Paci-Burghardt and Little Miss Raymond is Billie Reynolds
By Penny Williams 7-12-17
Raymond has a new group of girls to represent the town, with new royalty chosen during Town Fair weekend.
On July 6, Sheridan DiLeo was chosen as Miss Raymond 2017. She also won the Peoples' Choice and Miss Congeniality awards in the competition.
DiLeo immediately was cast in her role and participated in the opening of the Town Fair the following day. She was joined Saturday afternoon and Sunday by the newly crowned Junior Miss Raymond, Aurora Paci-Burghardt, and Little Miss Raymond, Billie Reynolds.
Seven girls competed for the Miss Raymond title: Samantha Reynolds, Franchesca Kimball, Alexandra Doherty, Tonya Bourgeois, Elizabeth Wolcott, Sheridan DiLeo and Alyssa Sylvia. First runner-up was Elizabeth Wolcott; second runner-up was Alyssa Sylvia, and third runner-up was Tonya Bourgeois
Sheridan, as Miss Raymond 2017, will receive a scholarship of $1,000. The first runner-up will receive $300, second runner-up $200, third runner-up $100, and all the other contestants $50.
Sheridan is 15 and a sophomore at Raymond High School. She participates in the Raymond Singers, serves on the Student Council and is an honor student. She identified bullying as the most critical issue facing students and said she has been subjected to electronic bullying herself.
Asked why she wanted to be Miss Raymond, she responded that she has watched the pageant and the contestants all her life and secretly wished to be one of the winners.
"I would think, ‘oh, my goodness, I want to be one of them,’" she said. "For years I hated myself but over time I have matured and I am happy to be me, and as Miss Raymond I want to be able to show others that that they can be happy being themselves. Raymond is a warm and friendly town and I want to personally continue to do things as Miss Raymond that show others that we live in a friendly town."
Seven girls competed for the Junior Miss Raymond title: In addition to eighth grader and title winner Aurora Paci-Burghardt, they are: Kiara Lowman, grade 7; Payton Hartlen, grade 7; Olivia Arpin, grade 7; Gabrielle Powell, grade 8; Paige Rivera, grade 8 and Lara Finnigan, grade 5.
Aurora's court includes third runner-up Payton, second runner-up Paige, and first runner-up Lara. Payton also received the Peoples’ Choice award, and Lara received the Miss Congeniality award.
Contestants in the Little Miss Raymond contest, in addition to 7-year-old second grader and title winner Billie Reynolds, are: Addison Grace Campbell, Rebecca Lowman, Haleigh Judson, Isabella Knight, Cheyenne Knight, Gia Beckford, and Katelyn Cooney.
The Miss Raymond Scholarship Program gets great community support, according to Miss Raymond, Junior Miss Raymond and Little Miss Raymond program organizer Christina Vogel. She and Lauren Campbell, who was the Master of Ceremonies for the Miss Raymond Pageant, and Vogel’s daughter, Katarina Vogel, who was the Master of Ceremonies for the Junior Miss Raymond Pageant, all thanked the community supporters of the program. Those included the Raymond Fire Department, Raymond Arts, Raymond Recreation, Raymond School District and custodial staff and Raymond Area News. Financial support was also provided by Hannaford, Edward Jones Investments, Walmart Distribution Center, Lamprey Family Dental and The Lazer Center, and Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery.
During the Miss Raymond program, retired fire chief Kevin Pratt was called to the high school stage and presented with a plaque that dedicated the 2017 Miss Raymond Scholarship Program to him in recognition of the 27 years he had the Raymond Fire Department involved with the program.
Members of the Raymond Fire Department who participated in the Miss Raymond Scholarship program escorting the contestants in the eveningwear portion included Interim Fire Chief Paul Hammond, Kerry Pratt, Trey Bushey, and, CJ Fitton.
Emily Vadeboncoeur served as Assistant Director of the Miss Raymond and Junior Miss Raymond pageants. Consultants were Kathleen and Lauren Campbell. Judges' Chairperson was Miss Raymond 2014 Katie Masso-Gliden.
Also assisting were house manager Doug Vogel, program coordinator Amy Doucette, stage manager Ann Caron, stage assistant Adam Doucette, audio engineer Roger "DJ" Moore, and back stage assistants Debra Moore, Emily Vadeboncoeur and Renee Cooney.
Judges for Miss Raymond were: Dustin Ramey of Edward Jones Investments; Shawn McGuinness of the Walmart Distribution Center; Town Manager Craig Wheeler; Richelle Hickock of Raymond Arts; and Erin Brewitt, a teacher at Timberlane Regional Middle School.
Judges for Junior Miss Raymond were: Amelia Herring, a former competitor in the Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Program; Elizabeth Holcomb, an actress with the Leddy Center; Marlene Hammond, a long-time 4-H leader; and Catherine Riley, a recent high school graduate.
Judges for Little Miss Raymond were: Nicole Westmoreland, mother of Junior Miss Raymond 2008 Sara Westmoreland, and volunteers Martha Majkut and Anya Vogel.
A total of $2,350 in scholarships was awarded this year, Christina Vogel said. She noted the pageants are always looking for additional sponsors.
Former Fire Chief Kevin Pratt given an award for 27 years of having the Raymond Fire Department involved with and supporting the Miss Raymond Scholarship program
Sheridan DiLeo being crowned by Miss Raymond 2016 Emily Finnigan and Jr. Miss Raymond 2016 Kathryn Doucette
Miss Raymond - Sheridan DiLeo
Miss Raymond - Sheridan DiLeo
Court Alyssa Slvia second runner-up, Sheridan DiLeo Miss Raymond, first Runner-up Elizabeth Wolcott, and third runner-up Tonya Bourgeois
Miss Raymond Contestants Samantha Reynolds, Franchesca Kimball, Alexandra Doherty, Tonya Bourgeois, Elizabethg Wolcott, Sheridan DiLeo Alyssa Sylvia
Jr Miss Raymond Aurora Paci-Burghardt
Jr. Miss Raymond Aurora Paci-Burghardt and Miss Raymond Sheridan DiLeo
Miss Raymond, Little Miss Raymond 2017 Billie Reynolds, Jr. Miss Raymond 2016 Kathryn Doucette
Photos by Penny Williams.
