Carson victorious in local pagaent

Jordan Carson, Comstock Park junior, was the winner of the 2000 Miss Greater Central Michigan Scholarship Pageant and the recipient of a $500 scholarship.
The pageant, which took place Sunday in Warriner Auditorium, featured 10 women from colleges and universities in Clare, Gratiot, Mecosta and Isabella Counties.
The contestants participated in four phases of competition – a personal interview, a talent presentation, evening wear, and physical fitness in swimsuit.
“I’m shaking, excited and nervous,” Carson said about her win.
Carson’s platform is “Keeping Crime and Violence Off the Streets.”
“I think that it’s really sad that kids are afraid to go into their schools,” Carson said.
Carson said she didn’t expect to win. “I think all the contestants did really well,” she said.
Carson said the most difficult part of the pageant for her was getting ready to sing “Blue” by Patsy Cline in the talent element of the competition.
Stacey Goosen took the first runner-up prize with a scholarship worth $300.
Goosen, Ferris State University sophomore, said her platform was mentoring.
“Mentoring is such a positive thing that everyone can do,” Goosen said.
“I’m happy to place,” Goosen said.
The most rewarding thing about competing in this pageant for Goosen was the “sense of accomplishment, setting your goal and then completing it,” she said.
Goosen performed a jazz dance to “Livin’ La Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin for her talent element.
The second runner-up was Jill Gandy, Midland freshman.
Gandy’s platform was “Living in Silence: Stroke Education and Prevention.”
“I chose this topic because I face this issue everyday,” said Gandy, who lives with her grandmother who suffered from a stroke.
“I encourage any young woman to be involved in this,” Gandy said. “Every time I’m in a pageant I walk away with so many good qualities.”
Gandy danced to “All That Jazz” in the talent competition.
Madonna Emond, Livonia freshman, was named third runner-up and winner of the People’s Choice Award and Spirit of Miss America award said the smaller awards were a surprise.
Emond said the most rewarding thing about this competition was “knowing that I worked really hard and it obviously paid off to some extent.”
Emond said this is the best she has done in local competitions and will donate the money she receives to Safe Rides.
Emond danced to a combination of “Express Yourself” and “Vogue” by Madonna.
The Miss America Scholarship Organization awards over 30 million annually in scholarships on the local, state and national levels.
The scholarships given to the winners of the Greater Central Michigan Scholarship Pageant consisted of a $500 educational scholarship for Miss Greater Central Michigan, a $300 educational scholarship for the first runner-up, a $200 educational scholarship for the second runner-up and a $100 educational scholarship for the third runner-up.
Molly Kozuch, Miss Greater Central Michigan 1999 and vice president of marketing and sales for U.S. Data One, said moving on after relinquishing her crown was sad but exciting.
“I have so many opportunities unfolding,” Kozuch said.
Kozuch said during her reign as Miss Greater Central Michigan she spoke out about the issues concerning her platform on victims of domestic violence.
“I know of 20 young women who have gotten out of abusive relationships because of my platform and me talking to their groups or them as individuals,” Kozuch said.
Kozuch said her “words of wisdom” to the next Miss Greater Central Michigan are “to not listen to anyone else – just listen to her heart. This program is about being yourself. People will try to change you but you won because of who you are so stay true to yourself.”
Debra Slaggert, co-executive director of the pageant, said, “(The) primary goal is not only to participate in the Miss Michigan Scholarship Pageant for additional scholarship opportunities but in Jordan’s case, she will also be promoting her platform, keeping violence off the streets.”
Slaggert said Miss Greater Central Michigan has participated in the Special Olympics, handing out awards, and welcoming athletes.
“She’s there to help out in all capacities,” Slaggert said.