Shenandoah Valley teen named Miss Northeastern Pa.
SUBMITTED PHOTO - Teen winners in the Miss Greater Hazleton Scholarship Organization Program, from L-R: Aryanna Brace, Josephine Kropp, Mackenzie Youngcourt, Gracie Youngcourt and Emily Fancher. Kropp is a freshman at Shenandoah Valley High School.
HAZLETON – A Shenandoah Valley freshman was named Miss Northeastern Pennsylvania at this month’s Miss Greater Hazleton Scholarship Program.
Josephine Kropp was one of several recognized at the first program post-coronavirus at the Pennsylvania Theater of Performing Arts.
Three divisions were hosted at the program: Princess, Preteen, and Teen. Kropp competed in the Teen division.
Organizers described the program as a “full house for a day of celebrating the performing arts, education, and volunteerism.”
Kropp, organizers said, performed an energetic jazz routine to “I Go to Rio.” Her service platform is “K9 Hero Haven.”
Winners in the Teen division have the opportunity to advance to a state competition.
Miss Greater Hazleton Scholarship Organization titleholders will volunteer their time in upcoming events within the community including Collaborative Autism Movement’s Annual Golf Tournament, the Conyngham Memorial Day Parade, the Paul & Lisa DeAngelo 4th of July event, CVCO’s Valley Day, Hazleton Power Children’s Festival, Butler Township Festival, Hazle Township Fall Festival & Trail of Treats and Christmas in Conyngham to name a few.
The winners will also be hosted at the Pennsylvania State Capitol by State Representatives Dane Watro and Michael Cabell later this year to honor their volunteer efforts and dedication to serve and being young leaders in the community.
To open the program, Miss Pennsylvania Teen Volunteer Hannah Fox sang the Star-Spangled Banner and she opened the second half of the show with her Miss Teen Volunteer America national talent routine to “Anyway” by Martina McBride.
Miss Greater Hazleton Julia Snyder was named the inaugural winner of the Stephen Yearick Memorial Award and a scholarship. Yearick, organizers said, was a fond supporter of the theater and had an illustrious career making gowns and costumes for celebrities like Ava Gabor, Debbie Reynolds, Nancy Reagan, the Tom Hanks Kennedy Center Awards Tribute and over 40 Miss Americas, Miss Universes and Miss USAs.
Julia was selected due to her love and involvement in the theater, volunteerism, love of glamour and a pursuit to advance her education and attend law school. Snyder has been accepted to numerous law schools for Fall 2023.
Other titleholders within the Miss Greater Hazleton Scholarship Organization included Miss Keystone Mackenzie Sherman and outgoing Miss Keystone Teen Mackenzie Youngcourt.
For all divisions, each participant competed in 4 phases of competition: private interview, fitness and wellness, talent and evening wear. There was also a non-judged portion of the show where each participant talked about their volunteer efforts in the community. Each winner won a scholarship to be used towards their future college education.
A recap of other title winners and performances in the program, as provided by organizers, is as follows:
Princess Division
Miss Greater Hazleton Princess Alaia Pimentel performed an acrobatic routine to “Poetry in Motion.”
Princess Runners Up were awarded honorary Miss Greater Hazleton Rising Stars titles. They included Harper Yablonsky who performed and acrobatic routine to “Never Had a Friend Like Me” and Julia Dilisio who performed a rhythmic tap routine to show-biz classic “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby.”
Preteen Division
Miss Greater Hazleton Preteen Alexa Brace performed a high energy jazz routine to “I Want to Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston.
Miss Commonwealth Preteen Bella Drasher performed a novelty tap sharing her future dream to “I Wanna be a Rockette.”
Preteen Runners Up were awarded honorary Miss Greater Hazleton Rising Stars titles. This included Inara Shutt, Athena Lee and Gabby Metric.
Inara Shutt performed a beautiful classical ballet performance to the Rosebud Ballet.
Athena Lee sang her own beautiful interpretation of “A Million Dreams” from “The Greatest Showman.”
Gabby Metric was named the People’s Choice winner of the competition where she performed a high energy and crowd please hip hop routine to “Whoomp There It Is!”
Teen Division
Miss Pocono Teen Aryanna Brace performed a contemporary dance to “Uninvited”. Her service platform is “Working Our Tails Off-Pet Adoption Awareness.”
Miss Commonwealth Teen Emily Fancher performed a lyrical routine “In The Stars.” Her platform is “When it is Darkest We Can See the Stars- Suicide Awareness.”
Miss Keystone Teen Gracie Youngcourt sang a beautiful vocal rendition of “Reflection” from Mulan.” Her platform is “Baking for a Cause- Support Community Causes.”
Miss Greater Hazleton Teen Mackenzie Youngcourt performed a meaningful lyrical routine to “Hometown Glory.” Her platform is “Be Smart and Don’t Start- American Lung Association.”
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