Miss Oakland County Vivian Zhong will Compete for Miss Michigan Title
(Miss Oakland County, July 17, 2018)
Rochester, Northville, MI — Vivian Zhong, 21, of Northville was crowned Miss Oakland County 2018 at the annual pageant held July 14, 2018 at Oakland University’s Dodge Auditorium. The new Miss Oakland County won a $1,150 education scholarship as well as several other prizes and scholarships awards. She will represent Oakland County at the 2019 Miss Michigan pageant in Muskegon next June.
Ms. Zhong is entering her senior year at the University of Michigan, where she seeks a B.S. degree in biopsychology, cognition and neuroscience. Vivian’s personal platform is “Integrating Tradition — Bridging the Generational Gap”.
Pageant newcomer Grace Whan, 18 of Birmingham, a freshman at Pace University in New York City, captured an $800 scholarship as the First Runner Up. Whan also earned the pageant’s Talent Award and an additional $175 scholarship for her lyrical dance performed to “Love is Alive”. She also won the Lifestyle and Fitness Award for which she received a $100 scholarship.
Shelby McPherson of Shelby Twp., a 24-year old Lawrence Tech graduate, was the Second Runner Up, earning a $700 scholarship. Erica Kennedy, 21, of Lapeer and Oakland University won a $600 scholarship as the Third Runner Up.
Also on Saturday, Kylie D’Andrea,13, of Macomb Twp. became the 2018 Miss Oakland County’s Outstanding Teen. She competed with her personal platform, “Ignited in Faith”. She will represent Oakland County at Michigan’s Outstanding Teen competition next June in Muskegon.
This is the first year that the Miss Oakland County pageant was held at Oakland University. “We believe it is entirely fitting that our education scholarship program for young women throughout Oakland County partner with Oakland University, one of the premier academic institutions in the Midwest,” said Francesca Tuzzolino the program’s executive director. “We look forward to continuing and expanding that partnership in the future.”
The Miss Oakland County Scholarship Program is a preliminary pageant to Miss Michigan and Miss America. It provides scholarship opportunities to women that either work, live or attend school in Oakland County. The Miss America Organization is the largest existing scholarship organization for young women between the ages of 17-24, making available over $45 million in scholarships each year.
All results from the Miss Oakland County and Miss Oakland County’s Outstanding Teen follow.
2018 Miss Oakland County Pageant Results:
Miss Oakland County offers $5,064.50, including $4,750.00 in educational scholarships.
Miss Oakland County 2018, Vivian Zhong, receives a $1,150 education scholarship, $239.20 Children’s Miracle Network award, $500 wardrobe fund toward Miss Michigan and several other gifts and prizes.
1st Runner Up ($800 education scholarship): Grace Whan.
2nd Runner Up ($700 education scholarship): Shelby McPherson.
3rd Runner Up ($600 education scholarship): Erica Kennedy.
All five Non-Finalists received a $100 education scholarship.
Kelly Garver-Nieto Talent Award ($175 education scholarship): Grace Whan. Sponsored by Sheryl’s School of Dance.
Kirsten Haglund Lifestyle & Fitness Award ($100 education scholarship): Grace Whan. Sponsored by Kirsten Haglund Foundation. Under new Miss America rules, this was the last year of the so-called “swimsuit” competition.
Non-Finalist Interview Award ($100 education scholarship): Grace Newlin, Farmington Hills. Sponsored by Krizanic Family.
Aldo Vagnozzi Community Service Award ($300 education scholarship): Shelby McPherson. Sponsored by Vicki Barnett & Mark Steckloff
Samantha Steckloff Service Award ($50 education scholarship): Kristin Penrose, Lake Orion. Sponsored by Samantha Steckloff.
JoAnn Lingenfelter Spirit of Miss America Award ($100 education scholarship): Erica Kennedy. Sponsored by Agnes Hutnik.
People’s Choice Award ($100 Visa gift card): Jaymie Ziegler. Sponsored by Marian Zadora.
Miss America Scholar Award ($150 education scholarship): Jaymie Ziegler, Novi. Sponsored by Krizanic Family.
2018 Miss Oakland County’s Outstanding Teen Pageant Results:
Miss Oakland County’s Outstanding Teen 2018, Kylie D’Andrea, receives a $150 scholarship.
1st Runner Up ($100 scholarship): Peyton Lowder
2nd Runner Up ($75 scholarship): Julianna Maleszyk
3rd Runner Up ($50 scholarship): Mikaela Bannon
4th Runner Up ($50 scholarship): Stephanie Kosmalski
Talent: Kylie D’Andrea
Non-Finalist Talent: Grace Cooper and Kamryn Chasnis
People’s Choice Award: Kylie D’Andrea
Congeniality Award: Peyton Lowder
2018 Miss Oakland County Principal Scholarship Sponsors:
AJM Packaging – $1,000
Farmington Masonic Lodge No. 151 – $500
Genisys Credit Union – $500
KitchenMaster – $500
NAIAS Security Services – $500
Perri Family – $200
Thorn Family – $200
Anthony Tuzzolino – $200
forte Academy of Dance – $200
Tina Tuzzolino – $100
Tom Berman – $100
Tom Holzer Ford – $100
Councilmember Samantha Steckloff – $50
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals – $239.20