Grace Newlin of Farmington Hills Serving as Miss Oakland County
Rochester, MI – Grace Newlin, 21, of Farmington Hills was crowned Miss Oakland County 2019 at the annual competition held July 13, 2019 at Oakland University’s Dodge Hall Auditorium. The new Miss Oakland County walked away with $1,525 in education scholarships as well as several other prizes and gifts. She also won a $100 scholarship for best On-Stage Interview, plus an additional $1,525 in-kind scholarship from the Oakland University Engineering and Science Department.
Ms. Newlin will represent Oakland County at the 2020 Miss Michigan Competition in Muskegon next June. She was recently recognized by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and participated in a parade.
A certified EMT, the new Miss Oakland County is currently attending the Henry Ford Community College School of Nursing. Ms. Newlin’s Social Impact Initiative is “Keep the Beat – Heart Disease Education”.
Flint’s Erica Kennedy, 22, a student at Oakland University, earned an $800 scholarship as the First Runner Up. Kennedy also earned the competition’s Talent Award and an additional $175 scholarship for her vocal performance of “I’m A Star”.
Brooke Timlin of Redford Twp., a 24-year old student at Lawrence Tech, was the Second Runner Up, capturing a $700 scholarship, in addition to her Miss America Scholar Award of $150.
Novi’s Jaymie Ziegler, a 23-year old graduate of Wayne State University was the Third Runner Up, winning a $600 scholarship. She also received a $300 scholarship as the Aldo Vagnozzi Community Service Award recipient. The Fourth Runner Up was a newcomer, Lekha Mutyala, 23, of Farmington Hills. Ms. Mutyala, a Nova Southeastern University graduate, earned a $500 scholarship.
Also in July, Breckyn Bussey,15, of St. Joseph, became the 2019 Miss Oakland County’s Outstanding Teen. She competed with her personal platform, “Flipping for Fitness: Promoting Healthy Living through Physical Activity”. She will represent Oakland County at Michigan’s Outstanding Teen Competition next June in Muskegon.
In its second year hosting the Miss Oakland County Scholarship Program, Oakland University’s Engineering and Science Department awarded new in-kind scholarships: $1,525 to the new Miss Oakland County and $1,000 to each runner-up. “We are deeply grateful to Oakland University for expanding the scholarship opportunities for our Miss Oakland County candidates,” said Francesca Tuzzolino the program’s executive director. “It is one of the premier academic institutions in the Midwest.”
The 2019 competition was the first Miss Oakland County held under the new “Miss America 2.0” format, which contains a modified Evening Gown competition that finishes with a Social Impact Statement, no swimsuit competition, and modified scoring percentages for each phase of competition.
The Miss Oakland County Scholarship Program is a preliminary competition 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 17-25, making available over $30 million in scholarships each year.
All results from the Miss Oakland County and Miss Oakland County’s Outstanding Teen follow.
2019 Miss Oakland County Competition Results:
The 2019 Miss Oakland County Scholarship Program offers $11,225, including $4,625.00 in education scholarships, $1,075 in special awards and scholarships, and $5,525 in in-kind scholarships.
Miss Oakland County 2019, Grace Newlin, 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): Erica Kennedy.
2nd Runner Up ($700 education scholarship): Brooke Timlin.
3rd Runner Up ($600 education scholarship): Jaymie Ziegler.
4th Runner Up: ($500 education scholarship): Lehka Mutyala.
Each of the five Non-Finalist candidates received a $100 education scholarship.
Kelly Garver-Nieto Talent Award ($175 education scholarship): Erica Kennedy. Sponsored by Sheryl’s School of Dance.
Kirsten Haglund On-Stage Interview Award ($100 education scholarship): Grace Newlin. Sponsored by Kirsten Haglund Foundation.
Non-Finalist Interview Award ($50 education scholarship): Aria Cremeens, Lake Orion. Sponsored by Tina Tuzzolino.
Aldo Vagnozzi Community Service Award ($300 education scholarship): Jaymie Ziegler. Sponsored by Vicki Barnett & Mark Steckloff
Samantha Steckloff Service Award ($50 education scholarship): Grace Newlin. Sponsored by Samantha Steckloff.
JoAnn Lingenfelter Spirit of Miss America Award ($200 education scholarship): Annie Klinger, Farmington Hills. Sponsored by Agnes Hutnik.
People’s Choice Award ($50 Emagine gift card): Jaymie Ziegler. Sponsored by Francesca Tuzzolino.
Miss America Scholar Award ($150 education scholarship): Brooke Timlin. Sponsored by Krizanic Family.
2019 Miss Oakland County’s Outstanding Teen Competition Results:
Miss Oakland County’s Outstanding Teen 2019: Breckyn Bussey.
1st Runner Up: Peyton Lowder, 15, Jackson
Talent Award: Breckyn Bussey
Non-Finalist Talent Award: Marissa Carson, 16, Highland Twp.
People’s Choice Award: Marissa Carson
Congeniality Award: Peyton Lowder
2019 Miss Oakland County Scholarship Sponsors:
AJM Packaging – $500
Farmington Masonic Lodge No. 151 – $500
Genisys Credit Union – $500
KitchenMaster – $500
NAIAS Security Services – $500
Vicki Barnett and Mark Steckloff – $300
Krizanic Family – $250
Pat Perri – $200
Agnes Hutnik – $200
Sheryl’s School of Dance – $175
Anthony Tuzzolino – $100
Evolve Body Sculpting – $100
Ryan Berman – $100
Tom Berman – $100
Tom Holzer Ford – $100
Kirsten Haglund Foundation – $100
Councilmember Samantha Steckloff – $50
Tina Tuzzolino – $50
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals – $1,025
MOC is a preliminary to Miss Michigan & Miss America
http://www.missmichigan.org
http://miteen.com/
http://www.missamerica.org/
http://www.maoteen.org/