Source: Observer/Eccentric

Author: Joanne Maliszewski

Mercy High School junior Emma Feeheley was crowned Miss Farmington 2014 during the annual pageant ceremony Wednesday night at the Civic Theater.

Sponsored by Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home, Feeheley, 16, had little time to enjoy the honor as she is expected to be visible and working during the Farmington Founders Festival, during which she will be seen in the Saturday morning festival parade.

“I’m so excited,” Feeheley said, Wednesday night as the other six Miss Farmington contestants gathered around her on the Civic Theater stage. “I had no ideas this was going to happen.”

Chosen as first runner up was Lea Cane, 17, and second runner up was Emily Trombly, 17, a Farmington High School senior.

Other contestants included: Katelyn Brewer, 14, a Farmington High freshman, Jasika Dias, 17, Alyssa Grabinski, 16, a Farmington High junior and Stephaney Vietor, 17, a North Farmington senior.

Honored

While the focus of the pageant was on who will walk away with the Miss Farmington title, a number of awards were handed out to contestants and a community activist.

The Dolores Riley Educational  Grant, started in 2011 by George Riley and his daughter, Kim Riley-Fouts, is shared among three contestants. As the winner, Feeheley, will receive $2,000; Cane, as the first runner-up will receive $1,000 and Trombly, the second runner- up will receive $500.

Farmington Mayor Bill Galvin presented the Mayor Essay Award to Feeheley, based on an essay each of the young women were required to write. In her essay — ‘Who are the real heroes in today’s society? — Feeheley wrote about her experience with Loretta Zahn of Neighborhood House. “We can all learn  from the Lorettas of the world,” she wrote.

The Aldo Vagnozzi Community Service Award was given to Grabinski, based on a community service book all contestants were required to create. The books were judged by a panel at the American Legion. Post member Mike LaFave presented the award and said that Grabinski embodied the virtues of duty, honor and country.

A new award, the Dr. William Nutting Educational Grant, was presented to Vietor. Nutting told the audience that, while “these ladies are real power houses,” he also looked at what each did in the community. “I believe in education. I believe this is the way tosucceed  in the U.S.,” Nutting said.

The Dick Tupper Goodfellow Spirit Award was given to Jasika Dias. The award winner is chosen by the contestants whom they “believe shows the true spirit of the Miss Farmington Pageant.”

And finally, retired Farmington Hills firefighter Bob Rebtoy — a longtime community volunteer and activist — was given the Walter Sundquist Humanitarian Award. The award, said Heeney Sundquist managing partner Mark Ziegler, is given to someone who does for others in the community.

The pageant included private interviews with a panel of judges, as well as a “Fun with Fashion” competition, in which the contestants modeled the clothing that illustrated their interests.

Also on tap was a “Physical Fitness” competition and a public question from each judge.

Pageant judges included: Peter Mets, Frederic Zoschke, Valerie Knol, JoAnne McShane, Grant Hoemke, Jordan Lindsey, Richard Lerner and Kimberly Riley-Fouts.

Masters of ceremeony were Channel 7 weatherman Paul Gross and former Miss Farmington Kelly Duca.