Meet Miss Sparta 2011

Sparta — High school senior Adrienne Marcino, 18, was crowned the winner of the 74th annual Miss Sparta Pageant on Sunday, June 12. Sixteen young women competed at the Lake Mohawk Country Club in one of the town’s oldest traditions. Leslie Sullivan, also a Sparta High School senior and a freelance member of the staff of this newspaper, was named first-runner up in the competition. In its second year under the stewardship of organizer Jennifer Cella, the club’s grand ballroom was packed with friends and family as well as interested townspeople including Sparta councilwoman Molly Whilesmith and 1974 Miss Lake Mohawk Patrice Kullmann. “It was a lovely event and a wonderful evening!” said Whilesmith. “I know it will continue to be a beautiful Sparta tradition...I noticed that, although the girls are gorgeous, it is their inner beauty and strength that is most apparent. I am delighted to have my daughter hear about the experiences and volunteerism of each of the young ladies. Each and every one is an extraordinary ambassador for our town. Congratulations to all of the contestants, as I am sure each will have grown through this experience.” Adrienne Adrienne Marcino is graduating from Sparta High School this week. She will attend Syracuse University in the fall to pursue a dual degree in business and communications. She is a member of DECA, winning first place in the regional and state competitions in the marketing communications role play event as well as second place for a marketing research paper, taking her to the national competition in Orlando, Florida. Adrienne is also a member of PDP, an Antioch team leader, a member of the high school band and a Bridges volunteer. Her athletic accomplishments include four years on the Sparta girls lacrosse team and coaching the Sparta girls lacrosse camp in the summer. Outside of school, Adrienne is working on a skin care line for young women, promoting a motto of “Practice Safe Sun,” in addition to working part-time at Kumon Math and Reading Center. She is the daughter of Dale and Charles Marcino. First runner-up Leslie Sullivan, 18, is also graduating from Sparta High School this week. She is vice president of her senior class. Leslie Leslie will be a freshman at Marist College in the fall and will double major in photojournalism and fashion merchandising. For the past four years, she has worked as a freelance photojournalist for Straus News. Leslie is an active member in Pass It Along, where she was a lead project planner in the pilot Pass It Along Store and also sits on its youth board. She is also involved in a co-curricular marketing education club DECA. Leslie’s parents are Lori Price and Richard Sullivan. What happens Judges Virginia Littell, Todd Etelsen and Rita-Ann Schmick selected Miss Sparta 2011 based on her achievements, communication skills, personality, leadership abilities, community involvement, and poise. Adrienne will go on to compete in the Queen of the Fair contest at the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show on August 6. She will compete with young women representing towns from all over Sussex County in this next step in the national Miss America pageant system. She will also participate in Sparta’s Fourth of July parade. “Being named Miss Sparta lends me the opportunity to share how great my hometown really is and to be a representative of all of the outstanding things Sparta has to offer. The crown is a highlight among a lifetime of cherished experiences here,” said Adrienne. “Sharing this experience with such an impressive group of beautiful, accomplished young women really made this event all the more memorable. Throughout our time growing up in Sparta, we have been in classes, on sports fields, and around each other’s dining room tables. This is a special group of girls!” The Miss Sparta Pageant relies on donations from local businesses and citizens for both the event and the prizes. The new Miss Sparta received a freshwater pearl necklace valued at $1000, donated by Sparta Coin and Jewelry, as well as a $1000 scholarship from the Miss Sparta Committee. The runner-up received a $500 scholarship and a gold and diamond necklace valued at $300. “There would be no Miss Sparta without the sponsorship of these generous businesses and private donations,” said Cella. “I am very grateful for their support, particularly Fran Smith and Larry Patton of the Lake Mohawk Country Club. It makes me so proud to live in a town that understands how important it is to have good role models for our daughters and to acknowledge amazing young women like these.” She continued, “I hope everyone will join our Facebook page so they can see the entire list of our sponsors, as well as photos from this year and going all the way back to the first pageant in 1937. And if you happen to have any photos or stories from previous pageants, we’d love for you to share them!”