By COLLEEN WRIGHT
BRANDON — Silver Bells, a program of the Brandon Area Toy Project, held a Christmas Pageant at the Brandon Town Hall on Sunday, Dec 11. Twenty-two contestants and over 100 loyal fans filled the hall with merriment and fun. Many beautiful outfits and many truly hysterical “Ugly Christmas Sweaters” traipsed across the stage — prompting big smiles from all!
The Silver Bells pageants, coordinated by Crystal Ketcham, are geared toward joy, confidence and public service. The contestants are more like a big family, laughing backstage and encouraging each other.
There were many crowns, decorated trees, and inspiring scrapbooks filled with projects they had completed. These pageants also support a program, Silver Bells, which delivered 284 necessity bags to elderly folks living in assisted situations this season.
One aspect of the Christmas pageant was to raise money for Operation Christmas for Troops though the Charity Ambassador award. Contestants were encouraged to raise money for OCFT to support its overseas missions.
Operation Christmas for Troops, run by Ally Brown of Brandon, mailed 175 boxes to soldiers from Vermont deployed overseas. Ainsley Gelsleighter raised $355 for this project and won the title of Charity Ambassador.
Donna Towler of Rutland was chosen as the Overall Queen, with her inspiring speech about taking control of your life, and also wearing a spectacular sequined outfit!
KORBIN LAUGHLIN RECEIVES his crown for being King of his age group from Miss Ver- mont Collegiate Jamisyn Baker.
The following crowns were awarded:
• Best Portfolio- Deb Hough
• Most Photogenic- Autumn Ketcham
• Best Attire- Gabrielle Loso
• Best Smile- Maggie Hooker
• Best Personality- Donna Towler
• Prettiest Hair- Tristyn Laughlin
• Prettiest Eyes- Korbin Laughlin
• Charity Ambassador- Ainsley Gelsleighter
• Christmas Queen- Gabrielle Loso
• Christmas King- Korbin Laughlin
Of those named “Princesses in Category” were: Adaleigh Wade, Ainsley Gelsleighter, Aubree Foley, Autumn Ketcham, Tristyn Laughlin, Cameron Berenhardt, Debbie Hough; Queens in Category were Sophia Quenneville, Ivy Renaud, Junyper Kimball, Stella Markowski, Ashlynn Ketcham, Maggie Hooker, Gabrielle Loso and Donna Towler. Those named Kings in Category were: Lucas Lancour and Korbin Laughlin.
Presidential Service Awards were given toP Ashlynn Ketcham, Autumn Ketcham, Cameron Berenhardt and Gabrielle Loso.
Colleen Wright expressed many thanks to judges Miss Vermont High School 2023 Breanna Bovey, and Miss Collegiate Vermont 2023 Jamisyn Baker.
