Tri-City Royalty seek Blossomtime titles this weekend

By Annette Christie Royalty from Coloma, Hartford, and Watervliet will join other young men and women from Southwest Michigan in seeking the title of Mr. Blossomtime and Miss Blossomtime starting Sunday, March 10, 2019 at the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center. The annual two-night pageant will end with the crowning of a King and a Queen. Coloma

BLOSSOMTIME HOPEFULS… Tri-City Royalty will be seeking a Blossomtime crown this weekend during the Mr. and Miss Blossomtime Pageant. Queen contestants are (from the left): Miss Coloma Samantha Scott, Miss Watervliet Hannah Yerington, and Miss Hartford Brynn Duffy. King contestants are (from the left): Coloma’s 1st runner-up Zack Lake, Mr. Coloma Sin’cere Taylor, and 2nd runner-up and Mr. Nice Guy David Hiler; Watervliet’s Derrick Burkhardt and Allen Chapin III; and Hartford’s Mr. Hartford Xavier Salinas, Mr. Nice Guy Noah Wade, and 1st runner-up Alexander Lehnert. (TCR photo by Annette Christie)

Samantha Scott is Miss Coloma 2019. Scott is a 17-year-old senior attending Coloma High School. She is the daughter of Billy and Rhonda Scott. In school she is involved in track and field, Student Council, LEO Club, National Honor Society, band and Color Guard. She is the vice president of Health Occupation Students of America and belongs to the Professional Health Career Academy. She seeks to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, followed by Michigan State University Veterinary School. Scott volunteers for after prom fundraisers, the Pumpkin Harvest Hustle, Halloween in the Park, and the North Berrien Historical Museum. Mr. Coloma is Sin’cere Taylor. Taylor, 17, is a senior attending Coloma High School. He is the son of Tuesday and Sinatra Taylor. In high school, Taylor is involved in football, track and field, and indoor track. He has received the most improved athlete for track, and has brought home a state title for track. He hopes to obtain a scholarship to further his education and to continue to contribute to the track sport at the college level. Zack Lake, 18, is first runner-up to Mr. Coloma. He is the son of Ryan Lake and Amy Gunderson. The senior attending Coloma High School plans to play football at the college level and beyond. In high school he is involved in football, baseball, Student Council, and has been on the honor roll. He has been named the Tri-City Record Press Box Athlete of the Week. David Hiler holds the dual titles of Mr. Nice Guy and second runner-up to Mr. Coloma. The 17-year-old senior attending Coloma High School is the son of Keith and Brandy Hiler. In high school he is involved in football, basketball and baseball. He enjoys working on cars and will turn that like into a career as he plans to become a mechanic following high school. Watervliet Hannah Yerington is Miss Watervliet 2019. The 17-year-old senior attends Watervliet High School. She is the daughter of Orville and Rhonda Yerington. In school she is involved in choir, National Honor Society, Club Yuma, and is a college ambassador. Following her high school education, she will attend college in pursuit of a master’s degree in Automotive Design Engineering. She hopes to support her own Pro Stock Drag Racing Team. Yerington is the winner of two national drag racing events, and received an Iron Man Trophy in both events in the same year. She has been a division final qualifier for six consecutive years and has won multiple first place trophies. She is a volunteer coach for the Girls on the Run Program and donates her time to blood and food drives. Two young men that have already won the title of Co – Mr. Watervliet will seek the title of Mr. Blossomtime. Allen Chapin, 18, is a senior attending Watervliet High School as well as taking classes at the Van Buren Tech Center. Following high school, he plans to attend Lake Superior State University where he will study Homeland Security. He is involved in National Honor Society, Student Council, variety shows, and is on the football and track teams. He is the son of Allen Chapin and Ginnette Chapin. Derrick Burkhardt, 18, is a senior attending Watervliet High School. He is the son of Scott and Susie Burkhardt. In high school he has been involved in football, wrestling, track, and variety shows. Following graduation, he plans to attend either Lake Michigan College or Southwestern Michigan College to study business. Hartford Selected as Miss Hartford 2019 is Brynn Duffy, a 17-year-old senior attending Hartford High School; she is the daughter of John and Kara Duffy. The future nurse anesthetist is currently dual enrolled in Southwestern Michigan College. She plans to receive her master’s degree from Indiana University of South Bend. In school she is involved in National Honor Society, Science Olympiad, Quiz Bowl, track, and volleyball. She has been on the Honor Roll all four years of high school. She has been named Team Academic All-Conference for volleyball. Not new to crown wearing, Brynn was also named Miss Teen Hartford. Duffy volunteers for the local American Legion where she and her dad place flags on veterans’ graves. She also volunteers in the Van Buren Intermediate School District and with the National Honor Society. Mr. Hartford is Xavier Salinas, 17, a senior attending Hartford High School. He is the son of Maria Salinas. Post high school, he plans to attend Barber and Beauty College in Portage He hopes to open his own barber shop one day. In high school he is involved in basketball and track. He has been named All Conference Honorable Mention for the 200m Track & Field jump. He volunteers for his church praise and worship band. First runner-up to Mr. Hartford Alexander Lehnert, 17, is the son of Joe Lehnert and Jessica Lehnert. He is a senior attending Hartford High school. In high school he is involved in jazz band, Track and Field, Science Olympiad, Student Council, Robotics, and marching band. Following high school, he plans to attend either Michigan Technological University or Michigan State University. His field of study will either be architecture and civil engineering or pre-law. Mr. Nice Guy honors have been bestowed upon Noah Wade, an 18-year-old senior attending Hartford High School. He is the son of Shanna Wade. Following graduation, he will be joining the carpenters union and begin in the construction trade. He is involved in football and wrestling. He has earned 2nd Team All-Conference – Defense, twice. He volunteers in the press box for middle school and junior varsity football games. Mr. and Miss Blossomtime and their courts will reign over the Blessings of the Blossoms, the Grand Floral Parade, the Good Will Tour, the Keys to the Cities Dinner, and many more festivities.