Tumbusch selected Miss Lake Festival

CELINA - St. Henry native Hanna Tumbusch was crowned 2016 Miss Lake Festival at Monday night's scholarship pageant competition.

Tumbusch, 20, shared the stage at Celina schools' Education Complex with three other contestants. Six outstanding teen contestants and four princess candidates also took the stage.

Tumbusch is the daughter of Kevin and Sheila Tumbusch and is a junior at The Ohio State University, majoring in fashion and business. As the winner, she received a $4,000 scholarship.

Also taking home the talent award with a $500 scholarship, Tumbusch sang "Cowboy's Sweetheart," impressing both judges and audience members with her yodeling capabilities.

The contestants participated in a private interview just prior to the program and an onstage interview, during which the ladies answered two questions about their interests, opinions and aspirations.

Tumbusch's platform is "Pages for Progress Inc.," which also is the name of her nonprofit organization that promotes literacy and encourages children to read more. One of her onstage questions asked how to get teens more interested in reading when electronics are so popular. Tumbusch replied one in four people in Ohio is illiterate and teaching very young children the importance of reading and how it can affect their future goals can help make all the difference.

Tumbusch won the interview award, receiving an additional $500 scholarship.

In the evening wear portion, Tumbusch modeled a white, sleeveless, straight gown with sequined flowers on the bodice. In the lifestyle and fitness category, she wore a two-piece magenta swimsuit.

Runner-up was Kailee Ross, 20, Celina, who gave a speed-painting presentation as her talent. Using only black paint, her brush moved quickly across the board. She finished after only a minute or so and received audible gasps and wows from the crowd as she turned her painting upside-down to reveal Marilyn Monroe.

Ross received a $2,000 scholarship as runner-up and a $500 scholarship for winning the commitment to excellence award. She is the daughter of Jim and Teri Ross and her platform is "Art for a Great Start."

Her sleeveless evening gown was navy blue with sequins, and her one-piece swimsuit was teal and black with white accents.

Contestant Megan Hiler, 19, Celina, won the People's Choice Award, which came with a $200 scholarship, and Aubrey Rammel, 18, St. Henry, won the Barbara Wagner non-finalist award, which also came with a $200 scholarship.

Hiler is the daughter of Steph and Corey Hiler. She gave a karate demonstration as her talent. Rammel is the daughter of John and Shawn Rammel and performed a pointe dance to "Sleeping Beauty" as her talent

All four contestants received a $1,000 participation scholarship and Rammel and Hiler received a non-finalist $1,000 in-kind scholarship to Wright State University.

Miss Lake Festival 2015 Veronica Wende, 2015 outstanding teen Loren Stukey and 2015 princess Arrianna Shinn gave various performances throughout the evening. Wende displayed a newly acquired talent, playing "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes. They also co-hosted the event with Tom Hendricks.

Tumbusch will reign over the annual Celina Lake Festival, which begins Friday. She is eligible next year to compete in the Miss Ohio competition, which is part of the Miss America pageant.