CELINA - Caitlin Cramer, 18, Celina, swept the competition and was crowned Miss Lake Festival 2024 during Sunday night's Miss Lake Festival Scholarship Pageant at the Harley C. Jones Memorial Rotary Amphitheater in the Bryson Park District.
In addition to winning the coveted crown and $3,000 scholarship, Cramer also won the $400 Commitment to Excellence Award scholarship and the $400 Jerry Deitsch Talent Award scholarship.
"This is my dream title and it has been my dream to go to Miss Ohio since I've been Miss Lake Fest (Outstanding) Teen," Cramer said after winning. "I'm just so excited for this year."
Cramer is a senior at Celina High School. She is the daughter of Curt and Leah Cramer. She was crowned Miss Lake Festival Outstanding Teen in 2019.
Cramer's social impact initiative was "Life is precious, wear a helmet." She said people should wear helmets to protect themselves from reckless drivers and other elements outside their control. She sang "Almost There" from the Disney movie "The Princess and the Frog" for her talent.
Maleah Lee, 19, Celina, won first runner-up and took home a $1,500 scholarship. She is the daughter of Diana Lee and a sophomore at Indiana University.
The Miss Congeniality award, whose winner is chosen by the contestants and members of the Lake Festival committee and includes a $200 scholarship, was given to 18-year-old Paige Kuehne of Celina.
Celina High School sophomore Allie Gray, 17, was crowned Miss Lake Festival Outstanding Teen 2024. She won a $500 scholarship, and she and Cramer also won flowers, a photoshoot, hair and makeup and a gown for the photoshoot.
First teen runner-up and winner of the teen Miss Congeniality award was Monica Hemmelgarn, 16, Coldwater. Hemmelgarn received a $300 scholarship as first runner-up and $200 as Miss Congeniality.
Cramer and Gray are the newest titleholders for the Miss Ohio 2024 season, and will have the chance to compete in the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program pageant in June 2024.
All non-finalists received a $400 scholarship, and each candidate also received $200 from sponsors to cover the costs of the pageant or to be used as additional scholarship money.