The third time was the charm for a young lady from Celina who tried two previous times to become Miss Ohio and fell short of that goal. 22 year old Ellen Bryan, crowned Saturday night in Mansfield was welcomed home Sunday night to her hometown by crowd's of well-wishers.
Bryan is a recent graduate of ball state university, majoring in telecommunications, and even served an internship with your news now last summer. Her victory as Miss Ohio comes with a 10 thousand dollar scholarship and a chance to compete in the Miss America pageant in January in Las Vegas.
Bryan says there's much to do as Miss Ohio before the big pageant. Bryan's platform is lightning safety. Bryan's older sister Christina was struck by lightning in the year 2000 and still suffers today from the after effects.
Bryan was third runner up in the Miss Ohio competition last year and fourth runner up in 2009. Another contestant, Shannon O'Neil from Lima was the fourth runner up this year
(submitted article)
Celina's Bryan Name Miss Ohio 2011, Lima's O'Neil takes Fourth Runner Up
Mansfield, Ohio – June 19, 2011 – The Miss Ohio Scholarship Program announced today that Ellen Bryan was crowned Miss Ohio 2011 at the Renaissance Theatre in Mansfield, Ohio. This week, over $37,000 in cash scholarships were awarded to the 26 contestants.
Bryan is the 22-year-old daughter of Kent & Virginia Bryan of Celina. Ellen is a graduate of Ball State University. She is a vocalist and her platform is "When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors – Promoting Lightning Awareness." Ellen's hobbies include reading, singing, visiting and fundraising for Haiti, volunteering for the American Red Cross and Dayton Children's Hospital, scrap booking, writing, watching TV news programs, traveling, spending time with family and playing board games. She received a $10,000 scholarship and will be representing Ohio at the Miss America competition in January, where she will have the opportunity to earn even more scholarship dollars.
First Runner-Up was Alissa Brumbaugh. Brumbaugh is a 20-year-old student at the University of Akron. She is a vocalist from Akron, and her community service platform is "Ready for Success! Promoting Educational Equality." As the first runner-up, she received a $3,000 scholarship.
Second Runner-Up was Amber Bussa, Miss Maple City. Bussa is a 23-year-old graduate of The Ohio State University. She is a vocalist from Wheelersburg, and her community service platform is "Get into Gear to Volunteer." As the second runner-up, she received $2,500 in scholarships.
Third Runner-Up was Meggie Wittman, Miss All American City. Wittman is a 22-year-old graduate of Kent State University. She is a vocalist from Cleveland, and her community service platform is "The Make-A-Wish Foundation." As the third runner-up, she received a $2,000 scholarship.
Fourth Runner-Up was Shannon O'Neill, Miss Crystal Lake. O'Neill is a 22-year-old student at Fordham University. She is from Lima, and her community service platform is "Combating Childhood Obesity with Veggie U." As the fourth runner-up, she received $1,500 in scholarships.
The other semi-finalists in the Miss Ohio competition were Courtney Monk, Miss Northwestern Ohio; Marisa Buchheit, Miss Greater Cleveland; Jenna Fowls, Miss Mohican Valley; Kylie Johnson, Miss Muskingum Valley; and Heather Wells, Miss Maumee Valley. Each semi-finalist received a $300 scholarship.
Other scholarships that were awarded tonight include:
- Paul Herlihy Spirit Awards – $500 for new contestant: Elissa McCracken, Miss Lima Square Fair; $500 for returning contestant: Heather Waterman, Miss North Central Ohio.
- Non-Semifinalists Talent Awards – $250 each for Cayla Hellwarth, Miss West Central; and Elissa McCracken, Miss Lima Square Fair.
- Non-Semifinalists Classical Talent Award – $250 awarded to Cayla Hellwarth, Miss West Central.
- Betty & Jim Estep Memorial Award for Outstanding Classical Performance – $500 presented to Cayla Hellwarth, Miss West Central.
- Marvin Hamlisch Grand Talent Award – $500 awarded to Shannon O'Neill, Miss Crystal Lake.
- Non-Semifinalist Interview Award – $500 presented to Sarah Hider, Miss Central Ohio.
- Semifinalist Interview Award – $500 awarded to Ellen Bryan, Miss Clayland (new Miss Ohio).
- Miss America Community Service Award – $1,000 presented to Shannon O'Neill, Miss Crystal Lake.
editor's note: Both Bryan and O'Neil have been WLIO-TV interns. Bryan completed her internship in 2010. O'Neil the year before.
(Crowning photo courtesy of Mansfield News Journal)
