Three candidates entered in this year’s Sweet Corn Festival Queen Pageant, left to right, are Hope McDowell, Annah Scholl and Connie Arteaga. (Photo courtesy of Setchell Studio)

MENDOTA – The Mendota Chamber of Commerce has announced that Pre-Pageant Entertainment will be the Illinois Army National Guard 144th Army Jazz Band Combo, sponsored by Edward Jones Investments. The group will take to the FSB Stage at 6:30 p.m. to entertain those that have come to view the Sweet Corn Festival Queen Pageant. The Army Jazz Band Combo will also be featured at intermission of the pageant, courtesy of Eureka Savings Bank of Mendota, as the judges decide on who will be crowned 2017 Sweet Corn Festival Queen.

Queen Pageant practices continue for the 15 candidates, getting everything and everyone relaxed and ready for the big night. They have recently had a presentation on make-up by Pat English, Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant, to help them prepare for the Friday, Aug. 11 event. They have also had a chance to practice with this year’s pageant MCs, Don and Karen Goy. Getting used to what it will be like on stage, being comfortable with those hosting, and taking cues so that things go smoothly that evening takes practice.

Now let’s introduce three more of the Sweet Corn Queen hopefuls.

OSF Healthcare Saint Paul Medical Center & Auxiliary has chosen Annah Scholl as their candidate for the pageant. She is the daughter of Dr. David and Joan Scholl, and Annah is 5-5 with brown hair and hazel eyes.

A May, 2017 graduate of Mendota High School, Scholl was active in the band as a member of the concert and marching bands. She also participated in choir, including the MHS Show Choir and Jazz Choir. She performed in Madrigals, and served as choir librarian. She was selected as ILMEA All-State as a junior and senior. She was a member of the National Honor Society, where she served as secretary. She was also an honor student, achieving the honor roll all four years of her high school career. She also played on the volleyball team as a freshman and sophomore.

Scholl plans on attending St. Ambrose University in the fall. She also plans on participating in choir at St. Ambrose. She will be seeking a degree in psychology, specializing in pediatric occupational therapy.

This summer you will find her making sandwiches, taking orders, cleaning, and working with people at Jimmy Johns.

Scholl enjoys singing, swimming, hiking, and spending time with her 15 nieces and nephews. She likes to play bass clarinet and in general, just loves music. She likes to listen to classical and other music along with modern music. She loves children and her faith. She especially likes to watch the Blackhawk games with her dad.

Her future plans include being a pediatric occupational therapist and being able to help children. Also during her college career she would like to travel or study abroad. She would like to go on a mission trip as well. She would also like to be involved in music in some way.

Scholl considers herself a very family oriented person. Family and her religion always come first for her.

Connie Arteaga will be representing the Kiwanis Club of Mendota in this year’s pageant. She is the daughter of Angie Arteaga of Mendota. She is 5-5 with black hair and brown eyes.

She graduated from Mendota High School this past May, where she was a member of the volleyball and soccer teams. She served on the student council, achieved the honor roll and was a member of the Spanish National Honor Society and the BNC All-Academic Team.

Arteaga plans on attending Illinois Central College in the fall, seeking a bachelor of science in nursing and eventually specializing and receiving her RN and CRNA.

This summer you will find her working as a CANA at Heritage Health in Mendota, helping to take care of the elderly as rehabilitation or permanent residents.

Arteaga enjoys spending time with her family and friends, running, reading poetry, doing make-up and spending time at the lake. She is especially interested in Teens Encounter Christ (TEC), where she has been active and wants to stay involved as much as she can.

Her plans for the future include going to Peoria to get her RN degree through ICC and then moving on to become a CRNA in either Peoria or a bigger city.

The Mendota Museum and Historical Society has selected Hope McDowell as its queen candidate. She is the daughter of John and Catherine McDowell of Mendota. She has light brown hair and blue/green eyes, and stands 5-6.

She is a spring graduate of Mendota High School where she was very active in band all four years, serving as band president her senior year. She was also a member of the chorus and Drama Club for four years. She took part in Madrigals, portraying the “Jester” for three years. She was part of the BNC Music Festival for all four years, and was a member of the Bradley Honor Band, ILMEA Honor Band, as well as the Augustana Honor Band.

McDowell was an honor student while at MHS, having achieved the high honor roll and honor roll. She was a member of the National Honor Society and served as co-secretary her senior year. She was also an Illinois State Scholar. She played tennis all four years at MHS and was captain her senior year and was a member of the basketball team for two years. She served on the Prom Committee for two years and was crowned Prom Queen her senior year. She was also a member of Interact Club all four years and a principal’s office worker for one year.

McDowell plans to attend Trinity International University in the fall and be part of the band there. She is also considering entering the Honors Program as she seeks a degree in pre-physical therapy, specializing in nursing home care.

This summer you will find McDowell working at Pioneer Seed Company as a field assistant, where she works throughout the fields in the surrounding area, accomplishing whatever is necessary. She is also shadowing for physical therapy. She plans to take a trip to Florida to visit family this summer.

McDowell thoroughly enjoys music, weather it is listening to music or playing her saxophone. She also enjoys reading. She is interested in her school studies and spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys spending time with the elderly when she visits her mother at her mother’s work place, Heritage Health and attending church.

McDowell’s plans for the future include achieving her bachelor’s in pre-physical therapy and eventually attain her master’s in physical therapy. When finished with school she would like to pursue a career as a physical therapist in a nursing home.

She is very happy to participate in the tradition of the Sweet Corn Queen Pageant and represent such a great sponsor as the Mendota Museum and Historical Society. She is usually a very optimistic person and is more than excited for the opportunity.