Four candidates in this year’s Sweet Corn Festival Queen Pageant, left to right, are Amy Lewis, Gillian Pattermann, Rylee Faber and Haley Fittanto. (Photo courtesy of Setchell Studio)

MENDOTA – The Mendota Chamber has announced that intermission entertainment at this year’s Sweet Corn Festival Queen Pageant will be Illinois State University’s mixed a Capella group, “The Clef Hangers.” Their performance is courtesy of Eureka Savings Bank of Mendota and will take place as the judges decide on who will be crowned 2018 Sweet Corn Festival Queen.

Queen Pageant practices continue for the 16 candidates, getting everything and everyone relaxed and ready for the big night. Getting used to what it will be like on stage, being comfortable with those hosting, and taking cues will help things go smoothly that evening.

Now let us introduce four more Sweet Corn Queen hopefuls.

The Mendota Optimist Club has selected Rylee Faber as its queen candidate.  She is the daughter of Marcy Botts and Brian Faber. Rylee stands 5-7 and has brown eyes and brown hair.

She is a May, 2018 graduate of Mendota Township High School where she was a member of the Student Council. Rylee played volleyball her freshman and sophomore years. She was also an office worker for three years.

Rylee plans to attend Illinois Valley Community College beginning in the fall. She is seeking an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice.

This summer you will find Rylee doing “ride alongs” with the Mendota Police Department. She will also be working as a nanny, caring and watching over four children for a family friend.

Rylee enjoys spending time with family and friends, shopping, exercising, traveling and playing with animals. She spends most of her time learning new things about her future career and traveling.

Her plans for the future are to follow in her father’s and brother’s footsteps in pursuing a career in law enforcement.

Rylee was the 2005 Sweet Corn Festival Mini Queen.

Haley Fittanto will represent the Mendota Area YMCA in this year’s pageant. She is the daughter of Jesse and Ginny Fittanto of West Brooklyn. Haley has brown hair and green eyes and is 5-3.

She is a spring graduate of Mendota High School, where she was a member of the MHS Choir, and participated in a musical and a play. Haley was also a football and a basketball cheerleader.  She belonged to the Spanish Club and was a member of the MHS Student Council. Haley also served as Mendota Pulley Leader. While at MHS, Haley took AP Calculus, IVCC English, Honors Math and English all four years.  She also took honors science courses for three years.

Haley will be attending Illinois Valley Community College in the fall, and will eventually seek a Master’s Degree in Psychology at a university.

This summer you will find Haley planning and preparing for college and working at Rosati’s Pizza Pub, where she handles customer service, hosting and taking calls.

Haley enjoys reading, writing, drawing, swimming, singing, dancing, and spending time with her family and friends. She especially likes to travel, meet new people, bake and hike.

Her goal is to graduate from a university with a degree in Psychology and eventually become a child psychologist.

Haley loves to help people both in and outside of her community. In July 2017, Haley volunteered at New Hope Children’s Home for two weeks in Peru, South America.

The Gardener’s Club of Mendota has selected Gillian Pattermann of Mendota to represent them in this year’s pageant. She is the daughter of Blaine and Jodi Pattermann of Mendota. Gillian has brown hair and hazel eyes and stands 5-2.

Gillian completed her studies at Mendota High School in January and participated in the spring graduation ceremony this May. She received the Pulley Award upon graduation.  Gillian was a member of the tennis team for two years. She also took honors science courses while at MHS.  Gillian was selected for Illini Girls State in 2017. Outside of school, Gillian volunteered at the Spring Valley Grade Schools and worked as a volunteer for the Mendota Lutheran Home and various benefits. She also participated in the Henderson Mission Trip through her church.

Gillian has completed the Illinois Valley Community College Spring Semester and will be continuing there in the fall. She has already received her Certified Nursing Assistant Certificate and will be working toward a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, specializing in trauma/OB.

This summer you will find Gillian working as a CNA at the Dixon Health Care and Rehabilitation Center caring for residents based off of their care plan needs.

Gillian enjoys working, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Anything medically based is exciting to Gillian, as well as traveling and visiting new places. She is always interested in new studies dealing with diabetes, being she is a type-one diabetic.

Gillian plans to begin her career in nursing, working in a hospital setting, specializing in OB or trauma.

Gillian has done volunteer work dealing with type-one diabetes. She has always been a part of medical based work, which she finds interesting and enjoys.

Representing the Mendota Moose Lodge #714 in this year’s pageant will be Amy Lewis. She is the daughter of Kevin and Kelly Lewis of Mendota. Amy is 5-5 with brown hair and brown eyes.

She graduated from Mendota High School this May and was a member of the MHS Choir, serving as secretary/treasurer.  She was also a member of the Show and Jazz choirs.  Amy took part in the Spring Musicals as well as the Drama Club. She was a member of the MHS Band and Marching Band. Amy participated in cheerleading for both football and basketball.

Amy also took some time out to volunteer for some community events, such as working as a Sweet Corn sales volunteer, and OSF 5K Run volunteer, a Memorial Day Band volunteer and a volunteer for the Mendota Lions Club, helping with its corn dog sales.

Amy plans to attend Lewis University in the fall, participating in piano and vocal lessons.  She is seeking a degree in Biology and plans to continue on to Pre-Medicine.

You will find Amy working at Plano Molding Company, assembling products. She is also working as an umpire and scorekeeper at Strouss Park and attending vocal and piano lessons this summer.

Amy enjoys vocal and piano lessons, working out and spending time with family and friends. She has a special interest in biology, chemistry and anatomy.

Her plans for the future include getting her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Lewis University and then attending a medical school to get her M.D. before fulfilling the additional requirements to become a forensic pathologist.

Amy helps her grandmother speak up about depression and suicide in hopes of helping others who may struggle with similar issues.