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Those who would be Tomato Festival Queen

Seven vie for honor in scholarship pageant

The 2009 Miss Tomato Festival Queen Scholarship pageant which will be held at the Pittston Tomato Festival on August 22. The winner will receive a $500 scholarship and the first runner up will receive a $250 scholarship. All participants will receive several gifts.

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Lena O’Malley

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Carmella M. Gubbiotti

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Scoring is based on an interview, stage performance/talent, which may include a commercial for the Festival, a song, dance, etc.

Entrants are not required to be from the Pittston area.

Emcee for the pageant is Dr. Joseph Lombardo.

Maria Rose LoBrutto, Miss Pittston Tomato 2008, will crown the 2009 queen. She is a 2008 graduate of Pittston Area High School.

She will be attending Misericordia University in the fall as a Biology major. Her aspiration is to become a chiropractor.

Throughout her high school career, Maria was involved in many clubs and activities. She was the captain of the Pittston Area Cheerleaders, President of the Telecommunications Club, and President of the Stand Tall Club. She was a member of the National Honor Society and participated in many community activities.

Maria has taken dance lessons since the age of three. She has received numerous individual and group awards for her performances in tap, jazz, ballet and lyrical dance.

Maria also performed at the Miss Northeastern Pennsylvania Pageant, a preliminary pageant for Miss Pennsylvania.

She was the 2008 Pittston Area Homecoming Queen and second runner up for Miss UNICO.

Maria has participated in community services in Pittston by volunteering at local blood drives, nursing homes, Adopt-a-Highway, soup kitchen and Gabriel House.

Most recently she was involved in the Pittston City Police softball tournament to benefit the fallen trooper, Joshua Miller.

Pageant coordinator Angel S. Noone announced the following contestants, as of August 10:

Stephanie Mudlock of Pittston, is a student at Luzerne County Community College. Her favorite subjects are Physiology and Biology.

She belongs to the swim team and Key Club and will be singing in the talent competition.

Krista Paluski of West Wyoming, is a 12th grade student at Wyoming Area High School. Her favorite subjects are Chemistry and Writing/Communications. She participates in volleyball, Drama Club and plays piano and will be performing a piano piece in the talent competition.

Linnea Homza of Exeter is an 11th grade student at Wyoming Area High school.

Her favorite subjects are Science and Math. She is a member of Key Club, SADD and the National Honor Society.

She will be reciting a monologue for the talent competition.

Marissa Gallagher of Wyoming is a 12th grade student at Wyoming Area High School.

Her favorite subjects are Math and Science her interests are soccer, cross country and student council. Marissa will be singing in the talent competition.

Irina Ackerman of Dallas is a 12th grade student at Dallas High School. Her favorite subjects are History, Reading and Oral Communication.

She’s a member of Key Club, and dance team and will perform a lyrical dance in the competition.

Carmella Gubbiotti of Inkerman, is a freshman at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre.

Her favorite subjects are English and Literature. She is a member of the National Honor Society and Key Club and will be singing in the talent competition.

Lena O’Malley of Moosic is a 12th grade student at Pittston Area High School.

Her favorite subjects are Math and Chemistry. She is a member of Student Council and the cheerleading team. She will perform a dance in the competition.