Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 314

Z9 WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2009 (NEWS BY YOU) Katelyn Niemiec, 15, of Scottsdale, is Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2009. She is a sophomore at Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale. 1 a a -J Try t. all furniture and accessories expires 6209 1 i'- (5) GREG VATT Niemiec crowned top AZ teen iO) I for all your home furnishing needs ipsassaswsMBu:" Jim Berry, state executive director of Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen, submitted this information. Katelyn Niemiec, 15, of Scottsdale, was recently crowned Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2009.

She is the daughter of Mark and Joyce Niemiec. Niemiec, who was competing as Miss Twirling Athlete's Outstanding Teen, will spend the next year increasing awareness and community action for her platform, "Ready, Set, Read: Enrichment for a Lifetime," which promotes literacy. She will represent Arizona at the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Competition in August in Orlando. Started in 2005, Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen Program is part of the Miss Arizona Scholarship Foundation under the Miss America Organization. First runner-up of Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2009 went to Cactus Shadows High School student Songee Barker, 15, who competed as Miss Maricopa County's Outstanding Teen and was both the Overall Evening Wear winner and recipient of the Maust Family Talent Award.

Second runner-up was Gilbert Highland High School student Elizabeth Riley, 14. She was Miss Phoenix's Outstanding Teen and was also honored as Most Photogenic. The third runner-up was Buena High School student Savanna Fletcher, 16, who competed as Miss Cochise County's Outstanding Teen. And the fourth runner-up was Rebecca Du-razo, 17, of Northland Prep Academy in Flagstaff. Along with the title of Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2009, Niemiec will receive scholarship money to pursue her career dream of becoming a broadcasting political commentator.

She was also awarded the Overall Interview Award and the Esteves Family Quality of Life Award for her service to her community. Niemiec is a sophomore at Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale and has been a straight-A student since the sixth grade. She has been a member of the Phoenix Superstars National Twirling Team for seven years and a member of Becky Hewitt's Arizona Twirling Athletes for nine years. She is a Desert Mountain High School Ambassador and a student government senator, and does volunteer work at the Scottsdale Public Library, coordinating reading sessions for children. Information: www.miss-arizona.org.

OavisKome fumisHitws Est mi 480.607.0740 8175 E. Raintree Suite 1 1 Scottsdale 85260 SW Corner of 82nd St Raintree SS Mon-Fri Sat Sun By Appt. Only Valid at our Scottsdale location only!.