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48th Annual Ohio River Sternwheel Festival: A Glance at the Queen Genevieve Contestants

Viola AnnElise Angle (Photo Provided)

Viola AnnElise Angle, 21, is the daughter of Kenneth and Michelle Angle of Lowell. She is a senior at West Liberty University in Wheeling, with a major in the bachelor of science exercise physiology program in health and fitness, while also minoring in coaching. She is a fourth-year member of the University Dance Team, performing as well as choreographing. She graduated in 2021 from Fort Frye High School and Washington County Career Center, where she completed two years in the sports medicine and exercise science program. She participated in sports programs from elementary through high school and achieved academic athlete recognition for basketball, cross country, track and cheerleading. She participated in Girl Scouts from kindergarten through graduation, receiving the Senior Gold Tassel to be worn at graduation representing 13 years in Girl Scouts. She attends Freedom Gate Church in Marietta and traveled with church youth in 2021 to New York to serve the homeless community. Her goal is to have a successful career in health and fitness, possibly to become an entrepreneur developing her own business in helping others.

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Isabella Becker, 18, is the daughter of Christopher and Tiffany Becker of Marietta. She has been an active volunteer for the 4-H Car Teens program and dedicated her time to helping small businesses downtown prepare for floods. She has helped organize and host numerous events for foster children and families and arranged clothing and food items at the Gospel Mission Food Pantry. Her special interests and hobbies include playing volleyball, running, planning fun activities with friends and family, traveling and thrifting. She was part of Marietta’s Interact Club, Student Council and journalism program.

She is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She is All-Academic for volleyball and track and has received many awards for athletics including All-District for volleyball and track, recipient of the Wana Sue Rinard Award for volleyball and the Barbara Pape Award for track. She represented Marietta High School as the 2023 homecoming queen.

Her goal is to become a physician assistant in dermatology.

Isabella Becker (Photo Provided)

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Sarah Burchett, 18, is the daughter of Jeremy and Nikki Burchett and is a 2024 graduate of Marietta High School.

She plans to attend Akron University in the fall to major in emergency management and homeland security with two certificates, Firefighter II and Paramedic.

In the future, she plans to use her degree to become a full-time firefighter and paramedic.

She has been active over the summer, working as a lifeguard at the Marietta Aquatic Center and competing at nationals with her dance studio. In high school, she was very active with different clubs and organizations.

Sarah Burchett (Photo Provided)

She spent time dancing on the Marquettes, dancing at Marietta Dance Academy and participating in many different choirs at the high school including Vocal Point and a cappella choir. She worked with the Gospel Mission Food Pantry and performed at many local events, nursing homes and elementary schools.

Her goal is to graduate from the University of Akron, become a full-time firefighter and paramedic, and hopefully be promoted to captain before she retires.

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Jasmine Madison, 17, is the daughter of Kristopher and Jessica Madison. She is a senior at Belpre High School where she is a varsity cheerleader, captain of the Mock Trial team and secretary of the National Honor Society. She has received recognition for her outstanding performance in Mock Trial, winning the Best Attorney award and contributing to her team’s second-place finish for the best-written brief in the state of Ohio. She was also chosen to be on the Ohio Attorney General’s Teen Advisory Board. In addition to her high school achievements, she attends Washington State College of Ohio. She plans to pursue a degree in global and international studies at Indiana University, followed by law school. Outside of her academic and extracurricular activities, she enjoys dancing, cooking, babysitting and spending quality time with her family. She volunteers at her church by serving meals to homeless families and supporting various church initiatives. Her dedication to community service earned her the honor of receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce. Her goal is to work for the government in international law and diplomacy while starting a family.

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Jasmine Madison (Photo Provided)

Amanda Rauch, 17, is a senior at Warren High School. She is particularly interested in law and has taken many classes in high school to become more knowledgeable about it.

Recently she became more interested in learning about how the body heals.

As an athlete, she has dealt with many injuries that don’t have an explanation. She likes to research how food impacts how the body functions and the way it responds when it is cared for properly.

She also loves to clean and organize houses and living spaces in her free time.

She grew up in the competitive dance world and will always have a passion for movement and dance. Her goal is to maximize the opportunities that she is given and to be in a constant state of growth developing the best version of herself.

Amanda Rauch (Photo Provided)

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Melina Matics, 20, is the daughter of Jeff and Sloane Matics of Marietta. She is a 2022 graduate of Wood County Christian School and is studying radiologic technology at Washington State College of Ohio.

She was an 11-year member of Ohio 4-H and now serves as a 4-H adviser in her club.

Through 4-H she served on the Washington County and Ohio State Fair Boards and was a teen representative on the Washington County 4-H Advisory Committee and the Ohio 4-H Foundation Board. She also served on the Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council and was inducted into the Ohio 4-H Teen Hall of Fame in 2023. She was the 2021 Washington County Junior Fair Queen and has participated in national 4-H events.

She is a member of Souls Harbor Baptist Church where she volunteers in the children’s ministry.

Melina Matics (Photo Provided)

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family and cooking and trying new recipes.

Her goal is to pursue a career in diagnostic imaging and possibly continue her education to expand her career options in the medical field.

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Lyanna Smith, 19, is the daughter of Brad and LeeAndra Smith. She is from Marietta and graduated in 2023 from Marietta High School, the Washington County Career Center and the Washington State College of Ohio. She is a junior at Ohio University majoring in animation and minoring in Japanese. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career as a character animator for Pixar Studios in California. She is active in OU’s campus life. She is a member of the Lost Flamingoes Theater Troupe, The Japanese Language & Culture Association, the Animation Club and the sketch comedy show Friday’s Live. In high school, she donated her time and talent to several organizations in Marietta. She gives back now by raising money for the Trevor Project and helping Japanese exchange students acclimate to American college life. Her goal is to connect with people through her stories and art and make a difference through filmmaking and communication.

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Kenzie Smith, 20, is the daughter of Brad and LeeAndra Smith. She is from Marietta where she graduated in 2023 from Marietta High School and the Washington County Career Center. She is a sophomore at Muskingum University where she is double majoring in criminal justice and psychology. She hopes to pursue a career as an equine police officer or a detective. She is very involved within her campus and community. She is a member of the Chi Alpha Nu sorority, the national theater honorary Alpha Psi Omega, a singer in Muskingum’s concert choir and Kappa Sigma’s Military Heroes Sweetheart. She gives back to her community by raising money for Eyes of Appalachia and Adopt a Highway through her sorority and also participating in the Kappa Sigma Military Heroes Campaign. Her goal is to have a career that makes her want to get up every morning and be excited for the day ahead.

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Amelia Williams is a sophomore at Marietta College where she is studying health science and one day hopes to further her career in prosthetics with a business of her own.

At MC, she is in the Honor and Leadership programs, Chi Omega Sorority and a member of the Cheer and Dance team. She has been cheering since she was 4 years old.

In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering for various community events, including The Easter Egg Hunt for the Blind, Toys for Tots, Thanksgiving meals for the Salvation Army, Downtown PKB and more. In her spare time, she loves to build with Lego and go fishing with her family.

Her goal is to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in health science and further her degree in prosthetics so she can help others with disabilities.

Lyanna Smith (Photo Provided)

Kenzie Smith (Photo Provided)

Amelia Williams (Photo Provided)

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