HOOPESTON — Contestants in this year’s National Sweetheart Pageant, their town, course of study and talent are:

--Alabama — Shellie Elizabeth Street from Mobile; University of Alabama studying political science; jazz dance

--Alaska — Jessica Lee Chuckran from Anchorage; University of Alaska Anchorage studying graphic design with a minor in English; vocal

--Arizona — Rachelle Gurule from Tucson; Pima College; vocal

--Arkansas — Mary "Lauren" English from Hot Springs; Quachita Baptist University studying psychology and mass communications; vocal

--California — Megan Lyne from Manhattan Beach; Carthage College with a degree in music vocal performance; operatic vocal

--Colorado — Morgan Weaver from Lakewood; Metropolitan State College of Denver studying broadcast performance; dance

--Connecticut — Corrina Ann Pysa from Ridgefield; University of Connecticut studying psychology and communication sciences; comedic monologue

--Delaware — Julia Fuller from Wilmington; University of Delaware studying visual communications; lyrical dance

--District of Columbia — Jennifer Corey from Washington, D.C.; American University studying music vocal performance; vocal opera

--Florida — Kaitlin Monte from Tampa; University of Tampa studying performing arts; vocal

--Georgia — Lauren Fay Edmunds from Americus; University of Georgia studying furnishings and interiors; jazz en pointe

--Hawaii — Caroline Alicia Chapman from Makakilo; Hawaii Pacific University with a degree in science in nursing; vocal

--Illinois — Erin Katherine Madden from Chicago; Millikin University studying theater; vocal

--Indiana — Claire Burrie from Indianapolis; Ball State University studying visual communications; contemporary dance

--Iowa — Anne Michael Langguth from Iowa City; Harvard University studying government and pre-medicine; violin solo

--Kansas — Danielle Coffman from Topeka; Washburn University studying business marketing and finance; vocal

--Kentucky — Lindsey Reed Sheckles from Bardstown; Western Kentucky University Graduate School studying psychol-ogy; vocal

--Louisiana — Jennifer Louise Soileau from Hammond; Southeastern Louisiana University degree in art in general stud-ies/business; vocal

--Maryland — Heather Lynn Molnar from Parsonsburg; University of Maryland Eastern Shore studying English; vocal

--Massachusetts — Amanda Lynn Teresa Kelly from Braintree; Brandeis University studying Hispanic studies and business; Broadway vocal

--Michigan — Samantha Steckloff from Farmington Hills; Purdue University studying political science; vocal

--Minnesota — Mackenzie Katherine Ross from Brainerd; Central Lakes College studying psychology/political science; theatrical dance

--Missouri — Kari Gai from Warrensburg; University of Central Missouri studying middle school science education; tap dance

--Montana — Kali Nicole Green from Billings; Texas A&M; University studying communication/journalism; country western tap dance

--Nebraska — Devin Cathleen Howell Omaha; Creighton University studying economics and marketing; piano

--New Hampshire — Justine Barker from Pembroke; Southern New Hampshire University studying communications; jazz dance

--New Jersey — Ashleigh Renee Udalovas from Millville; Cumberland County College and Rowen University studying K-12 education and Spanish; tap dance

--New Mexico — Nicole Miner from Albuquerque; University of Mew Mexico and University of Texas studying music education; vocal

-- New York — Alyse Jean Zwick from Scarsdale; City University of New York-School of Professional Studies studying com-munications and culture; ballet en pointe

-- Ohio — Becky Lynn Minger from Sylvania; Bowling Green State University studying interpersonal communications; vocal

-- Oregon — Anna Prosser from Portland; Oregon State University studying international studies/speech communication with a minor in Spanish; vocal

-- Pennsylvania — Jessica Megliss from North Huntington; University of Pittsburgh studying accounting and finance; baton twirling routine

-- South Carolina — Grace Adair Abernethy Wepner from Greensboro; Converse College Music studying harp performance; harp performance

-- South Dakota — Alexis Lee Le Van from Sioux Falls; Bellevue University studying marketing management; monologue

-- Tennessee — Brooke Shea Waddell from Knoxville; University of Tennessee, Knoxville, studying journalism and electronic media with an emphasis in broadcasting; vocal

-- Utah — Whitney Leigh Merrifield from Lindon; Brigham Young University studying communications; classical piano

-- Vermont — Alexandra Mae Larrow from Vergennes; Middlebury College studying English and American literature; vocal

-- Virginia — Shannon Beam from Leesburg; Shenandoah University-Conservatory Music studying education-vocal with mi-nors in vocal performance and piano; vocal

-- Washington — Kristin Nicole Cox from Richland; Columbia Basin College studying elementary education; saxophone