Seven young women to vie for crown

On Saturday, seven young women will vie for the title of Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival queen.
Vying to wear the crown are Grace Dragna, Jaclyn Garber, Carley Gravois, Rachel Lemoine, Ciara Norris, Alexis Vaughn and Anna Washburn.
The coronation will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Paul Schreier Theatre at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium.
The young woman chosen to wear the crown will be a good will ambassador for the festival and the Tri-City area as she travels the state. She will reign over the 80th Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival set Sept. 3-7 in downtown Morgan City.
Tickets for the coronation are $7 for adults and $5 for children.
The ball follows the pageant at 9 p.m. Local bands, Déjà Vu and Old Soul, will perform. Tickets for ball are $30.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the festival office at 985-385-0703, or visit the festival’s website at www.shrimp-petrofest.org.
Contestants include:
Grace Dragna, 19, is the daughter of Matt and Jennifer Dragna of Morgan City. She attended Morgan City High School and is majoring in psychology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Her interests include practicing jiu-jitsu, kickboxing and working with children.
She helps with church functions, and volunteered at the Buddy Walk in Lafayette.
Jaclyn Garber, 19, is the daughter of Roy and Brenda Garber of Berwick. She attended Central Catholic High School and is studying nursing at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux.
Her interests include tennis, working out, cooking and baking. She is a member of St. Thomas Aquinas and Sisters in Christ.
Carley Gravois, 19, is the daughter of Greg Gravois and Christie Settoon Gravois of Pierre Part. She attended Central Catholic High School in Morgan City and is studying cosmetology at the Paul Mitchell Vanguard School of Cosmetology.
Her interests are traveling, drawing, painting and riding horses.
Rachel Lemoine, 20, is the daughter of Ellen Lemoine of Patterson and the late Glenn Lemoine. She attended Patterson High School and is majoring in biological sciences at Louisiana State University.
Her interests are photography, orienting incoming LSU students and fundraising for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
She is an LSU Ambassador, member of LSU St. Jude Up ‘til Dawn and College of UCAC member-at-large in LSU Student Government.
Ciara Norris, 19, is the daughter of Tina and Ronald Norris of Morgan City. She attended Morgan City High School and is studying to be a radiology technician at Louisiana State University Eunice.
Her interests are fishing, duck hunting and exercising.
Alexis Vaughn, 20, is the daughter of Kelly and Travis Vaughn of Morgan City. She attended Morgan City High School and is majoring in early childhood education at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Her interests are baton twirling, swimming, crafting and reading.
She is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, head member of the sorority’s homecoming committee, coach of the MCHS Twirlers and a USTA National Baton Twirling coach.
Anna Washburn, 19, is the daughter of Tamera Thomas and William “Darby” Washburn of Berwick. She attended Berwick High School and is majoring in child and family services at Louisiana State University.
Her interests include traveling, reading and volunteer work through Chi Omega sorority.
She is a member of Chi Omega sorority and its philanthropy committee.
––Contestant photos courtesy of Skeet’s Photo Service.