Sources |
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 27 May 2007.
Just Plain Talk - Farewells after a good sandwich
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 27 Jul 2010.
CCHS students perform at Kennedy Center
Four Cocke County High School students, from left, Jairus Maples, Joseph Clark, Sarah Stokely, and Laura Shepherd, pose in front of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts where they performed with other members of the National Honor Mixed Choir in June. From left are Jairus Maples, Joseph Clark, Sarah Stokely, and Laura Shepherd. They are wearing medallions signifying their selection to this prestigious group.
Author: Duay O'Neil
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Four Cocke County High School students, Joseph Clark, Jairus Maples, Laura Shepherd, and Sarah Stokely, recently traveled to Washington, D.C. where they joined 96 other talented vocal students from high schools across America as members of the National Honor Mixed Choir in concert at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Accompanying them on the trip were CCHS Choral Director Michael Short, Laura's mother Darlene Shepherd, and Sarah's parents and brother, Jimmy, Kellye, and Jarod Stokely.
The group flew to Washington on Thursday, June 24, the first plane trip for all four of the students, and checked into the Dulles Airport Marriot Hotel where the choir was headquartered.
After an orientation dinner that evening, the choir members came together for the first "very vigorous" rehearsal.
Early the next morning, they were shuttled to the Capitol to perform "The National Anthem" in celebration of Music Education Week. Accompanying them for this rousing rendition were members of the United States Army Band.
Following lunch, the students had time to tour several of the Smithsonian's museums. Following dinner that evening, another rehearsal lasted from 7-10 p.m. "Their rehearsals were far more vigorous than the ones for All-State Chorus," said Short.
Saturday, June 26, was spent in a full day of rehearsals. In the evening, the vocalists were bused to Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia to again perform "The National Anthem," this time for the Drum Corps International (DCI) competition.
Sunday morning, June 27, found them at the Kennedy Center for dress rehearsal. Afterwards they were given a tour of the various Washington monuments prior to their concert at 4 p.m.
Andre J. Thomas, who is the Owen F. Sellers Professor of Music at Florida State University's College of Music in Tallahassee, conducted the choir.
Of the four CCHS students, Maples sang Bass I, Clark Tenor II, and Stokely and Shepherd Alto I.
"In their auditions, both Jairus and Joseph scored the highest of anyone in their respective groups," said Short.
The program that evening included "Sing unto God" by Handel, "Te Lucis Ante Terminum," by McDermid, "Frohlocket ihr Volker auf Erden," by Mendelssohn, "Ritmo" by Davison, "The Seal Lullaby" by Whitacre, and "Until I Found the Lord" by Thomas.
"This was an absolutely fabulous experience," said Short, "which would not have been possible were it not for the support and generosity of our community. Many individuals and groups contributed to our fundraising efforts for the trip. We thank them tremendously."
At CCHS, Maples, Clark, and Stokely will begin their senior year this August, while Shepherd will be a junior.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 12 Nov 2010.
Sarah Stokely to compete in Miss Tennessee pageant
Sarah Catherine Stokely, left, was recently crowned Miss Northeast Tennessee in a pageant held November 6 in Jonesborough. Also crowned in the same competition were Alexandra Honeycutt, center, as Miss Johnson City, and Jennifer Leigh White, right, as Miss Historic Jonesborough. All three will advance to the Miss Tennessee pageant next June in Jackson.
Author: Duay O'Neil
JONESBOROUGH-When beautiful young women from across Tennessee gather in Jackson, TN next year to vie for the title of Miss Tennessee and the opportunity to represent the Volunteer State in the Miss America pageant, a Cocke County High School senior will be among the group.
Sarah Catherine Stokely, daughter of Jimmy and Kellye Stokely of Newport, earned a spot in the competition on Saturday, November 6, when she was crowned Miss Northeast Tennessee in Jonesborough.
At 17, Sarah is one of five high school seniors thus far to qualify for the Miss Tennessee pageant in her first year of eligibility. She currently holds the titles of 2010 Cocke County Junior Miss and 2010 Cocke County Fairest of the Fair.
For more details, please see the latest edition of the Newport Plain Talk.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 3 Jun 2011.
Sarah bound for Jackson's Miss Tennessee pageant
Sarah Stokely
Author: Duay O'Neil
NEWPORT-When the last of the 36 contestants in the 2011 Miss Tennessee pageant walks onstage next week, she'll receive a loud round of applause from several Cocke County residents.
Sarah Stokely of Newport will not only be the last contestant introduced, she'll also be the youngest young lady in the event.
The daughter of Jimmy and Kellye Stokely of Newport, Sarah graduated from Cocke County High School last Friday night, one of five Miss Tennessee contestants finishing high school in Tennessee this year. "But of the five," said Sarah on Friday, "I'm the youngest."
For more details, see this weekend's edition of The Newport Plain Talk.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 2 Aug 2011.
Stokely claims Community Service Award at Miss TN pageant
Sarah Stokely, left, reigning Miss Northeast Tennessee, is shown with Jane Alderson, Executive Director of the Miss Tennessee pageant. Stokley received the Miss Tennessee Community Service Award.
Author: Duay O'Neil
NEWPORT-Newport resident and reigning Miss NortheastTennessee Sarah Stokely recently added another honor to the many she hasalready earned.
While in Jackson, TN June 12-19 to compete in the 2011Miss Tennessee pageant, Stokely received the Miss Tennessee Community ServiceAward.
The award was announced during a luncheon for the 36contestants and their families on Friday. "This was a totally unexpectedhonor," said Stokely on Friday.
According to Stokely, all contestants were asked tosubmit a record of community service prior to the pageant. "We reallydidn't have many clear guidelines to go by," she said. "My mother andI simply filled a three-inch binder notebook with information regarding mainlywhat I had done during the past year. It was a sort of scrapbook of myactivities."
Among the items Stokely submitted were an essay andreports on her platform as a Miss Tennessee contestant.
For more details, please see the latest edition of the Newport Plain Talk.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 19 Oct 2012.
Sarah Stokely named Miss Greene County
©2012 GREENEVILLE SUN PHOTO BY LAUREN HENRY
Sarah Stokely, center, of Newport, was crowned Miss Greene County 2013 Saturday evening by her predcessor, Sara Mitchell, who was assisted by the 2012 Outstanding Teen, Naomi Boling. The scholarship pageant was held in the auditorium of Chuckey-Doak High School.
NEWPORT-Sarah Stokely of Newport is the new Miss Greene County and will represent the county in next year's Miss Tennessee Pageant in Jackson.
Stokely, 19, a sophomore at Walters State Community College, was crowned Saturday evening in the auditorium of Chuckey-Doak High School by Miss Greene County 2012 Sara Mitchell, to the cheers of many friends and family members who had come to the pageant to support the new Miss Greene County.
Since Stokely is from Newport, her fans did not have far to drive.
It seemed that another full-quarter of the audience (if cheering is any indication) was there to support the winner of the Outstanding Teen division, Kelly Mrock, a 16-year-old junior at North Greene High School and daughter of Doug and Gayle Mrock of Afton.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 14 Jun 2013.
Miss Tennessee Pageant is next week; Newport's Stokely is one to watch
(c)2013 NPT PHOTO BY NELSON MORAIS
Author: Velma Southerland
On Saturday, Sarah Stokely and Lilly Crouch leave for a week of hard work, adventure and competition – with the ultimate goal of being crowned Miss Tennessee 2013.
They will meet 34 other young women in Jackson for a hectic schedule of public appearances, rehearsals and competition that will culminate on Saturday, June 22, with the crowning of a new Miss Tennessee. The Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant is a preliminary to the Miss America Scholarship Pageant.
Stokely, of Newport, will be competing as Miss Greene County while Crouch, of Greeneville, will be wearing the Miss Johnson City crown.
Stokely has been participating in pageants since she was in seventh grade and placed in the top 10 of the Junior Miss division of the Fairest of the Fair pageant at the Cocke County Fair.
This will be her second trip to Jackson as she wore the Miss Northeast Tennessee crown her first trip in 2011.
Crouch has participated in exactly three pageants, all in the last year. Her first experience was the Miss Greene County Scholarship Pageant, which Stokely won. Her second experience saw her placing as first runner-up at the Watauga Valley contest. She then won the Miss Johnson City crown.
Both young women list the talent portion as their favorite part of the competition, and both are polished in their individual talents.
Stokely has been honing her powerful, melodious voice since she began to sing in church as a child, and moved on to musical theatre when she was a freshman in high school. She is employed as a server at Cracker Barrel in Newport.
Dancing has been part of Crouch’s life for so long that she actually teaches dance at Main Street Dance. She is also employed as marketing coordinator by Rodefer Moss.
The finalists for Miss Tennessee are selected during three preliminary events on Wednesday evening, Thursday evening and Friday evening. All of which, along with the Saturday night finale, can be viewed online at 9 p.m. Eastern time at http://www.eplustv6.com/.
For the preliminaries, the 36 contestants are divided into three groups and work their way through all areas of the competition so the judges can select the top performers.
Stokely is in Group C, which means that on Wednesday evening she will compete in Swimsuit; on Thursday, in Evening Wear and Onstage Question; and on Friday, in Talent.
She will sing “Astonishing” from Little Women.
Crouch is in Group A, which means she will perform Talent on Wednesday, Swimsuit on Thursday, and Evening Wear and Onstage Question on Friday.
For her talent, Crouch will perform a tap dance to “Run Away Baby” by Bruno Mars.
During the Saturday evening show, the field of 36 contestants is narrowed to a group that changes in number from year-to-year, but the finale is always the naming of the top five.
The very important private interview with the judges is on Tuesday for Crouch and on Wednesday for Stokely.
To compete in local and state pageants with the Miss America Organization, each contestant must choose a “platform” and work her platform if she is chosen as a local winner.
Stokely’s platform is “Commit To Your Community” and focused on encouraging everyone to become a volunteer. She chose volunteerism because “I have seen firsthand how one person can make a difference.”
Making a difference is “simple,” she says, and explains that contributions don’t have to be large. As an example, she says, making a difference can be picking up trash along a road – no expense except the volunteer’s time.
Crouch has chosen as her platform BUILD, for building confidence among teens and young adults.
As a relative newcomer, Crouch has already discovered that participating in pageants is “a good learning experience.”
For those who wish to send a card to either young woman, simply address the card to her, with the mailing address of Signature Boutique Hotel, 1935 Emporium Dr., Jackson, TN 38305.
|