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Thomasville Jaycees |
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Meet Gretchen Wallace Miss Thomasville 2002  Gretchen has
implemented two awareness and fund-raising campaigns in the
Thomasville Public School System in conjunction with Thomasville’s
Communities in Schools Program. The goal is to raise awareness of
child abuse in Davidson County and to raise $2500 for the
Communities in Schools Program. Gretchen has also worked with the
community efforts of the Thomasville Jaycees, the Empty Stocking
Fund, Community General Hospital. The Piedmont Center Retirement
Home, Mills Children’s Home, and the Appalachian Service ProjectIn addition to winning the swimsuit, talent, and interview awards before capturing the Miss Thomasville crown, Gretchen has a list of other accomplishments. She is a 2001 graduate to Thomasville High School where she finished in the top five of her class, was a NC Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society, and was an honors graduate. Gretchen received the Barrier Memorial Scholarship, the Memorial Dance Scholarship, and the United Methodist Women’s Scholarship. Gretchen was a featured dancer at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, GA and served on the 2002 NC Azalea Festival Court. Contestant #1, Sarah Elizabeth Gordon Hometown: Thomasville, NC Age: 18 School: UNCG Thomasville High School Parents: Greg & Wanda Gordon Talent: Vocal, ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” Platform: Music Education Awards: 2nd Runner Up Contestant #2, Amie Sidberry Hometown: Greensboro, NC Age: 23 School: UNCG South Brunswick High School Parents: Avance & Esther Sidberry Talent: Vocal, “It’s Am Changing” Platform: At-risk youth Awards: 1st Runner Up, Miss Congeniality Contestant #3, Gretchen Kyle Wallace Hometown: Thomasville, NC Age: 19 School: UNC-CH Thomasville High School Parents: Kyles & Janet Wallace Talent: Rhythm Tap Dance Platform: Child Abuse Prevention Awards: Miss Thomasville 2002, Swimsuit Award, Talent Award, Interview Award Contestant #4, Jessica Laurel Smith Hometown: Lexington, NC Age: 19 School: DCCC Central Davidson High School Parents: James & Kathy Smith Talent: Vocal, “Hero” Platform: Domestic Violence Contestant #5, Stephanie Rae Webb Hometown: Thomasville, NC Age: 18 School: DCCC Thomasville High School Parents: Stephen & Kaye Webb Talent: Jazz, “I Say a Little Prayer” Platform: Self-Esteem in Youth Awards: Spirit Award Wallace crowned Miss Thomasville Nov 13 2001 12:00AM By ANN BEARD Homefront Editor Gretchen Wallace of Thomasville was crowned Miss Thomasville 2002 Saturday night at T. Austin Finch Auditorium. Using a patriotic theme, "United We Stand," the Thomasville Jaycees presented its 57th pageant, a tradition the organization began in 1946, following a five-year pageant hiatus during World War II. The very first Miss Thomasville Pageant was held in 1939 by the American Legion, which followed that one up with the 1940 pageant before suspending it because of the war. Wallace, 18, is the daughter of Dr. Kyles and Janet Wallace of Thomasville, and is a freshman at the University of North Carolina, pursuing degrees in pre-medicine and biology. She is a 2000 graduate of Thomasville High School and was second runner-up in the 2001 pageant. Among the prizes Wallace received for capturing the crown was a $2,500 educational scholarship, and a $1,500 wardrobe and travel allowance. In addition to the title, she also won first place in the interview, swimsuit and talent categories, receiving a $100 scholarship for each win. In June of 2002, she will represent the city in the Miss North Carolina Pageant in Raleigh. She makes her first official appearance as Miss Thomasville in the Nov. 17 Jaycee Christmas parade. Wallace, who has studied dance for 13 years and danced in the 1996 Summer Olympics, delighted an audience of around 400 with her rousing tap dance routine to a congo drum medley. She has selected a focus on the awareness and prevention of child abuse as the platform she will devote time to during her Miss Thomasville reign. First runner-up was Amie Sidberry, 24, a human development graduate of UNC-G and a native of Bolivia, N.C., where her parents Avance and Esther Sidberry reside. Sidberry was also named Miss Congeniality by the other contestants. For her talent she sang "I Am Changing." As first runner-up she received a scholarship for $500, and as Miss Congeniality she won a $100 scholarship award. Second runner-up Sara Gordon, 18, daughter of the Rev. Gregory and Wanda Gordon of Thomasville is also a 2000 graduate of Thomasville High School. She is now a freshman at UNCG studying intercultural studies. A vocalist, Gordon sang "Don’t Cry for Me Argentina." Her scholarship award was for $300. An award for selling the most pageant tickets went to Stephanie Webb, 18, daughter of Stephen and Gaye Webb of Thomasville. The pageant’s grand opening included a presentation of the U.S. and state flags by the Thomasville Police Honor Guard, along with Thomasville Police officers, Thomasville firefighters and Mayor Hubert Leonard. Following the singing of "The National Anthem" by outgoing Miss Thomasville 2001 Wendy Fisher, the Miss Thomasville Dancers, joined by the contestants, presented a star-spangled routine to the tune "Coming to America." Each of the contestants, making her first appearance on stage, was dressed in red and waving an American flag. The dancers from the Kristin Carroll Dance Co. in Denton all wore blue, and the retiring queen was dressed in white. Miniature chasing white lights outlined the edge of the stage to provide star-power, and lucite columns filled with red and blue balloons offered an additional patriotic touch. The honor guard and men in uniform joined the pageant participants on stage as the number concluded. Throughout the evening, various visiting queens were introduced, including Miss Thomasville 2000 Dana Downing, who is now the reigning Miss Forsyth County and Jessica Hunt, Miss Thomasville Carolina Princess. Paula Patterson Meredith who was Miss Thomasville 1990 served as Master of Ceremony. Other former winners of the crown were also participants in the pageant, which was directed by Jonathan Trivette. ©The Thomasville Times 2001 Photo's (click to enlarge)
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