At the end of Wednesday's annual were nine local teens anxiously anticipating the crowning of Miss Wantagh, a proud community tradition held since 1956.
Soon-to-be senior Hailey Orgass was awarded the ultimate honor during the ceremony held on the steps of . The pageant this past Friday in the Wantagh High School Auditorium.
Orgass' pageant biography spoke about her work with the G.O. Club at Wantagh High School and how it sparked her love for volunteer work in the ninth grade. A member of National Honors Society, Foreign Language Honors Society and Tri-M Music Honors Society, Orgass aspires to study medicine in college and eventually become a pediatrician.
The 17-year old said her title is a true honor and privilege, and she can't wait to start serving the community she loves to call home. As a lifelong singer and dancer, Orgass' first plan as Miss Wantagh is to execute a community dance class for younger students in the area.
"This really feels amazing," Orgass said after she was crowned. "So much hard work was put into this pageant. All these girls are great and we all did our best."
Pageant Coordinator Ella Stevens has worked with the Miss Wantagh event for six years. Stevens said the pageant really embodies the morals that the community of Wantagh has been built around, while stressing that inner beauty is what shines the most.
"Our pageant is about these girls and their inner beauty, what they feel and what makes up their own lives," Stevens said. "It really shows everyone what we have in our own community, the talents of these young ladies and their desire to make Wantagh better."
Stevens also emphasized how important community service is weighed in the pageant.
"Community service is what it's really all about," she said. "That's what the tradition of Wantagh has always been; giving back to the community."
