Carroll County High School students Matthew Biggin and Hannah Weedman will represent the Panthers this weekend as ambassadors at the Swiss Wine Festival in Vevay, Indiana.
The annual program gives high school students from area communities an opportunity to represent their schools while gaining experience in interviewing, public speaking and interacting with people from neighboring communities. Twelve area high schools were invited to participate this year.
The competition will take place Saturday, Aug. 29, as part of the Swiss Wine Festival. Contestants will compete for $1,800 in cash prizes. The top male and female ambassadors will each receive $500, with second-place finishers receiving $250 and third-place finishers receiving $150.
The day begins with the Grand Festival Parade at 10 a.m. Hannah plans to show her school spirit while wearing her CCHS cheer uniform and Matthew will sport his CCHS basketball jersey. They are riding in a black and yellow jeep - which happen to be Panther colors - decorated in their school spirit theme.
Individual interviews with a panel of judges will be conducted after the parade. The final phase is on the main stage at Paul Ogle Riverfront Park, where each contestant will answer an on-stage question.
"I think the money is a big part of it," Matthew said with a laugh. He also sees the experience as something that could strengthen a future application or resume.
Hannah said she appreciates the opportunity to represent Carroll County outside the community. "I like the fact that we can represent our community to communities we don't spend a lot of time around," she said. "It's really important to show our school spirit and community pride."
Both students said the on-stage portion, which is centered around a series of quotes students have to share their thoughts about, may be more intimidating than the individual interview.
The festival's overall theme this year recognizes America's 250th anniversary, while the event continues its traditional Swiss wine theme.
Hannah has attended the festival before and even won a Swiss Wine Festival pageant one year. Matthew has never attended, making this year's experience his first.
Both students are active at CCHS. Hannah participates in cheerleading, National Honor Society and Sources of Strength while attending JCTC full time and working as a co-op at North American Stainless. Matthew participates in basketball, cheer and golf, attends JCTC full time and works for Carrollton Utilities.