Schaumburg - Live, Work, Play - November/December 2008 - (Page 13) A Schaumburg High School senior, Allyson Lopshire of Schaumburg is the reigning “Miss Septemberfest,” next to be seen at the Christkindlmarkt European market Nov. 29-30. Her one-year reign began the Friday before Labor Day. If her college schedule next fall permits, Lopshire will end her term next year exactly where it started, when she is asked to crown the new winner. From the minute she received her tiara and sash – not to mention the scholarships, savings bonds and gifts – Lopshire came face-to-face with one of her duties: granting interviews. The teen found herself interviewed for Schaumburg’s cable access channel, as well as the print media on hand for the afternoon ceremony. Schaumburg Magazine sat down with the busy teen after her Septemberfest duties ended, including riding in the parade, and visiting with families at the festival. Miss Septemberfest A busy year awaits 2008 Lopshire is crowned Miss Septemberfest by last year’s winner, Amy Rapp. Q. Do you remember seeing Miss Septemberfest in the parades growing up? What’s it like to finally be her? A. We moved to Schaumburg at the end of third grade, and I remember when I first saw Miss Septemberfest. I thought it was so cool. And when they made it a scholarship pageant, that made it even more appealing. Q. What have your duties included so far? A. Well, we were at Septemberfest from morning till night all three days, helping with all sorts of things and just meeting a lot of people. It was really, really fun. Q. What prompted you to enter the pageant in the first place? A. Well, the scholarships were important, but I wanted to be more involved in my community. You never know how extensive and wonderful your community is until you get involved. Q. What have you been involved in so far? A. I’m one of the head managers of the Schaumburg (High School) varsity football team, but I’m also an officer with the National Honor Society, and I do a lot of volunteer work through that as well as through our Senior Class Club. I’ve been involved in theater at school, both on stage and as a student director, and I’ve been very involved with my church, Spring Valley Presbyterian Church. Q. What are some of your future plans? A. I’m in the application process right now. My first choice is to attend the University of Notre Dame, but I’m also applying to U. of I., and I’d like to major in pre-med. Q. Do you envision yourself working as a football manager for the Fighting Irish? A. Well, we’ve already talked to the equipment department about that at Notre Dame, so it’s a possibility. Q. What about your aspirations during your reign? A. I’m just hoping to make a positive impact in the community, and maybe be a positive message for some little girl who’s watching along the parade route. You never know when you can make a difference. Rotary Club (the four court members got $250 apiece); a $1,000 scholarship from the Sons of Italy (another $1,125 was divided up among the court); a savings bond from the village, flowers and other gift certificates. Estimates vary, but most locals agree that the pageant dates back more than 20 years, making it younger than the 38-year festival. A former Miss Septemberfest titleholder, Cara Bromund Mohr of Schaumburg, who won the title in 1993, now is chairwoman of the event for the Septemberfest committee, overseeing the pageant and its selection process. Her co-chairperson, Mallory Sholpp of Schaumburg, won the title in 2001. Back when Mohr won her crown, the Rotary Club sponsored the event, but the scholarships were not yet a component. “We were trying to fight the stigma of being a stereotypical beauty pageant, and consequently we were not getting the kind of numbers (of contestants),” Mohr says. “This is our fourth year offering the scholarships, and we’ve seen a definite rise in the number of applicants. “Even more exciting is the number of repeat candidates,” Mohr adds. “We consider that a real compliment, that these girls want to return to give back to their community.” Mohr likens the role to something of a goodwill ambassador for the village. During the festival, Miss Septemberfest introduces all of the live entertainment, on both the main stage and the Daily Herald family stage. Throughout the coming year, she will volunteer at Schaumburg’s Christkindlesmarkt, at the village’s tree lighting ceremony, and at the Prairie Arts Festival in May, for starters. “Looking back, I have to say it opened a lot of doors for me,” Mohr says. “It gave me self-confidence and the ability to speak in front of large groups of people. It also allowed me to meet so many people throughout the community, and to network. “Bottom line,” she says, “I still put ‘Miss Septemberfest’ on my resume.” • november/december 2008 Page 13
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