Vickie Stark is Ms. Senior Monroe County 2024
MONROE — Vickie Stark’s “joyful personality” earned her the title of Ms. Senior Monroe County 2024.
Stark and eight other local women completed at the sixth annual Ms. Senior Monroe County Celebration, held recently at Monroe County Community College’s Meyer Theater.
The program is hosted by the Monroe Aging Consortium and honors women age 60 and older who are nominated by the county's skilled nursing facilities, assisted-living facilities and senior centers. Stark represented Fountain View.
“We had nine contestants walk the stage. They had an unlimited amount of time with the microphone to give their philosophy of life,” said event director Amy Jo Longton, a registered nurse and account executive for Elara Caring Skilled Home Health.
The winner is selected for her philosophy of life speech and her stage presence.
“Vickie made the judges and audience laugh a lot with her bubbly personality and funny stories about life. She was instantly charismatic when she took the microphone,” Longton said. “She came across as happy, kind, fun-loving, wise and calm. Vickie has never earned a title like this before and was shocked to win."
The other contestants were: Patsy Kelly, Ms. Seacrest of Monroe; Cheryl Lambdin, Ms. Medilodge of Monroe; RoseMary Schroeder, Ms. Bedford Senior Community Center; Linda Campbell, Ms. Hickory Ridge; Janette Stark, Ms. Marian Place; Lyllus Mchargue, Ms. Wellspring Lutheran Services; Bernadine Iott, Ms. Brookdale Monroe; and Barbara Lou Boudrie, Ms. Frenchtown Center for Active Adults.
"The audience was packed," Longton said. "The women were just amazing and so happy to be there. It was a beautiful night dedicated to honoring each of them and learning their stories. They were each escorted across the stage by veterans, who were also honored and thanked for their service in a ceremony before the show started."
The winner was chosen by a panel of five judges: Robert Clark, mayor of Monroe; Reese Johnson, Miss Monroe County 2023; Monroe County Probate Judge Cheryl Lohmeyer; state Rep. William Bruck; and Dale Biniecki, candidate for 31st District in the Michigan House of Representatives. Monroe County Commissioner Henry Lievens was the host.
Longton came up with the Ms. Senior Monroe County Celebration idea in 2017; the first event was held a year later. Ruth Hunter was the 2023 winner.
“I don't know of any other counties that do this," Longton said. "We’ve had over 30 women compete through the past six years (taking a break for COVID, of course). The Monroe Aging Consortium is an organization of senior care professionals that focuses on getting helpful resources and information out to our seniors to help them thrive while living in Monroe."
Others helping Longton with the celebration were: Mary Ann Wertenberger, registered nurse at Right at Home; Hayley Redfearn, life enrichment coordinator at Marian Place; Joshua Delisle, housing manager at Marian Place; Tammy Suzor, outreach services technician for the Monroe County Library System; Gena Craft, admissions director for the IHM Senior Living Community; and Michelle Honeycutt, wellness director for Carleton Gardens.
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Event sponsors were: Elara Caring Home Care and Hospice, Monroe Home Care Shoppe, Merkle Funeral Service/Floral Expressions, Trinity Health-Marian Place, Integrity Insurance Solutions, IHM Senior Living Community, Medilodge of Monroe, Visiting Angels and Seacrest of Monroe.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Vickie Stark is Ms. Senior Monroe County 2024
