On July 4 the following girls will represent the area veteran organization in the Faith Fourth of July Parade in downtown Faith. The winner will be crowned after the parade in the Faith American Legion Park.

McKenzie Paige Eller, daughter of David and Traci Eller, is representing Peeler-Livengood-Wood Post 448. She is an East Rowan High School graduate and will attend University of North Carolina at Wilmington in the fall. Throughout high school, she’s been involved in basketball, volleyball and softball and was a member of the National Honor Society. In 2014 she attended Girl’s State at Catawba College and she is a volunteer with the Rowan County Humane Society, Faithful Friends Animal Sanctuary and 88 Live to Ride Auction to raise money for injured ATV and motocross riders.

Destiny Leanne Whitman, daughter of Terry and Rebecca Whitman, is representing the Landis American Legion Post 146. She is a South Rowan High School and North Carolina Scholar graduate and will be attending Catawba College in the fall. Throughout high school, she was involved in Student Council, NHS, the Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, JROTC Battalion and Drill team and choir. She is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, has done work at the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center and attended the 2014 Tar Heel Girl’s State.

Heavenly Alexis Robinson, daughter of Darryl and Kinya Tillman and Steve Robb, is representing the J.C. Price American Legion Post 107. She will be a junior at Salisbury High School in the fall. She has been involved in track, volleyball, basketball and Salisbury Speeder Track and wants to go to school for sport medicine. This summer she is participating in Upward Bound and plans to volunteer at the VA Medical Center and the Homeless Shelter. She enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family and traveling.

Elane Kepley, daughter of Richard and Leslie Kepley, is representing the Vanhoy-Sells VFW Post 9134 in Rockwell. She is an East Rowan High School graduate and will attend Appalachian State University in the fall. Throughout high school she has been involved in softball, volleyball, basketball, NHS, SCA, yearbook and carried a 4.5 GPA. She has volunteered as a Sunday school teacher at Grace Lower Stone Church, has been a member of the Christian Education Committee and a leader for Vacation Bible School.

Angelena Patricia Lombardi, daughter of Corinne Lombardi, is representing the Freeze-Seymour American Legion Post 185. She is a rising senior at South Rowan High School and would like to one day attend college and major in computers. Throughout high school she has been involved in JROTC, Drill team and Honor Guard. In her free time she enjoys drawing, helping others, going out and meeting new people and being around animals.

Emmaline Sellers, daughter of Brian and Angela Redmon, is representing the American Veterans Post 565. She is a South Rowan High School graduate and will be attending Western Carolina University in the fall. Throughout high school she was involved in softball, cheerleading, dance, NHS, SCA, Future Health Professionals (HOSA) and Patriots Club. She plans on majoring in physical therapy at Western Carolina.

Aunika Skye Allen, daughter of Brandy Allen, is representing the General Allen Hal Turnage Marine Corps League Detachment 1091. She is a rising senior at Rowan County Early College. Throughout her time at Rowan Early College, she was in NHS, Girl Scouts and Junior Civitan with a GPA of 4.2. She plans on double majoring in accounting and business finance. She has volunteered with the Marine Corps League, Toys for Tots, the VA Medical Center and Special Olympics. She was voted Miss Rowan County Teen USA 2016, Miss Rowan County Toys for Tots and for five years has been Best Queen of the Cleveland Christmas parade and Rowan County Marine Corps League Queen.

Bethany Renee Connor, daughter of Randy and Lisa Connor, is representing the Faith American Legion Post 327. She is a rising junior at East Rowan High School, is an A,B student and has been active in the school’s volleyball team and club. She enjoys spending her free time working with children and spending time with her family and friends.

Lara Anne Drew, daughter of Mitch and Sally Drew, is representing the AMVETS Post 845 in Rockwell. She is a graduate of East Rowan High School and is attending Western Carolina University in the fall to major in recreational therapy. Throughout high school she participated in softball, track, cross country and basketball. She was also in SCA, Sigma Phi Gamma, Junior Civitan, Leadership Team, Young Life, and was treasurer of NHS. She is a junior member of the Faith American Legion Auxiliary.

 Lauren Ann Thomas, daughter of Curt and Jana Thomas, is representing the Harold B. Jarret Post 324. She recently completed her freshman year at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Throughout high school she maintained a 4.85 GPA, tutored students struggling academically, participated in chorus, NHS, tennis and basketball. While at UNCC, she maintained a 4.0 GPA, participated in club tennis and intramural basketball, was active in the Honors College program and was nominated for Phi Kappa Phi. She aims to get her associate’s degree in psychology and her bachelor’s of science in exercise science. She sings the National Anthem at the American Legion games, plays the piano and organ, and enjoys working with mentally handicapped children and hopes to start her own occupational therapy practice one day.