The Miss Rowan County Veteran Pageant will be Friday following the parade in Faith. Contestants are:

- Nayeli Gutierrez, 16, daughter of Anastacio and Maria Gutierrez of Hallmark Estates Drive, attends Jesse C. Carson High School and Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

She is sponsored by AMVETS Post 565. She is in a youth group and plans to attend college.

- Paige Huss, 19, daughter of Gary and Beth Huss of Rockwell, attends Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Dayspring Community Church.

Sponsored by AMVETS Post 845 of Rockwell, she plans to get a degree and become a high school English teacher. She is in her church youth group and enjoys hanging out with friends and family.

- Aliyah Khan, 16, is sponsored by Landis American Legion Post 146. Her guardians are Al and Barbara Welter of China Grove. She attends Jesse C. Carson High School and Homestead Baptist Church.

She plays varsity basketball and is in the National Honor Society and the Rowan County Sheriff's Department Explorer Post. She plans to attend college and then law school.

- Symone Deon Knox, 16, is sponsored by J.C. Price American Legion Post 107. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Phillip Knox of Hillcrest Place, she attends Salisbury High School where she runs track, plays basketball, is a cheerleader, student government association class treasurer and is a member of the Black History Club. She was presented at the 58th Debutante Presentation Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Ball.

She attends Mount Tabor Presbyterian Church.

- Ashley Loflin, 21, is the daughter of Eddie and Connie Loflin of Julian Road. She is sponsored by VFW Post 3006. She attends Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and has earned her certified nursing assistant license. She plans to become a registered nurse.

She attends Emmanuel Baptist Church.

- Laura Elaine Ritchie, 19, is the daughter of Cameron and Laurie Ritchie of Spring Rock Drive. She is sponsored by Livengood-Peeler-Wood Post 448 in Granite Quarry.

She attends Catawba College and plays in the Catawba Wind Ensemble. She is a member of Christiana Lutheran Church, HFB Women's Society, SNCAE and the church youth group.

She plans to teach middle school language arts and social studies. She is a Teaching Scholar and on the presidential honor roll.

- Emilee Smith, 17, daughter of Robert and Julie Smith of Salisbury, is sponsored by Harold B. Jarrett American Legion Post 342. A student at East Rowan High School, she played varsity tennis, attended U.S. Tennis Association Tournaments, is a member of Junior Civitan, National Honor Society and CYC.

She plans to attend Catawba College. She has attended Girls State and will compete in the National Teen Talent competition in Texas in August with stained glass.

She was Miss Junior Civitan for 2007.

- Amber Waldroup, 16, is the daughter of Jimmy Waldroup and Sonya Poole of Kannapolis. She is sponsored by Freeze-Seymour American Legion Post 185. A student at South Rowan High School, she plays softball, volleyball and basketball.

She plans to attend college and study sports medicine.

- Jordan Nicole Waller, 19, daughter of Melissa and David Waller of Salisbury, attends Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and St. Paul's Lutheran Church. She is sponsored by Faith American Legion Post 327.

She plans to transfer to Pfeiffer University to study special education, with a goal of teaching in elementary or middle school.

- Lauren Ashley Williams, 16, daughter of Timothy and Karen Williams of Holly Springs, is sponsored by Kennedy-Hall American Legion Post 106.

A student at Holly Springs High School, she is also a member of St. Luke's Lutheran Church. She is in the Young Life Group, is a cheerleader and plays soccer. She plans to go to college.

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