In the fall of 2006, Courtney transferred to Defiance Senior High School as a junior. This change exceeded both her and her parent's expectations. Not only did she participate actively in both the concert and show choirs, but she placed in the top 6 of the show choir and performed numerous solos at the various choir concerts throughout the year. She was also eager to become more involved in performance, and she was able to play the role of Dream Ballet Laurey in "Oklahoma" her junior year, and as a senior, she achieved the lead role of Millie Dillmount in "Thoroughly Modern Millie". To top off a wonderful high school experience, she was honored enough to be selected as prom queen her senior year. This, along with her involvement in student council, Volunteens, and an honors student, made for a very satisfying high school career.
Courtney was an active dancer at the Defiance Dance Studio, studying ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, and lift under the instruction of Mary Schroeder. This training, along with her success as a musician in high school, sparked a passion inside of her to pursue a career in education. She is currently studying music education at Anderson University in Indiana, where she will be certified to teach band, choir, and orchestra to students ages K - 12. Her studies at Anderson include classical voice and piano training, as well as intensive studies in the areas of Music Theory and Music History. Courtney has been expanding her performing experience by participating in both the operas and the musicals at AU. She was selected as an understudy for a principle role in the opera "Tartuffe", and she also recently appeared on the AU stage as the dance captain and the Snake in "Children of Eden".
Courtney has been actively competing in the Miss America Scholarship program for 3 years to date. Her first local title was Miss Buckeye State 2009 and the following year she was Miss Fallen Timbers 2010. Her current title is Miss Northwestern Ohio 2011. With this title, Courtney competed on the Miss Ohio stage and scored as a Top 10 Finalist. She is excited to see what next year has in store for her.
Courtney is very excited to see where her passion for music and education leads her. Her life has been full of many successes, and she always credits her achievements back to her supportive circle of family and friends, as well as to God.
