2008 QUEEN'S COURT
Queen Ashley Renee Sabourin
Ashley is the 19-year-old daughter of Michael and Krista Sabourin. She has brown hair, hazel eyes and enjoys baton twirling, fishing, hunting, scrapbooking and volunteering. Now attending Manatee Community College, Ashley is a 2007 Palmetto High School graduate. While at PHS, she received numerous honors including Miss Palmetto High School FFA 2007, the 2007 Golden Herald Vocational Award, Miss Palmetto 2006, the Star Agriscience Academy Award, Palmetto FFA Herdsman Award, and a National FFA Scholarship. She also participated in the Agricultural Hall of Fame Youth Mentor Program and was accepted into the National Society of High School Scholars. Ashley also participated in student government association, as well as varsity softball and volleyball. Among the titles she won are Drum Majorettes of America Empress 2007 and Drum Majorettes of America Most Beautiful 2008, Drum Majorettes of America National Miss Pom Girl 2006, Florida State Pom Girl 2006, Miss Majorette Shamrock Queen 2006 and Mini National Princess 2005. Among Ashley’s civic and church activities were Alley Cat Rescue, Hurricane Charley Relief, Palmetto First Baptist community outreach, Keep Manatee Beautiful, American Red Cross Family Services and Meals On Wheels Adopt A Family. After finishing at MCC, Ashley plans to continue her education at the University of Florida to pursue a bachelor’s degree in large animal veterinary medicine, a masters in equine medicine, and a doctorate in equine surgery.
Princess Whitney Michelle Whidden
Whitney is the 20-year-old daughter of Daniel and Michelli Whidden. She has brown hair, light brown eyes and enjoys showing horses nationwide, scrapbooking, reading and driving her Ford Mustang. Whitney is a 2006 Palmetto High School graduate. While at PHS, she maintained a 4.0 GPA, was a member of the National Honor Society and the National Society of High School Scholars, and was a member in student government. Whitney chaired the PHS Adopt-A-Family Christmas Donation Committee and was also active with Manatee County 4H. She was a member of the American and the Florida Quarter Horse Youth Associations and the Manatee County Cattlewomen’s Association. Whitney was also the recipient of multiple awards in equestrian competitions, among the Senior Horsemen of the Manatee County Fair 2004-5-6, a three-time Grand Champion and five-time reserve Grand Champion at the Manatee County Fair. Whitney was crowned Miss Tomato in 2004, Miss Palmetto High in 2005 and Miss Manatee County in 2007. An honors student at Manatee Community College, Whitney is in student government, founder of the Hide Away Haven Youth Equine Summer Camp and continues her memberships with the American and Florida Quarter Horse associations. She is a member of Palmetto First Baptist Church. After graduating from MCC, Whitney will attend the University of Florida, majoring in veterinary medicine with a specialty in equine science. She plans to eventually set up her own practice and raise a family in Manatee County.
Courtney Leigh Bierman
Courtney is the 19-year-old daughter of Larry and Tracy Bierman. She has blonde hair, hazel eyes and enjoys art, baking, boating and fitness. Now attending Manatee Community College, Courtney is a 2007 graduate of Southeast High School where she was in student government, serving as class vice president as a freshman, class president as a sophomore, and class representative as a junior. She also served on the class advisory board as a freshman, sophomore and junior, played soccer for the Seminoles and was 2007 prom queen. Courtney was also a student athlete tutor, and helped prepare pre-game meal desserts for the football team. She also volunteered with Meals On Wheels and participated in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. She was third runner-up Junior Miss Manatee County Fair Queen in 2005. Courtney is working towards her ultrasound technician certification at MCC, and plans to further her education in the field at the University of Central Florida. She is a member of New Vision Baptist Church.
Lindsay Mae Brooks
Lindsay is the 21-year-old daughter of Chip and Patty Brooks. She’s a brunette with green eyes who enjoys the beach, dancing, fishing and hunting, reading, watching sports and spending time with family and friends. Now attending Manatee Community College, Lindsay is a 2005 graduate of Bradenton Christian School and also attended Saint Stephen’s. While at Saint Stephen’s, she was on the Lady Talons varsity dance team for two years, a cheerleader for one, and played JV volleyball. At BCS she was a varsity cheerleader and yearbook editor. She also served on the Youth Leadership Team with the West Bradenton Baptist Church Youth Ministry. She has also been a student at the Tracey Vita School of Dance for 13 years. Among her church activities, Lindsay was a volunteer camp counselor at West Bradenton Baptist’s KidZ Camp, assistant Vacation Bible School director, and was active in the College and Career small group. She has also been a middle school and high school cheerleading assistant coach at Saint Stephen’s, and middle school dance assistant. After graduating from MCC with an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education, Lindsay plans to major in elementary education at the University of South Florida-Sarasota and hopes to teach in the Manatee County School District.
Stephanie Ann Covey
Stephanie is the 18-year-old daughter of Steve and Sherri Covey. She has brown hair, blue eyes and her hobbies are swimming, water skiing, photography and auto body work. Now attending the University of Florida where she is pursuing a degree in public relations, Stephanie is a 2007 Bayshore High School graduate. While at Bayshore she carried a 4.0 GPA, held several editor positions with the yearbook, helped organize the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter, ran the school’s radio broadcasts during football season, tutored math students at Manatee School of Arts and Sciences, and interned at Channel 7 and Washington Mutual Bank. Stephanie was also parliamentarian and treasurer on the class board and student government, and was a member of Quill and Scroll, the Literature Club, the swim team and cheerleading for one year. Among her church and civic activities, Stephanie volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, the Presbyterian Youth Council and was a church youth elder with Kirkwood Presbyterian Church. Currently, she volunteers with Rotaract at The University of Florida. After graduation, Stephanie hopes to work for Give Kids The World in public relations.
Jenna Nichole Eckersen
Jenna is the 19-year-old daughter of Zeke Eckersen and Teresa Sibley. She has blonde hair, green eyes, and enjoys horseback riding, camping, cooking, fishing and flying. Now attending Manatee Community College, she is a 2006 Lakewood Ranch High School graduate. While in high school, Jenna was an award-winning FFA member and officer at the local, state and national level, recipient of the 2006 Manatee County Cattlewomen’s achievement scholarship, and a Manatee County Fair steer exhibitor for seven years. She is also the 2007 Manatee County Cattlewomen’s Julia Parrish Scholarship and Manatee County Cattlewomen’s member. Jenna was also the 2006 Miss Manatee County Fair second runner-up, the Miss Tomato Festival Cook-off winner and Miss West Coast USA top 10 finalist. She was also a 2006 Golden Herald honorable mention in the vocational category. Among her civic and church activities, Jenna is Buffalo Creek Middle School’s FFA public speaking coach, a volunteer for S.M.A.R.T. (Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy), and is a bible school teacher and kitchen staff member at Pine Level United Methodist Church. Jenna plans to eventually attend the University of Florida to major in agricultural education and minor in agricultural communications.
Kelleigh Elisabeth Hall
Kari Marie Michaelsen
Kari is the 19-year-old daughter of Rob and Carol Michaelsen. She has brown hair, hazel eyes and enjoys beach going, bike riding, painting, traveling, taking long walks, movie watching with friends and giving to the needy. Now attending Manatee Community College, Kari is a 2007 Bradenton Christian School graduate. She also attended Manatee High. While at BCS, she was a varsity cheerleader, a student government class representative, a member of JV basketball and French Club, and Mam’Selles. At Manatee, she was in Renaissance, Art Club and Footlighters theater club. She was also a Golden Herald Nominee. Among her clubs and activities are Vacation Bible School at Trinity United Methodist Church, YoungLife, Wyldlife, Solve House, Sinclaire Dance Academy, Community Theater, and JoyFul Noise Christmas Tour, the Random Acts of Kindness Club and Keep Manatee Beautiful. She has also taught dance at Camp Z at Bradenton’s First Church of God and at Camp Paradise in Scottsdale, Ariz. After finishing Valencia Community College, Kari, a Chad Choate Scholarship recipient, plans to pursue a degree in Event Management at the University of Central Florida. Eventually she’d like to open her own bed & breakfast on Anna Maria Island.
Rebekah Michelle Shuman
Rebekah is the 18-year-old daughter of Michael and April Shuman. She has brown hair, blue eyes and enjoys cheerleading, dance, singing, four-wheeling, fishing or any water activity, and spending time with family and friends. Now attending Manatee Community College where she is on the dean’s list, Rebekah is a 2007 Palmetto High School graduate. While at PHS, she was a student government officer, a Student Advisory Council member, and was senior and junior class representative, sophomore class president and freshman class secretary. She was also the yearbook senior class editor, a four-year Tiger cheerleader, a UCA all-star, a 2006 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade participant, and a dean’s list honoree for four years. A member of Duette’s Dry Prairie Baptist Church, Rebekah’s civic and church activities include Palmetto Guest Home visits, Junior Leadership Manatee Alumni 2006, Hurricane Charley Cleanup, Keep Manatee Beautiful, and Florida Blood Services. After graduating from MCC as a radiology technologist, she plans to further her education at the University of Central Florida in the radiology field.
Kristina Kalle Whisenant
Kristina is the 19-year-old daughter of Robert and Lucila Whisenant. She has blonde hair, green eyes and enjoys the beach, camping, dancing, reading and tennis. Now attending the University of Florida, Kristina is a 2007 Palmetto High School graduate. While at PHS, she was a National Honor Society officer, served on Student Government, the Student Advisory Committee, and served as senior and junior class president, and was on the sophomore and freshman class cabinet. Kristina was also a varsity cheerleader, and a UCA all-star, performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, played varsity tennis, was senior and underclass yearbook editor, and was voted prom princess. She also won a Bright Futures Medallion Scholarship and was the Golden Herald Award recipient in art. At The University of Florida, Kristina is in Pi Beta Phi sorority, is on the sorority dance team, is a junior Panhellenic Council Board officer and is on the Nursing College Council. Kristina’s church and civic activities include Vacation Bible School at West Bradenton Baptist, Reinaunce girls service club, and the Bradenton Ballet Repertory. Her ambitions are to enter Florida’s nursing school, earn bachelors and masters degrees, then work in pediatrics and start a family in Manatee County.