Winner takes long road to Miss Rapids Area crown

On Oct. 30, 2004, Shinae Kulhanek stood next to Hannah Mikels on the stage of the Performing Arts Center, waiting for the announcement of the new Miss Wisconsin Rapids Area. Her name was called first, making her first runner-up to Hannah Mikels. On Saturday, she stood in the same spot, this time next to Nicole Graf. And this time, her name was the one called last. Kulhanek, 19, was crowned the winner by the Amber Twait, Miss Wisconsin Rapids Area 2006.

"I was shocked," she said.

"My goal was to come back and compete for the scholarship money," Kulhanek said. With a $2,000 scholarship to accompany the title, she met her goal. It wasn't the easiest road to travel.

Kulhanek is a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Because of school, she missed a few of the weekly workshops for the contestants. Then she drove from Madison on Wednesdays, and returned to campus the same night to participate in the rest. The week before the pageant, she made round trips Monday through Wednesday so she could be at the nightly rehearsals.

This year, four participants were college students, an all-time high for the local scholarship program.

Being older was a plus, Kulhanek said.

"And it helped that I had been in the pageant before," she said. "I was more comfortable."
Laura Williams and Graf, both college students, were finalists in previous pageants and also Saturday. Williams was third runner-up in 2004, and second runner-up this year; Graf was fifth runner-up last year and first runner-up this year