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Arts & Entertainment

Moorestown Teen Is the People's (Pageant) Choice

Jennie Kerbeck tap danced and volunteered her way into a special award at the Miss New Jersey Outstanding Teen Pageant on Saturday.

Moorestown teen Jennie Kerbeck was among 17 girls in the state to compete in Miss New Jersey's Outstanding Teen Pageant at Millville Senior High School on Saturday night. Kerbeck won the People's Choice award at the competition.

"She's full of life," said Joan Cooper, state director of Miss New Jersey's Outstanding Teen. "Very enthusiastic, full of energy, and a very nice young lady. I've seen her grow over the past couple years."

Kerbeck, 14, performed a theatrical tap dance for the talent portion of the competition. During the evening wear and interview portion, she discussed the charity she was representing, Jennie's Journey, The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.

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"I simply think that everybody deserves some joy and sunshine in their lives," she said.

Kerbeck plans to graduate high school with honors and move to New York City to get a degree in the performing arts. She hopes to dance on Broadway and open a dance studio.

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Seventeen girls from around the state competed at the event, which has been held at the school for seven years. The winner, Amanda Ross of Galloway, received an $800 savings bond from Miss New Jersey Education Foundation and a 10-day stay to compete at Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant. 

Rewards were also given for first through fourth runners up, as well as recognition awards interview, talent, lifestyle and fitness, evening wear, Miss Congeniality, Miss Photogenic and people's choice categories.

Representatives from the Miss New Jersey pageant were in attendance, as many former Miss New Jersey Outstanding Teen Pageant winners have gone on to compete or win the Miss New Jersey Pageant. Miss New Jersey Katharyn Nicolle helped announce and crown the winner.

Sally Johnston, co-executive director for the Miss New Jersey Education Foundation and the state travelling companion for Miss New Jersey for 25 years, said that these pageants build skills for teenagers and young women that they can use for the rest of their lives, whether they win or not.

"It becomes like a self improvement program," she said. "You have to be able to verbalize ideas, do community service ... We ask an awful lot of them. It's wonderful life training."

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