Erica Flatt, Charger Staff
CHS senior Kristi Sweat was honored on the night of Aug. 20 by being crowned Putnam County's newest Fairest of the Fair.
Sweat says, "I think I've practiced 'Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and welcome...' since I was born!"
For Sweat, preparation for the big night was easy, and the night itself was as she says, "a piece of cake." She found the hardest part to be the personal interview the day before the pageant.
As a child, Sweat competed in the fair pageants and in Sunburst U.S.A. pageants.
As Fairest of the Fair, Sweat will work with the Cookeville Jaycees and the Fair Board. Upcoming events for her include the Toys for Tots program which collects gifts for underprivileged children and the Fair Board Convention in Nashville.
As Fairest of the Fair, Kristi rode in the recent Cookeville Christmas Parade sporting her sash and crown
As for now, she is preparing for the state competition. The Tennessee Fairest of the Fair competition will be Jan. 24-27 at the Sheraton Hotel in Nashville.
Sweat has been enjoying her senior year: "It's almost time for those big decisions, but I have awesome teachers and awesome friends."
Not only is Sweat Fairest of the Fair, but she is also a champion wrestler for the CHS Wrestling Team. With the season in full swing she says, "I'm really looking forward to being a senior leader with Evan Talley." she posted a great season last year and won the AAU Women's Nationals, made the first Women's All-American Team, and is currently ranked fourth in the nation in her weight class.
Sweat is also a member of JROTC. She holds the rank of Cadet Captain and is commander of the Alpha Wolfpack, the first block JROTC class. She is on the pentathlon team which were Region Champions last year.
She is still active in cheerleading and makes this her last year after five to coach an 11-12 year old squad.
She serves as the Pep Club President and is active in numerous other clubs at CHS.
Kristi has been named to Who's Who Among American High School Students and was a Girl's State delegate last year.
The new Fairest of the Fair spent her summer working on work crews at Young Life Camps. She called Georgia "home" for a month while she worked at Sharp Top Cove. She also worked with work crews at Windy Gap in North Carolina.
As for the rest of her senior year, she is excited about the wrestling season and looks forward to spending time with her boyfriend, Miller, who lives in North Carolina.
Sweat plans to attend college on an ROTC scholarship, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Spanish. Plans for her future also include becoming a Young Life leader and either a high school counselor or a Spanish teacher.
As a CHS senior, wrestler, JROTC company commander, camp counselor, cheerleader and coach, Kristi Sweat lives her day to day life.
As Fairest of the Fair, she's living a dream.
Congratulations to Fairest of the Fair, Kristi Sweat.
Article prepared for web by Jared Wilhite
Home page | Archives | More December 2001 Articles