Name Dropping | Davis: 'It made me more grateful for the people around me' (2025)

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Paili Davis had to grow up sooner than most young people.

Having lost her mother, Angela, to breast cancer when Paili was 11, she had to learn confidence and responsibility early.

“It definitely was tragic to have to experience that at a young age,” Davis said. “It gave me a different perspective on my life.

“It made me more grateful for the people around me and the help from the community. I saw how many people helped her when she got sick,” the 20-year-old Bismarck resident said.

Davis on Monday was crowned Georgetown Fair queen out of a field of 10 contestants.

A senior this fall at the University of Illinois, where she is studying agriculture education, Davis hopes to one day be a high school ag teacher.

Davis is concerned about the future of agriculture, and that topic was posed to her during the pageant.

“I basically said farmers needed more,” she said. “Smaller family farms are struggling.

“You want to keep up with technology, but you can’t because ... it’s so expensive. It’s eating them alive.”

Davis said she would like to “work with someone to fix legislation — lobbyists to get more funding.”

Only 2 percent of the world’s population today farms, she said.

Davis has a “partial farm background.”

Her family had a grain operation and raised livestock south of Catlin until Paili’s mother, who had served as farm manager, became ill.

“We had some people who worked for us,” Davis said.

Following her mother’s death, Davis and her father, Jeff, moved from the farm to Bismarck.

Her father “worked with the U of I Extension Office developing different seeds, so he wasn’t super involved” on the farm, Paili said.

Georgetown Fair pageant director Karen Thornsborough called Davis “a very dedicated young lady.”

“She works very hard. She was always early to all the practices. She interviews very well. She knows her things. She just gives them honest answers and does very well.”

Davis enjoys pageants and likes to watch them on TV when possible. She was first runner-up in the Georgetown Fair pageant in 2022, was second runner-up in the Miss Illinois Collegiate pageant last year and a former Junior Miss Vermilion County.

Pageants, she said, helped her to cope with the loss of her mother.

Davis is not afraid to get involved and enjoys volunteering for worthy causes.

She has been involved with the Bismarck Blessing program. In her senior year of high school, her ag class built bed frames for the needy. Bismarck Blessing also donates time, meals, shoes and other necessities.

She also donates time to Illinois Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) to aid families of law enforcement personnel who have died in the line of duty.

“We go in and plan the family member’s funeral, help with meals for the family the whole week, make sure if the person has any children that they’re taken care of for schooling, college.

“We take them to children’s and young adult camp that has other children who have also lost loved ones.”

Illinois COPS holds an annual bike ride starting in Alton in which participants dip their back tire in the Mississippi River, then cycle the length of the state and dip their front tire in Lake Michigan. The event is a memorial and a fundraiser. This year’s ride, which began Thursday, ended Sunday.

Paili’s aunt is COPS president.

In her spare time, Davis likes to try new things and has “lots of hobbies.”

She competed in dance events from a young age and now is a coach.

“It’s neat to see the full-circle moment of being able to see the changes the kids have developing their self-confidence, their people skills, be involved in interviews, learn eye-contact skills,” Davis said.

She also enjoys gardening (she has four tomato plants and cucumber and pepper plants), watching Illini sports, spending time with friends, swimming, kayaking, and “I love to bake”).

Davis has a 5-year-old cat named Beam, and while a student at Bismarck-Henning served as a News-Gazette High School Confidential correspondent.

Thornsborough said this year’s pageant was “wonderful.”

“The girls were so ready to learn things,” Thornsborough said. “They improved so much from the beginning to the end. It was a very fun bunch of girls.

“I think Paili will do very well at the state pageant. She’s going to do good things in her life.”

The Georgetown pageant runners-up, first through third, were Lilly Meeker, Kamryn Wright and Haley Carlton.

Quilts of Valor presented

Kay Miller and Marlena Wise recently traveled to the Danville area to present three Quilts of Valor.

The quilts are awarded to a service member or veteran who has been touched by war. The quilt says, “Thank you for your service and sacrifice in serving our nation.”

Among the recipients was Joseph Stempine, a 102-year-old World War II veteran who resides at Gold Water Care Facility.

“He never said a word but was all smiles and kept saluting us,” Miller said. “I learned he was drafted and passed his physical to serve even though he was blind in one eye from birth.”

Stempine served as a carpenter at Illinois’ Fort Sheridan, building and repairing equipment.

The duo then presented a quilt to Lee Cunningham, who received a Purple Heart during his service in Vietnam.

He served from 1965-1991, attaining a rank of E-7. He was also stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., Thailand and Germany.

Miller and Wise also presented a quilt to Zach Haley, who served in the Marines from 2009-2013.

His duty stations were Camp Pendleton, Okinawa and Afghanistan. He served in Operating Enduring Freedom. He has a comfort dog companion to help him with the aftermath of serving in a war zone.

Redman and Bash headed to State

Jorja Peach Redman, a Piatt County 4-Her, and her dog Bash have qualified for the Illinois state 4-H Dog Show set for Aug. 24 in Dixon.

The pair recently showcased their skills at the Champaign County 4-H Dog Show, finishing second in obedience and third in rally, earning them the opportunity to compete at the state level for the second consecutive year.

Since 4-H is based on positive youth development, the dog-training project requires the youth to train and show the dog.

Piatt, DeWitt and Macon counties’ 4-H is working to grow its dog obedience and rally program.

People who would like to volunteer to support the program should contact Anne Reinbold at 217-762-2191 or email anner3@illinois.edu.

Miss Rantoul crowned

Talia Vargas was named the new Miss Rantoul in competition on June 20. Named Young Miss Rantoul was Veronica Mendoza, while Jana McNeal was crowned Little Miss Rantoul.

They are looking forward to their reign and can’t wait to become active in the community and help however they can. For appearances or volunteer opportunities, contact missrantoul@gmail.com.

They really got into it

It’s a dirty game, but someone’s gotta do it. The Makjak team got down and dirty to win the Tuscola mud volleyball tournament during the city’s Sparks in the Park Fourth of July celebration. Team members included Maclayne Taylor, Austin Norem, Kenly Taylor, Jesse Schlueter, Alvia Norem, Kaden Jacobs and Jake Schlueter.

Lakeview nursing scholarships announced

Lakeview College of Nursing has announced numerous scholarship awards for the summer 2024 semester.

Area recipients:

Xitlally Bonnie, Kiah Jensen, Ginaveve Jessup, Tayelor Lowe, Bailey McMasters, Cheyenne Walls, Danville; Whisper Brown, Bismarck; Julia Bushnell, Sheldon; Sengsavang Carr, Tyranny Davis, Shoshana Zimmerman, Champaign; Madalyn Goble, Rossville; Lydia Gondzur, Hadley Jones, Tinlee Shepherd, Faith Van Camp, Westville; Jessica Hines, Milford; Isabella Leevey, Mahomet.

Also, Cassandra Sanders, Oakland; Ashley Shields, DeLand; Ta’Sandra Smith, Urbana; Ryleigh Wardall, Hoopeston; Natalie Zizumbo, Onarga.

Honor roll

On Mondays, we tip our hats to academic award-winners from our area. Submit information at dhinton@news-gazette.com.

PRESIDENTS LIST

Washburn University (Topeka, Kan.) — Ashley Faulkner, Danville

CHANCELLORS LIST

University of Wisconsin-Platteville (Platteville, Wis.) — Keith Gardnery, Isabella Taylor, Champaign

DEANS LIST

Rhodes College (Memphis, Tenn.) — Isaac Dickens, Sullivan

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh — Camden Harms, Mahomet

Mount Mercy University (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) — Taylor Wells, Ogden

St. Olaf College (Northfield, Minn.) — Elliott Gengler, Champaign; Serenity Lilly, Urbana

Fort Hays State University (Hays, Kan.) — Kade Brickey, Urbana

Des Moines Area Community College (Des Moines, Iowa) — Justin Blake, St. Joseph

Hughes joins Urbana Uni High

Uni High has named Bridget Hughes its new assistant director of student life.

Hughes started in the role July 1.

The three-time University of Illinois graduate will take on a multi-faceted role that includes working directly with students as well as administrative tasks.

Hughes said she is looking forward to helping to ensure the school runs well so the students’ learning and development are prioritized.

Hughes comes to Uni after holding teaching and administrative positions in both Champaign and Urbana schools. She most recently worked at Urbana’s Thomas Paine Elementary School as a library media specialist.

Champaign native serves as Navy recruiter

Recruiting is a vital part of finding men and women to help shape the future of the U.S. military. Champaign native Anna Jefferson is playing a role in that regard.

A 2018 graduate of Champaign Central High School, Jefferson earned a degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Georgia in 2022. She started working with the Navy one year ago.

“This job gives me the opportunity to give back and support the military,” Jefferson said.

“Growing up in Champaign, I learned the importance of involvement. There are so many community groups in Champaign, and it’s taught me how important it is to be involved and support your community.”

Jefferson credited her family who “have always pushed me, whether it was in school, extracurricular activities or my job.”

She said being a Navy contractor allows her to indirectly support the Navy “and the men and women who serve.”

Jefferson is affiliated with Navy Talent Acquisition Group Great Lakes, which covers northern Illinois, northwest Indiana, Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan.

Rotary listens to stroke coordinator

Danville Noon Rotary welcomed Leslie Ingold, OSF Health Care stroke coordinator, at its meeting this week.

Ingold discussed the risk factors, signs, symptoms and treatments for a stroke.

Danville Noon Rotary’s next meet will be today at WorkSource Enterprises, 3717 N. Vermilion St., Danville.

Guest speaker will be Illinois State Police MSgt. Jennifer Smit.

The meeting is open to everyone.