2008 Queen & Court Bios

Mikaela Meacham of Canton, Ohio was selected as the 2008 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Queen from a field of 49 contestants on May 8^th at Canton Palace Theatre in downtown Canton.   Contestants were judged on the basis of personality, poise, beauty, communication skills, academic achievement and service to community. 

Six Court members also were selected, including Sabrina Heather, 18, of Massillon; Jessica Jedel, 22, of Canton; Sarah Milligan, 18, of Canton; Carly Morgan, 19, of Canal Fulton; Ashanti Murdock, 18, of Massillon; Emily Woolf, 18, of Louisville.

Meacham, the daughter of Ruth Mathews and the late Edward Mathews, is a graduate of McKinley Senior High School and will soon graduate from The Ohio State University.  Heather, the daughter of John Heather and Denise Bryan, is a senior at Central Catholic High School and will attend Ohio University this fall. Jedel, the daughter of Dennis and Heidi Jedel, is a graduate of Jackson High School and Kent State University. Milligan, the daughter of Richard and Laura Milligan, is a senior at Canton McKinley High School and will attend Case Western Reserve University this fall.  Morgan, the daughter of Phil and Diane Morgan, is a graduate of Northwest High School and attends The Ohio State University.  Murdock, the daughter of Jay and Tiwatha Murdock, is a senior at Jackson High School and will attend Ohio University this fall.  Woolf, the daughter of Stephen Woolf and Christine Woolf, is a senior at Louisville High School and will attend Malone College this fall.

Kayleigh Kriss, midday personality and FM music director of WHBC Mix 94.1, and Betty Smith, executive director, Multi Development Services of Stark County, were mistresses of ceremonies.  Tonya Stuck, Enshrinement Festival event manager, shared choreographer duties with Jeanna Flex Doherty.  Ken Huot, 2008 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival general chairman, crowned the new queen and six Court members, and Bob Hill Quartet provided music throughout the Pageant.

Judges for the event included Maureen Ater, director of marketing, The Repository; Barbara H. Bennett, partner, Hammontree & Associates; Aron Kitzmiller, marketing director, Westfield Belden Village; and Monique Moore, fiscal officer, Stark County Board of Elections.

Jacqueline Thomas, chairman, and the members of the Queen Committee will work with Enshrinement Festival staff in coordinating all activities relating to the Queen and Court during their service as goodwill ambassadors and positive role models throughout the summer.  The Court will serve as escorts to Enshrinees Fred Dean, Darrell Green, Art Monk, Emmitt Thomas, Andre Tippett and Gary Zimmerman at the Enshrinees Dinner.  Further, the Queen and Court will represent the community at all

Enshrinement Festival activities beginning with the Balloon Classic Invitational/Jackson-Belden Food Fest & Fireworks on July 25, through the Drum Corps International Competition on August 4.