Competing in events involving dancing is not new to Savannah Burkhart, but a pageant filled with girls of various talents is something she hadn’t experienced before. Yet, she still danced the night away and came home with the crown. 

Savannah Burkhart is the 2024 Wheeling Park High School Queen of Queens.

“It’s nice to win and a good accomplishment, but the best part was definitely getting to meet everyone and hang out with all of the girls when practicing,” said Burkhart. 

Burkhart performed a lyrical piece to the song “Unchained Melody” from the Broadway Musical, Ghost.

Her victory is even more impressive since she self-choreographed her piece. She developed the piece last year, so all she had to do was relearn the choreography to prepare to take the stage.

“It wasn’t about winning but it was being able to do a piece I created one last time,” Burkhart said. 

Before the night began, Burkhart felt confident and composed since she has been participating in dance contests her whole life, with 8-10 competitions per year. Because of her shy personality, the nerve-racking part wasn’t the dancing, but the speaking in front of all of the families, friends, peers, and judges in attendance.

All of the contestants drew out of a cup to determine the order, and Burkhart happened to draw the lead performance. She had a feeling she was going to end up going first, as she tends to always coincidentally go in competitions.

Initially, she was mad about her selection, but looking back on it she is happy that she didn’t have to sit back and wait. 

Going first might be her good luck charm, so fingers crossed that she picks first for the OVAC Queen of Queens Pageant this summer and continues her reign as Queen.

Other winners include Civita Hooper (First Runner-Up), Lucy Aderholt (Second Runner-Up), and Lily Osborne (Miss Congeniality).

The other competitors were Morgan Skariot, Alice Joseph, Taylor Andrews, Kyla Bachie, Kaleigh Miller, and Chloe Humway.