Kathy Borlik
| Columnist
Bella Bauer was excited for the move to Purdue University. The boxes and suitcases were loaded in the car for the trip on Aug. 11. Classes started Aug. 19. There was a week to settle in and find all the short cuts across campus.
She was taking all the things needed — computer, clothes and her tiara. The Penn High School graduate is Miss Indiana’s Teen, and the crown comes with the job. She received the title earlier this summer at a pageant in Zionsville.
Bella will participate in January at the Miss America’s Teen pageant in Orlando. The date hasn’t been announced. She is happy about any time at all in Orlando in January.
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The Granger teen received a $6,000 scholarship for the win. She is studying kinesiology with the hopes of becoming a pediatric physical therapist. “My sister, Mary Elizabeth, has been my inspiration for that.”
Bella is the daughter of Jenna and Kevin Bauer. “They are not pageant parents. Mom is the opposite. They are very supportive of what I’m doing. They both have a heart for service and involvement.”
Epilepsy advocacy
The service is important to Bella, as well. “My service is called the Purple Project, and is about epilepsy education and awareness. I was diagnosed with epilepsy in the fifth grade. I felt very alone and there were no resources for me. Classmates were talking about me.”
She said there were medical tests and trips to Indianapolis to determine a cause. Bella said it changed her life, but she was determined it would not define her.
Bella has written a book on the topic, “The ABC’s of Epilepsy,” which is for patients. A friends and family version will be published soon.
She spoke about the book to the Penn-Harris-Madison School Board last November and gave copies of the book to each of the PHM schools. “The work goes on to get the information to all schools about epilepsy, safe seizure first aid and empowering children.”
She returned to Indianapolis to speak at the Statehouse on the importance of seizure training in all schools.
Serious stuff for a teen.
So has she been doing pageants for years and years? Not at all. Bella said she did not start out being interested in pageants. “Friends in dance classes suggested it, and I fell in love with it. I love the support. It is a strong sisterhood. Each person has a community service project. Something that they are passionate about. It is very uplifting.”
Her sister Lily also participated and was one of the 10 finalists in the Miss Indiana’s Teen. Bella said her sister is very reserved, but she bloomed with the competition and interviews.
Bella will be doing community projects through the fall, along with classes, dance team and maybe joining a sorority. She continues to work on her interview skills. Bella said there will be a lot of help from her parents to get her through to the Orlando Miss America’s Teen contest. “My family and faith guide me.”
Film festival time
The River Bend Film Festival will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Goshen. This is the 21st year for the festival. It all started at Indiana University South Bend and a weekend full of movies in Wiekamp Hall.
Carrie Lee Bland Kendall and David Kendall are the producers and key organizers for this version. It all starts with free films on Thursday. “There are student films beginning at 7 p.m. from Goshen College and Taylor University at the Umble Center at Goshen College,” Carrie said.
Then there is a change of location for Friday and Saturday. The festival moves to the Goshen Theater, 216 S. Main St.
“Friday and Saturday will feature 50 films from all over the world, with a number from Indiana,” Carrie said. “One documentary is ‘Food Roots’ and features Chicago chef Billy Dec about his journey to explore recipes from his mother’s native county, Philippines.”
Another highlight will be a chat with director Liann Kay, who directed “Seoul Switch” with K-pop star Kevin Woo from U-Kiss. That will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at Ignition Music Garage, 120 E. Washington St.
The films start at 10:30 a.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday. Tickets are $125 for an all-access festival pass and $12 for individual screenings (such as the narrative shorts blocks or the individual featured films).
Carrie said there are talks, a wrap party, music and mixers. Visit River Bend Film on Facebook and Instagram for ticket prices, availability and fun or at riverbendfilmfest.com.
Carrie and David met at a film festival in Chicago and he convinced her to visit Goshen. So love is possible.
David said the fun part of having it in Goshen is that everything is so close to the theater. “You can pop in and out” and you are still in town.
The couple is looking forward to the weekend of good movies and good conversation.
Contact Kathy at [email protected].
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Publish date : 2024-08-24 23:08:00
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