2027 Junior Miss of Triton to be named Sunday, September 27

The Junior Miss of Triton Board of Directors is proud to introduce the three young ladies who will vie for $5,000 in college scholarships and the opportunity to represent the community as the 63rd Junior Miss of Triton.

Tickets to the scholarship program, to be held Sunday, September 27, 2026, can be purchased from the contestants or at the door for $6. Triton’s Performing Arts Center will open at 4:30 p.m., with the program beginning at 5 p.m.

A panel of three judges will evaluate the three young women in the following categories: Scholastics (25 percent), Interview (25 percent), Talent (10 percent), Fitness (20 percent), and Self-Expression (20 percent).

After tallying the scores during a short intermission, the Board of Directors, along with numerous local sponsors, will award $5,000 in scholarships. Preliminary awards include scholastic achievement, interviews, talent, fitness, self-expression, and Spirit of Junior Miss. The 2026 Junior Miss of Triton, Sierra Hawley, will return to share her experience, take her final walk, and announce the 2027 winner.

The 2027 participants are:

Jillian Bules of Bourbon is the daughter of Jeremy and Tina Bules. Jillian plans to attend Grace College and pursue a career in nursing.

Throughout high school, Jillian has participated in Art Club, Spanish Club, Spirit Club, Prom Committee, National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Students, Science Club, and math competitions. She has also performed the national anthem and participated in the Camp Creek Church praise team. Jillian has competed in varsity volleyball, varsity basketball, and varsity softball.

Her academic achievements include earning all A’s honor roll recognition since 2023 and receiving awards for excellence in biology, PLTW Biomedical Science, geometry honors, chemistry, PLTW Human Body Systems, algebra II honors, PLTW Medical Interventions, English 11 honors, and pre-calculus honors. She has also earned certificates of language proficiency in Spanish II and Spanish III.

Jillian’s athletic honors include volleyball Mental Attitude, All-Tourney Team, Leading Passer, and team captain awards; basketball Mental Attitude awards; and softball Rising Star and Golden Glove awards.

She has volunteered through Jacob’s Run, Triton Gives Back, Bre’s Run, Lady Trojans Basketball Camp, Vacation Bible School, and the Camp Creek Church praise team. In her spare time, Jillian enjoys singing, reading, playing board games with her family, organizing, and watching movies and television shows.

For her talent, Jillian will sing “Never Enough” from “The Greatest Showman.”

Alyssa Brunner of Tippecanoe is the daughter of Jon and Jennifer Brunner. Alyssa plans to attend Indiana University Bloomington and pursue a career in early childhood education.

Her school activities include serving as captain of the Triton varsity cheer team, participating in junior varsity and varsity cheerleading, junior varsity softball, color guard, winter guard, theatre, Book Club, show choir, and concert choir. She is also a member of the Show Choir Leadership Team.

Alyssa’s accomplishments include earning all A and A-B honor roll recognition, an Academic All-Conference award for varsity cheer, the varsity cheer Coach’s Award, and the varsity cheer Most Valuable Player award. She was crowned Bourbon Summerfest Queen in 2024 and Miss Mentone in 2025. Alyssa has also earned state gold medals in ensemble show choir and gold and silver medals for choir ensemble and solo performances.

She has volunteered for Night to Shine, the Potawatomi Fishing Derby, Triton Gives Back, the Mentone Fire Department, the Angel Card Project, the Ruby Project, the Bourbon Summerfest Pageant, Bourbon Farmers Markets, Mentone community events, and several other local programs and organizations.

In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys spending time with her family and reading.

For her talent, Alyssa will perform a color guard flag and dance routine to “How Far I’ll Go.”

Brooke Kitch of Bourbon is the daughter of Brian and Patti Kitch. Brooke plans to attend Purdue University and pursue a career in plant genetics and pharmaceutical botany.

Brooke has been extensively involved in Indiana 4-H, Marshall County 4-H, Bourbon Township 4-H, and the Triton FFA chapter. She has served as an Indiana State 4-H Ambassador, Bourbon Township 4-H president and vice president, District II FFA vice president, Triton FFA chapter president, vice president, treasurer, and sentinel. She has also served as a mentor in the Marshall County Poss-ABILITIES Program and participated in 4-H Junior Leaders, 4-H camp, state conventions, leadership programs, and numerous animal, agricultural, and exhibit projects.

At Triton, Brooke has participated in varsity golf, varsity tennis, junior varsity tennis, junior varsity basketball, Spirit Club, Science Club, Spanish Club, Fellowship of Christian Students, National Honor Society, Student Council, and the All Sports Leadership Council. She has also participated in Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy and Leadership Marshall County EMERGE and has served as a junior board member at Potawatomi Wildlife Park.

Brooke’s many accomplishments include being named the 2026 Miss Blueberry, earning the Indiana FFA Hoosier Degree, receiving numerous county and state 4-H honors, and qualifying for state competition in FFA crops and soils judging events. She has earned HNAC honors in golf and tennis, multiple athletic awards, an academic letter, honor roll and high honor roll recognition, and numerous outstanding student awards. Brooke was also named a 2026 Rising Star of Indiana by the Indiana Association of School Principals.

Her community service includes Triton Gives Back, Indiana 4-H, the Poss-ABILITIES Program, 4-H Junior Leaders, Camp Amigo, Triton FFA activities, Potawatomi Wildlife Park, the Marshall County Blueberry Festival, and the Marshall County Neighborhood Center. Brooke also owns and operates Honey Blossom, a floral design business, and has worked with Corteva Agriscience.

In her spare time, Brooke enjoys thrifting, shopping, flower design, and floral gardening.

For her talent, Brooke will perform a baton-twirling routine to “Friend Like Me.”

Finalist & Preliminary Scholarships

• Junior Miss of Triton 2027: $1,200
• First Runner-Up: $600
• Director's Choice: $300
• Scholastic Achievement: $300
• Interview: $300
• Fitness: $300
• Self-Expression: $300
• Talent: $300
• Spirit of Junior Miss: $200
• Ticket Sales: $100
• Artistic Ad: $100
• Triton Junior Mister: $200

Junior Miss of Triton is a not-for-profit organization, with 100 percent of ticket sales and donations from the community going towards the scholarship fund and the program's sustaining fees.