Rob Zerniak, a sophomore at Washington High School, can now add the title Mr. Christmas Tree 2014 to his list of accomplishments.

The 15-year-old son of Walt and Shannon Zerniak, Rob was named the winner at the conclusion of a BoCo Young Life-sponsored celebration held Monday evening at the WHSPerforming Arts Center. A Key Club member and honor roll student, he plays soccer and baseball for the Pam Pack.

Zerniak topped a field of four contestants, including two other WHS students and one representing Southside High School. Also competing were Lane Jackson, a 17-year-old WHSsenior and son of Travis and Laurie Jackson; Joshua Smith, a 17-year-old WHS junior and son of Nicole Stroud and Johnny Smith; and Cody Modlin, 14-year-old SHS freshman and son of Shanda Tyndall and Derrick Modlin.

Zerniak succeeds Aaron Jones, winner of last year’s inaugural pageant and a 2014 Southside High graduate. The son of Sarah Hardison and Rico Jones, he is currently a nursing student at Barton College, where he is also on the track team.

The pageant marks the last BoCo Young Life event of the year and is a tongue-in-cheek parody of beauty pageants, according to Young Life area director Tom Johnson. Young Life is a faith-based club geared toward building relationships with adolescents and teenagers.

“We just wanted to have a big end-of-the-year finale that celebrates the kids and makes them the heroes,” Johnson said. “Our founder believed it’s a sin to bore a kid with the gospel, so we want to have fun and share the gospel.”

An engaging Scott Stafford, Young Life staff assistant, served as emcee and ushered the contestants through four areas of competition: comical swimwear, onstage interview, talent and, appropriately enough, a parade of trees. The audience voted by secret ballot to determine the winner, who enjoys bragging rights for the next twelve months.

While hilarity reigned throughout most of the evening, speaker Leanne Lee shared a poignant message of her involvement as a BoCo Young Life leader. Lee noted that the opportunity to serve as a volunteer with the group turned out to be a gift and blessing for her.

The audience also enjoyed viewing videos that presented an inside look at Young Life activities and opportunities in Beaufort County. The club meets each Monday beginning at7:29 p.m. in Washington.

For more information about BoCo Young Life, visit www.pamlico.younglife.org or email Johnson at pamlicoyl@gmail.com.