Megan Nicole Kaczmarski

About Megan:

Born Sept. 23, 1991.

Daughter of Vonnie and Bob Baranko of Valparaiso and Bill Kaczmarski of Hebron.

Sister to Matt.

Granddaughter of Larry and Gloria Cooley of Wheatfield and Joyce Kaczmarski of Hebron.

Accomplishments: Country singer Megan Nicole Kaczmarski will meet and greet fans and perform at a CD release party beginning at 2:30 p.m.Oct. 25 at County Line Apple Orchard in Hobart. She will sing songs from her first full-length CD "You Need to Miss Me" produced by Peter Bordonali at Bayou Recording Studio in Nashville and sign autographs. Kaczmarski started singing when she was 5 and has performed at numerous events including America's Most Talented Kids TV Show, the Yahoo! Yodel Championship, CMA Fan Fair Week and the Indiana State Fair. She sang in the Colgate Country Showdown at Porter County Fair and last weekend was the only local talent invited to perform at the Chicago Country Music Festival at Soldier Field. Kaczmarski describes her edgy, modern country sound. "I think I have a very unique style, it's different. I add a bit of country twang," she said. Her greatest influences are Martina McBride, Patsy Cline, Leann Rimes and Shania Twain. A junior at WashingtonTownship

High School, she plays basketball and softball, is secretary of her class and active in Student Council. An honor student, she tutors a second-grade student from Guatemala.

Personal hero: "My mom. She is a hard worker and does a lot for me and sacrifices a lot. She's my role model."

What I read: "I like fictional books. My favorites are "The Insider" books by J. Mentor and the "Gossip Girls' series."

What I do for fun: "Hang out with friends, go to basketball and volleyball games, bonfires and the movies."

People might be surprised to know: "I can yodel." -SUE BERO, Times Correspondent

To nominate someone for this feature, e-mail slbero@hotmail.com