The Torches Have Been Passed at the Miss Greater Rockville Pageant

Gina Salvatore has been crowned the new Miss Greater Rockville.

Salvatore, a 19-year-old theater student from the University of Connecticut, was the winner of the second-annual pageant on Saturday at Rockville High School.

She was joined on the podium by Jeanette Porcello, a 15-year-old South Windsor resident, who was named Miss Greater Rockville Outstanding Teen.

Salvatore, a Wethersfield native, would like to take a career path toward Broadway and in theater education.

She performed a dance routine to "I Can't Do It Alone," during the talent portion of the pageant.

Salvatore's platform is Heart-to-Heart: Supporting Military Families. It's a topic that is hitting particularly close to home for her because her brother is currently deployed in Afghanistan. She said her family has an extensive military background.

She said she wants to be very active in military affairs in town over the next 12 months. She received a $500 scholarship for winning.

Porcello sang and played the piano during the talent portion of the pageant. Her platform is Autism Families CONNECTicut - "Helping those on the spectrum reach their fullest potential."

Her career ambition is working with music.

An emotional Katlyn Lewicke gave out hugs and thanked the residents of Vernon for making her part of the community as Miss Greater Rockville 2012. Kewicke was a familiar face at many public events during her tenure as Miss Greater Rockville 2012 and took an active role in educating the area on child sexual abuse, her platform.

"I've watched children grow, made friendships that will far outlast my reign as your representative and even judged a pie-eating contest. All this I have been blessed to do at your invitation," she wrote in her farewell letter.

She continued, "I have been beyond fortunate to have your assistance in turning the figure of Miss Greater Rockville from the winner of a beauty agent to an activist and a supporter of victims."

Both Slavatore and Porcello can now enter the Miss Connecticut pageant.