When Lindsay Tosch suddenly resigned as Miss Auburn, it caught everyone completely off guard.

The program’s scholarship pageant board wasn’t prepared for it. Hayley McJunkin, the pageant’s first runner-up and successor to the throne, was lost for words.

“It was kind of a shock,” McJunkin said. “I literally screamed, and my brother (Adam) immediately came into my room and said, ‘Are you OK?’

“I then started to cry,’ McJunkin added. “I didn’t think it would happen, but it is really exciting news.”

McJunkin, 18, of Burien, officially assumed the crown at an April 5 coronation at City Hall. As Miss Auburn, she is automatically qualified to compete in this year’s Miss Washington Pageant.

Tosch, 19, of Auburn, decided to resign to pursue college scholarship-based opportunities, according to Nancy Backus, president of the Miss Auburn Scholarship Pageant.

Tosch prevailed over 21 other contestants to win the tiara at the Auburn Performing Arts Center on Feb. 5. But given the many commitments to and responsibilities of the role, Tosch opted out to concentrate fully on her college career, Backus said.

Tosch, a 2009 Auburn High School graduate and a freshman at Green River Community College, would like to study architecture at either Pacific Lutheran University or the University of Washington.

It is the program’s first resignation since Amber Hamilton stepped down when she was chosen Miss Washington in 1995.

“I wouldn’t categorize it as a setback. … It’s something we haven’t experienced before,” Backus said of the change. “We were sad to see Lindsay go. I’m sad we couldn’t make it work out. She’s a very talented and gifted lady. We wish her nothing but the best.

“Hayley will be very, very good as Miss Auburn,” Backus said.

McJunkin, a graduate of Aviation High School in Des Moines, is a freshman at the UW majoring in communications.

An energetic and upbeat personality, McJunkin performs on the Husky Dance Team. She performed for the Allegro Dance Academy for several years, which stirred her interest in the Miss Auburn program.

“I love how it make me feel,” McJunkin said of dancing. “It’s a fun way to express myself and also stay active.”

McJunkin performed at the pageant on the platform, “Understanding, preventing and recovering from strokes.” She lost one grandfather to a stroke, while the other was stricken, which galvanized her cause.

McJunkin’s sponsor is Segale Properties. Her advisor is Charlotte Fellers. Her Little Sisters are Kassidy Linville, Alexis Wynne, Keely Franchini and Jayni Bohannon.

Born and raised in Burien, McJunkin is the daughter of Andy and Diane Ryan and Larry and Hamilton McJunkin.

McJunkin is looking forward to being a part of Auburn.

“It’s really exciting to get into the community, meet the people and do Auburn proud,” she said.