10 to compete for maple queen title

On April 1, 10 area high school senior girls will compete for the title of Queen Maple LXXVI, at Meyersdale Area High School. The Pennsylvania Maple Queen Scholarship Pageant starts at 7 p.m. with musical selections by Ian Dively.

Ella Holly returns this year as the contest master of ceremonies. The young women will then compete for judging in evening gown and talent. The top five contestants by scores which include a precontest interview with the judges, will be announced. The finalists will participate in an on-stage personality competition before the maple queen and her two maids of honor are announced.

Additional awards presented, based on the top scores in each category, include: Maple Wisdom Award, Miss Congeniality Award, Nancy Beamer Memorial Interview Award, Promenade Award and Anna Ruth Thomas Memorial Talent Award. Cash awards from the Pennsylvania Maple Festival Inc. to Queen Maple LXXVI is $2,500, first maid of honor is $1,000, and second maid of honor is $500. The two remaining of the top five finalists will receive $100 cash from the Pennsylvania Maple Festival Inc., and each maple princess will receive $50. Additional cash prizes will be awarded through various businesses, organizations and individuals.

More: Maple season hindered by warm weather in February

Coronation of the new queen and her court will follow the contest. The new queen will succeed Ella Wheeler, maple queen 75, and reign over the 76th annual Pennsylvania Maple Festival, April 22-23, and April 26-30 in Meyersdale.

The 10 young women competing for the title are:

Charlotte Ream

Charlotte Ream, 17, is the daughter of Lonnie and Krissy Ream, Rockwood. She has participated in the Rockwood Area High School musical ever since she was in sixth grade. She is a cheerleading captain, member of FHS and NHS.

Ream has received the outstanding student award in chorus and technical design, and she was named Most Valuable player in cheerleading.

She attends the Trinity Reformed Church of Rockwood, and she is an assistant coach for the Rockwood Youth Cheerleading.

After graduation, Ream plans to go to college to earn a bachelor's degree in interior design.

What would make her a good maple queen representative?

"I am very excited to have this experience. All the people I have met are so kind and wonderful. The things I learned, I could not experience anywhere else. I am so grateful to be a part of the 76th Maple Festival."

More: Tree tapping officially kicks off maple season in Somerset County

Josi Dirienzo

Josi Dirienzo is the 17-year-old daughter of Joseph and Tammi Dirienzo. She is a senior at Somerset Area High School as well as a part-time student at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.

At Somerset, Dirienzo is a member of the student council, Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.), and chorus where she has been the secretary for 2 years. She has participated in five high school musicals. She has also participated in cheerleading in grades 7-11, and was co-captain her junior year.

Currently, Dirienzo is in the transition from dancer to instructor at Garrett School of Dance. She is Somerset County’s Outstanding Young Women second runner-up for the class of 2023 and the Essay Award recipient.

Through all of this she is also employed at Kindred Soul Apparel, Aristacuts Hair and Tanning Salon, and Hidden Valley Resort. She is a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church and Laurel Highlands Church of Christ.

After high school, Dirienzo plans to attend Saint Vincent College to major in business and become a wedding planner.

"I feel that all of this has prepared me to be a wonderful maple queen because it has taught me how to balance a busy schedule, work with others and represent myself and my community well."

Faith Bittner

Faith Bittner, 18, Meyersdale, is the daughter of Scott and Donna Bittner.

At Meyersdale Area High School, she is editor-in-chief of the Raider Review newspaper, a member of the student council and National Honor Society.

Bittner plays guitar, gives guitar lessons, sings, is a member of 4-H club, and works a part-time job at the Dairy Bar Restaurant. After graduation she plans to attend Penn State University and major in veterinary and biomedical sciences.

"I believe I would be a good maple queen due to my love of our local traditions and my communication skills with new people. Additionally, I aspire to inform others of our local industry and culture. Growing up in Meyersdale, the maple festival has and always will be an important event in my life."

More: Meeting hard working families highlight queen's reign

Laura Boyce

Laura Boyce is the 17 year old daughter of David and Rebecca Boyce, Meyersdale. At Meyersdale Area High School, Boyce is the senior class president, Girl of the Year, Lions Club Student of the Month, Somerset County Soroptimist, and National Honor Society vice president. She is the marching band drum major, attended district and regional band, district and regional choir. She is a member of the jazz band, concert band, choir, Raider Review, cross country team, honor roll, A-Average Club and student council.

She is the Meyersdale Grace Brethren Church worship leader, a member of Studio 7 Dance and takes piano lessons.

After high school, Boyce plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh to become a doctor of physical therapy.

"I believe that I would make a good maple queen because I have grown up attending the maple festival, which has allowed me to appreciate the small-town values that produce such conviviality across the county. I would love to be a part of that legacy, and becoming a princess has already allowed me to do just that."

Olivia Vaughn

Olivia Vaughn, 17, is the daughter of Tim and LeAnn Vaughn, Berlin. She is homeschooled, and representing Berlin Brothersvalley School District.

Vaughn has participated for four years on the cheerleading squad, being captain her senior year. She is a member of the Berlin competitive cheer squad.

She is a high honor student. She attends Joyful Church, where she runs the sound system for the praise band on Sundays. She is a member of the Joyful youth group.

Vaughn takes dance at Studio 7 School of Dance, is involved in jazz, tap, hiphop and contemporary. She is on the competitive squad for jazz, tap and hiphop. She received first place overall and seventh place at nationals for her hiphop solo.

After graduation, Vaughn plans to attend a beauty school for cosmetology and then she would like to open her own nail salon.

"I think I would make a good maple queen because I like meeting new people and making them smile."

Bena Croushore

Bena Croushore, 17, is the daughter of Bill and Sheila Croushore, Rockwood She attends Rockwood Area High School where she is active in various clubs and organizations, including secretary for the National Honor Society, vice president for chorus and vice president for student council. She is a member of the French Honor Society, Students Against Destructive Decisions, musical and Future Business Leaders of America. She has been nominated for student of the month each year of high school, and she has been in the top 5% of her class for the past several years.

After high school, Croushore will be attending Waynesburg University to major in nursing, with the hopes of specializing in pediatric nursing.

Outside of school, Croushore takes dance classes at Laurel Arts Dance Center, where she competes in tap and ballet. At the Outstanding Young Woman Scholarship Program last spring, she was named first runner-up and received the talent award. Croushore is also a member of the Rockwood Girl Scouts. Through the Scouts, she has received her bronze and silver awards, and is working toward achieving her gold award.

She attends church at St. Peter's Catholic Church where she enjoys spending time growing her faith. In the community, Croushore enjoys volunteering her time.

"I believe that I would make a good maple queen because I enjoy meeting new people and helping others. I also believe that my love for children could help influence them to run for maple queen in the future. The industry needs people to continue promoting it, and by influencing young girls to become princesses, I believe the industry will have the support to continue to thrive."

Isabella Petrilla

Isabella Petrilla, 18, is the daughter of Jeffrey and Jamie Petrilla, and a senior at North Star High School. She is the senior class vice president, and a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Key Club, Chemistry Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Youth Outreach Program participant and community arts. She received the Academic Excellence Award through the Challenge Program, was an Outstanding Young Woman finalist, is listed on highest honors since ninth grade and was a student of the month in February 2020. She is in the top 5% of the 2023 graduating class.

Petrilla's hobbies include floristry, reading, music, writing and publishing, nature — hikes, snowboarding etc., and film production. Her future plans are to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania and receive a bachelor's degree in English with a certificate in journalism.

"I believe the maple queen pageant is centered around community and togetherness, and I believe I would emphasize that idea and implement it strongly as the 2023 Maple Queen."

Jovi Jeske

Jovi Jeske is the daughter of Brian Koontz and Kellie Rosa, Boswell. She is a senior at North Star High School. She has participated in soccer, basketball and gymnastics. She is an honor roll student. In school, Jeske is the president of Turning Point USA of North Star and has created a nationally recognized chapter. She was a member of the Homecoming Court and captain of the soccer team. She raises animals for the Somerset County Fair, but she also makes time to attend church events and stays active in the North Star Youth Outreach.

"Growing up around Somerset County has shaped who I am today. Without the community and family support I receive from everyone in our beautiful county, I could not be who I am today. Some of my favorite childhood memories are painted by the times I've spent at sugar camps and around fires eating maple cakes! If I am crowned Queen Maple I will spend the next year doing the best I possibly can to uphold the history of Somerset County maple. I hope to see everyone at the Pennsylvania Maple Queen Contest, April 1 at Meyersdale High School!"

Bruck Ohler

Bruck Victoria Ohler, 18, Central City, attends HOPE for Hyndman Charter School, as well as Allegany College of Maryland as an early college student. Her parents are Bradley and Carey Schilling and Jason Ohler. She is a member of Laurel Highlands Church of Christ Youth group.

In school, Ohler is president of National Honor Society, secretary of student council, captain of the cross-country team and the football cheer squad. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa College Honor Society, the track team, chorus and Squiz. She is also am involved in the Somerset County Fair Queen program, Youth Leadership Council, Outstanding Young Women program and fall foliage program. She loves volunteering, learning and teaching agriculture in Somerset County. Ohler serves on the Somerset County Jr. Fair Board, and is an officer in Hooversville Hayseeders 4-H, County 4-H, and Regional Teen 4-H Council.

After graduation, she will attend West Virginia University where she will major in business with a minor in agriculture. Her career goal as an agricultural loan officer will enable her to continue to advocate for the preservation of family farms, female farms and accessible locally sourced food for all.

"Being selected as a maple princess, alongside these amazing ladies, has been an honor. If I were selected as the 76 Maple Queen, I would be representing the Somerset County Maple Industry with pride and professionalism.

From a little girl who loved to visit and help haul that sweet sap at my cousin's maple camp, to representing the PA Maple Industry, would be a dream come true. I love educating youth about all things agriculture and there isn’t a sweeter industry than PA Maple!"

Shelby Hetz

Shelby Hetz, 17, is the daughter of Corey and Crystal Hetz, Meyersdale. She is a senior at Meyersdale Area High School, where she participates in softball in which she was named WestPAC athlete and All-County athlete, musical, Ski Club president, FBLA, band, chorus where she attended district choir and district jazz, and is Warpack president. Hetz is the SADD historian, a member of National Honor Society and was selected as Lions Club student of the month.

She attends Mountain Valley Bible Church. Hetz also plays Potomac Valley Elite Softball.

After her high school graduation, Hetz plans to attend Slippery Rock University to study music education.

"I feel like I would make a good maple queen because I love meeting new people and also have always loved the maple festival and the products."

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Pennsylvania maple queen to be selected from 10 contestants