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One of the highlights of the 81st Annual Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival in Wellsboro, underway this week, will be the coronation of the 2023 Pennsylvania State Laurel Queen on Saturday.
According to a news release, while in Wellsboro, the 27 Laurel Queen candidates will enjoy a full weekend of activities.
At noon on Friday, they will gather on the Tioga County Courthouse steps for the official welcome. The young ladies will then go to Colton Point State Park to visit the West Rim and see the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon followed by a picnic lunch.
At 4:30 p.m. on Friday, the band Yetsu will open the Pennsylvania Laurel Queen's Preview on the Deane Center's outdoor stage, 104 Main St. The 2022 Laurel Queen Regan Regina and this year's queen candidates will be introduced to the public at 5 p.m. and the band will close the event. Spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. The rain location is the Deane Center's Coolidge Theatre.
Saturday afternoon, the candidates will ride on floats in the 2 p.m. Laurel Festival Parade, the news release said. The parade will also feature the Pennsylvania Bucktails, drum and bugle corps, bagpipers, high school marching bands, vintage cars, floats and more.
That evening at 6:30 p.m., the coronation of the 2023 Pennsylvania State Laurel Queen will be on stage at the Wellsboro Area High School Auditorium, 227 Nichols St. Coronation tickets are available at the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce office, 114 Main St., Wellsboro and at the door.
The festival will also include free concerts each day through Friday and a juried Arts and Crafts Fair. An International Streets of Foods will be open with 95 vendors from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. The festival concludes Sunday morning, June 18 with the 10:30 a.m. Union Church service on The Green.
MISS MUNCY
Alyssa Weigle is representing Muncy Junior-Senior High School. Her older sister, Amber Weigle, was the school's representative in 2019.
She is the daughter of Tammy and Gregory Weigle of Pennsdale.
This fall, Weigle will attend Lock Haven University to major in psychology. Her career goal is to work as a therapist with women with postpartum and teens and children with mental disorders.
MISS MONTGOMERY
Gabrielle Segraves is representing Montgomery Area School District.
She is the daughter of Michele Bennett-Knouse of Montgomery and Christopher Segraves of Loganton and will be a high school senior this fall.
Upon graduating in 2024, Segraves plans to attend college to major in diagnostic medical sonography and work in obstetrics as an ultrasonographer.
MISS MONTOURSVILLE
Melody Rzeszotarski is representing Montoursville Area High School.
She is the daughter of Joy and Steven Rzeszotarski, of Williamsport, and will be a high school senior this fall.
Upon graduating in 2024, she hopes to attend Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., to study government and international relations. Her career goal is to work through different office positions in the public service field to gain enough experience to serve in political office. Eventually, her dream is to become a senator or a diplomat serving in Slavic countries' embassies, using Russian as the prominent language of communication.
MISS JERSEY SHORE
Kira Bierly is representing Jersey Shore Area Senior High School.
She is the daughter of Charlotte and Scott Bierly of Jersey Shore.
In the fall, she will attend the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport with the career goal of becoming a surgical first assistant.
MISS BUCKTAIL
Miss Haley Burrows is representing Bucktail Area High School.
She is the daughter of Abby Burrows, of Renovo, and Carl Burrows, of North Bend.
This fall, Burrows plans to attend Lock Haven University, majoring in biology and education. She is considering becoming a college professor or a school district superintendent.
MISS CENTRAL MOUNTAIN
Kelsey Morgan Burrows is representing Central Mountain High School.
She is the daughter of Beth and Matthew Burrows, of Mill Hall.
After graduation, Burrows will travel to Madrid, Spain to spend two and a half weeks in July visiting the exchange student that was at her high school last year and with whom she became best friends.
In the fall, she plans to attend Susquehanna University to major in either international business finance or luxury brand marketing. Her career goal is to combine three passions -- business, traveling, and jewelry -- to become a gemology wholesaler or as an alternative to become a financial analyst for a big 4 accounting firm.
MISS WELLSBORO
Piper Boyce is representing Wellsboro Area High School.
She is the daughter of Holly Northrop, of Wellsboro, and Scot Boyce, also of Wellsboro.
After graduation, she plans to attend Mansfield University and major in radiologic technology. Her career goal is to become a radiology technician.
MISS NORTH PENN-LIBERTY
Jaclyn Nelson is representing North Penn-Liberty Junior-Senior High School.
She is the daughter of Lori and Thomas Nelson, of Liberty.
This fall, Nelson plans to attend Messiah University to pursue a degree in early childhood education, with the career goal of becoming an elementary school teacher.
MISS NORTH PENN-MANSFIELD
Bryanna Johnson is representing North Penn-Mansfield Junior-Senior High School.
She is the daughter of Cherrie Johnson, of Mansfield, and Corey Johnson, also of Mansfield.
In the fall, she plans to attend Lock Haven University in the Global Honors Program and major in biology as a pre-med student, with a minor in art to prepare for a career as a chiropractor. Miss Johnson has signed to play on the university's golf team.
MISS WARRIOR RUN
Emma Podobinski is representing Warrior Run High School.
She is the daughter of Emily Ayers, of Watsontown, and Michael Podobinski, of Clarks Summit.
In the fall, she plans to attend Houghton University in Houghton, New York and major in communications with an emphasis on integrated marketing, and a minor in literature. Her career goal is to work for a publishing company, such as Penguin Teen, creating marketing materials to promote new book releases and graphic design skills learned in her major to make visually appealing book advertisements.