Meet the Winter Carnival contestants

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ALLURA MCCULLER

Senior Hannah Joyce waves to the crowd after being crowned the 2017 Winter Carnival Snowflake Princess. Joyce represented Schuylkill County in various events over the past year. “Being the Winter Carnival Snowflake Princess has been a learning experience in many ways,” Joyce said. “I am looked up to by little girls, so it is important that I am a role model for them. I take that very seriously.”

It is time to catch up with senior Hannah Joyce, the 2017 Snowflake Princess, and to meet the representatives for the 2018 pageant.

2017 Snowflake Princess Hannah Joyce

Q: What are some feelings/emotions you remember from the Winter Carnival last year when you won?

A: I remember when they said my name and then everything goes blank until I walked the stage with my crown and sash on. I think it all goes blank because I was in so much shock. I was so happy. I couldn’t stop smiling.

Q: What are some of your favorite events that you have participated in over this past year because of being the 2017 Snowflake Princess?

A: The St. Patrick’s Day parade in Pottsville was my favorite because it was our first one. I was so excited for it. It was a bit cold but a lot of fun. Our car broke down at the end and we had to call AAA. It made the day.

Q: What are your feelings about this year’s pageant, theme, etc.?

A: I love the theme. “Feels like home” is a great way to capture the essence Schuylkill County, because it is home. It’s interesting to see the girls tie it into their outfits for their fashion shows. You get to see everyone’s take on the theme and their idea of home.

Q: Has being the Winter Carnival Snowflake Princess changed you in any sort of way?

A: Being the Winter Carnival Snowflake Princess has been a learning experience in many ways. I am looked up to by little girls so it is important that I am a role model for them. I take that very seriously. It’s also taught me to be more confident in who I am.

2018 Contestants

Junior Emma Bertsch

Q: Why did you decide to run for Winter Carnival? Did anyone influence your decision, such as your family, friends, etc.?

A: I decided to run for Winter Carnival because I wanted to meet new people and get out in the community more. Hannah Joyce influenced me, too, because we are pretty close.

Q: What has been the most fun event you have participated in so far?

A: The costume fashion show because it was fun to see everyone’s different personalities.

Q: Did you meet any new friends through this experience?

A: I met a lot of new people, especially from Blue Mountain. I became really close with them.

Q: What is one thing you will take away from this experience and why?

A: I definitely became more confident talking in front of people, which I think will help me in the future for interviews.

Q: What has been your favorite part of this whole experience and why?

A: I would say the events because I really like bonding with all the girls over our nervousness.

Junior Hannah Leskin

Q: Why did you decide to run for Winter Carnival? Did anyone influence your decision, such as your family, friends, etc.?

A: I decided to run for Winter Carnival because I wanted to have the opportunity to meet new people and represent my school at an event that most of the whole community attends.

Q: What has been the most fun event you have participated in so far?

A: The most fun event for me was the fashion show at the mall because I got to see what means the most to each girl.

Q: Did you meet any new friends through this experience?

A: I met so many new friends. I consider every girl that is in Winter Carnival to be my friend because we all got so close in such a short amount of time.

Q: What is one thing you will take away from this experience and why?

A: I will never forget the memories I made through this whole experience. Everything was so fun, and I feel lucky that I was able to create all these memories and meet all these new girls.

Q: What is the theme for the Winter Carnival this year? What does it mean to you?

A: The theme for this year’s winter carnival is “Feels like home,” and to me it couldn’t be a better theme because everybody is so close in our community; it just feels like one big family.

Junior Madeline Schuttler

Q: Why did you decide to run for Winter Carnival? Did anyone influence your decision, such as your family, friends, etc.?

A: I was actually in Winter Carnival when I was in second and third grade and I had a lot of fun. I thought it would be really fun and enjoyable to do it again.

Q: What has been the most fun event you have participated in so far?

A: So far, I think the most fun event we have done is the creative fashion show because it was really cool to see different parts from everyone’s personalities. We got to know each other better.

Q: Did you meet any new friends through this experience?

A: I met a lot of new friends, especially from different schools that are farther away because it is easy to meet people from Minersville and closer places but I met a girl from Williams Valley, which is pretty far away. I have also gotten closer with Hannah and Emma.

Q: What is one thing you will take away from this experience and why?

A: I definitely learned not to be nervous in front of crowds because there has been a lot of that.

Q: How does this pageant compare to other pageants you have competed in?

A: It is the same in some ways because you always have to speak in front of people and you have to go to judges’ receptions. The only difference with the (Schuylkill County) fair is that it is not as complicated of a process and there are not as many judged events. There is definitely also a lot less people involved with the fair than in Winter Carnival.