UPIKE crowns new Mountain Laurel Queen
0Written by Braydon Sode
Cheyenne Harlow, sophomore, won the honor to represent UPIKE at the 2018’s Mountain Laurel Festival. The Mountain Laurel Festival is one of Kentucky’s longest running festivals starting in 1931 with the most recent event making their 88th festival. The UPIKE Mountain Laurel Festival process began on Monday, Feb. 5 with candidate interviews to determine who would be best suited for the festivals events. The final list of candidate included Brianna Blackburn, senior; Sydney Boyd, sophomore; Audrey Caudill, sophomore; Adison Corder, junior; Mackenzie Fraley, sophomore; McKenzie Gibson, junior; Cheyenne Harlow, sophomore; Bethany Jervis, junior; Alannah Little, sophomore; Cailee Marcum, senior; and Morgan Thompson, freshman. “Monday was our interviews. As a candidate, I had to have a speech prepared on why I should be selected the Mountain Laurel candidate. After the speech, I was asked questions by the judges. Overall, I was very nervous, because talking in front of people is really scary. However, once I started talking, my nerves subsided, and I had a great time. I’m really proud of myself for doing it!” Jervis said. Tuesday, Feb. 6, Mountain Laurel contestants and their escorts met for chapel where they enjoyed a sermon from Rob Musick. On Wednesday, Feb. 7, the candidates and their escorts met at President Burton Webb’s home for a tea party where they were able to interact one another, engaging in small talk, enjoying finger foods while being viewed and evaluated by the judges. On Thursday, Feb. 8, candidates met at the Expo Center during halftime of the men’s basketball game where Harlow and her escort, Philip Sowards, were crowned as the UPIKE representatives for the Mountain Laurel Festival.