Gracie Paulman crowned Queen Maple LXXVII

Sandra Lepley

MEYERSDALE ― Gracie Paulman, 17, of Meyersdale, won the title of Queen Maple LXXVII during the Pennsylvania Maple Queen Scholarship Pageant at Meyersdale Area High School's auditorium Saturday evening.

2024 Queen Maple LXXVII Gracie Paulman of Meyersdale won the queen contest and was one of the nine princesses competing for the crown in Meyersdale on Saturday evening.
2024 Queen Maple LXXVII Gracie Paulman of Meyersdale won the queen contest and was one of the nine princesses competing for the crown in Meyersdale on Saturday evening.

For Gracie, it was like a dream come true.

"Ever since I became a junior attendant for the maple queen contest, I knew I wanted to become a maple princess," said Gracie after her coronation. "This gives me the chance to become an ambassador for an incredible industry that shaped my life."

Gracie Paulman, 17, of Meyersdale was crowned Queen Maple LXXVII by last year's Queen Maple LXXVI Laura Boyce during the scholarship pageant at Meyersdale Area High School on Saturday evening.
Gracie Paulman, 17, of Meyersdale was crowned Queen Maple LXXVII by last year's Queen Maple LXXVI Laura Boyce during the scholarship pageant at Meyersdale Area High School on Saturday evening.

She said from visiting the Pennsylvania Maple Festival her whole life to being involved in maple activities, the maple industry is a worthwhile part of her childhood with many treasured memories.

Gracie and her court of princesses will reign over the 77th annual Pennsylvania Maple Festival April 20-21 and April 24-28 in Meyersdale.

More: Maple Queen Scholarship Pageant set for April 6

There were nine maple princesses competing for the crown of Queen Maple LXXVII in Meyersdale on Saturday evening.
There were nine maple princesses competing for the crown of Queen Maple LXXVII in Meyersdale on Saturday evening.

Gracie is the daughter of Michael and Brandy Paulman and is a senior at Meyersdale Area High School. For her talent, she performed a tap dance routine. Gracie's school activities include the National Honor Society, student council, Future Business Leaders of America, Family and Consumer Science Club and the musical.

Queen Maple LXXVII Gracie Paulman stands by her parents, Michael and Brandy Paulman, after the scholarship pageant on Saturday evening in Meyersdale.
Queen Maple LXXVII Gracie Paulman stands by her parents, Michael and Brandy Paulman, after the scholarship pageant on Saturday evening in Meyersdale.

Her honors and awards include honor roll, Academic Letter, Outstanding Chemistry Award, Senior Class president, Lions Club Girl of the Month, student school board representative alternate and student ambassador. After high school, Gracie plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh to obtain a degree in pharmacy.

9 contestants compete

Gracie was one of nine maple princesses who competed for the crown by doing a pre-contest interview with judges, and during the contest participated in a promenade, answered questions and performed a talent. In addition to being crowned queen, she received $100 for the Nancy Beamer Memorial Interview Award from the Meyersdale Historical Society.

More: Being a role model was very important to maple queen

The top five finalists at the 2023 Pa. Maple Queen Scholarship Pageant are rom left: Sydney Grosholtz of Somerset, Talent Award; Laurel Daniels, Meyersdale, 1st Maid of Honor and Promenade Award; Queen Maple Gracie Paulman of Meyersdale, who also won the Interview Award; Alana Kreger, Somerset, 2nd Maid of Honor; Kyley Emerick of Meyersdale, Maple Wisdom Award.

Laurel Daniels, daughter of Jeffrey and Tonya Daniels of Meyersdale, received the title of first Maid of Honor, while Alana Kregar of Somerset, daughter of Brian and Kristy Kregar, will serve as the Second Maid Honor. Daniels also received the Promenade Award, which is a $100 cash award from White House Restaurant.

Kyley Emerick, daughter of Matt and Joey Emerick of Meyersdale, won the Maple Wisdom Award for $300 from the Somerset County Maple Producers' Association.

Zya Belardi of Somerset received the Miss Congeniality Award, a $100 cash from the Meyersdale Merchants' Association.

Sydney Grosholtz, daughter of Scott and Carlye Grosholtz of Somerset, won the Anna Ruth Thomas Memorial Talent Award for $100 from F.B. Thomas Drug Store.

Brooke Synder of Rockwood, daughter of Sam and Lenie Snyder, won the $150 for the Community Essay Award from Milroy Farms.

Cash awards to Queen Maple LXXVII, First Maid of Honor and Second Maid of Honor, with $2,500, $1,000 and $500 respectively, were from the Pennsylvania Maple Festival Inc. Somerset County Maple Producers' Association awarded the queen $500. Cash awards were also given to other top finalists and each of the maple princesses from the festival association.

Trophies to the queen and maids of honor were donated by Donges Drive In. Riggs Family Foundation Fund, Meyersdale Masonic Lodge 554 and Somerset Trust also gave cash prizes to the top finalists.

Incoming Queen Maple LXXVII Gracie Paulman stands by outgoing Queen Maple LXXVI Laura Boyce after the competition on Saturday evening.
Incoming Queen Maple LXXVII Gracie Paulman stands by outgoing Queen Maple LXXVI Laura Boyce after the competition on Saturday evening.

More: Area high school teens to compete for 77th maple queen title April 6

Since 1947, 1,000 young women from Somerset County have competed in the maple queen contests and more than $300,000 in scholarship awards and savings bonds have been awarded by the Pennsylvania Maple Festival Inc.Ella Hutchinson Holly served as the master of ceremonies for the evening and Ian Dively served as the accompanist.

Coronation completes pageantry

The scholarship pageant was concluded with a special coronation ceremony that included junior attendants. Queen Maple LXXVI Laura Boyce crowned her successor. Laura was escorted by the 2023 Maple King Cody Lynch of Baer Brothers Maple near Somerset.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Gracie Paulman crowned Queen Maple LXXVII

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