ALC Student Represents the College at Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival
Each year, Alice Lloyd College has the honor of sponsoring one student to represent the campus at the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival, which is hosted in Pineville, Kentucky. The Mountain Laurel is one of the oldest festivals in state history, dating back to 1931 when Kentucky native Annie Walker Burns established the event in memory of her ancestor, Dr. Thomas Walker. Each year, colleges and universities across the state present a chosen candidate as a representative to compete through a series of trials testing manners, elegance and purity to become the queen.
For the 94th festival, ALC honored their selection, choosing Ms. Kamryn Hoiska to represent them in Pineville. Kamryn is from Harlan County, Kentucky, and is pursuing her degree in elementary education in hopes of teaching kindergarten upon graduating. Inspired by her best friend, and the College’s 2024 representative, Ms. Haley Phipps, Kamryn displayed interest in representing ALC, stating that she was “beyond excited” for the opportunity to represent the College. When asked about preparing for the role, Kamryn gave us a look at the journey she embarked upon to represent ALC proudly at the festival.
“The Kentucky Mountain Laurel was such a wholesome experience to me, not only because of the sense of community at the event, but also because of the morals and values it represented. It never felt like a competition, as all of the contestants became friends and enjoyed experiencing the festival together” she said. Candidates in the running for queen present themselves at a series of events including dinners and ceremonies, each candidate of which is also tasked with demonstrating social skills by introducing themselves during opening speeches.
“Preparing for the role really pushed my boundaries and helped me grow in a lot of ways. I sought advice from Haley, who gave me advice from her experience that helped me prepare for my speech and for the social events. All of the candidates were given a dress code around a month prior to the festival, so we visited several shops and boutiques in an attempt to find Mountain Laurel-themed attire for my wardrobe.”
During the social events, queen candidates are tasked with talking among representatives, hosts, and other individuals as they make their impressions to the judges- the catch being that they are unaware of who the judges are among the crowd. By upholding an honorable standard, candidates attempt to make their mark towards the crown.
“I was blessed to befriend the candidates from the other 15 colleges represented. Thursday we were a group of strangers, but by Sunday we all left with a special bond. Experiencing the hospitality and the kindness made me so proud to be from Eastern Kentucky. It’s something I’ll never forget” she noted.
“If I had to describe my experience in three words, I would say it was magical, memorable and meaningful. I am beyond thankful to my beloved ALC for the opportunity to represent the campus that I love so dearly.” When asked what advice she would give to future ALC representatives, she said “Enjoy every moment! The weekend goes by so fast, so take it all in and cherish every minute. Don’t let the fear of not winning hold you back- it’s so much more than a crown of pearls and laurels. It’s the experience and the community that comes with the festival that matters most. These memories will stick with me for a lifetime, and I will continue to share my love for the beautiful Mountain Laurel for generations to come.”
By Student Contributor Micah Turner
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