Liliana, a recent graduate of Manheim Township High School in Lancaster County, was awarded a $3,000 educational scholarship and will spend time during the next year at Wellsboro events. She was chosen from a field of 29 candidates representing high schools from across the state.
 

The coronation ceremony is always one of the highlights of the week-long Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival, hosted in Wellsboro, PA. This is the 82nd year of the festival, which started in 1938.

After the coronation, the new Laurel Festival queen took a moment to reflect.  “I’m just absolutely in awe. This is the first time I have ever visited Wellsboro, and I live three and a half hours away. It’s been an incredible experience. To have been welcomed with such open arms by the community has been wonderful. To experience this in such a sacred way has given me a very special feeling. I’m looking forward to getting to know you all better in the next year.”

Liliana is the daughter of Penny and Bob Kilgore.
 
At the coronation ceremony, Master of Ceremonies Ken VanSant of VanSant Productions asked each of the ten semifinalists a different question.
 
Liliana was asked, “Who do you think is the most influential person in history and why.”
 
She responded by introducing the audience to the inventor of insulin, Sir Frederick Banting, who discovered the drug and then gave his patent away. She reflected on how he believed that everyone should have access to insulin. She pointed out that she felt he set a precedent for what we need in health care. She spoke of her sister’s and brother’s personal family history of diabetes and that she believed that Banting’s actions had influenced the generations that followed in a positive way.
 
Liliana will attend Harrisburg Area Community College to finish her associate’s degree in communications. Subsequently she will earn her bachelor’s degree at West Chester University, majoring in Communications with a minor in Digital Marketing. Liliana hopes to one day work as a communications/outreach specialist for a nonprofit, perhaps a women’s shelter.
 
Alexa Sefing, Miss Upper Perkiomen was named first runner-up and was awarded a $1500 educational scholarship. She was also voted Miss Congeniality by the queen candidates and awarded a $500 scholarship for a total of $2000 in educational scholarships.

Alexa is the daughter of Kristie and Benjamin Sefing of Green Lane, Montgomery County. This fall, she is planning to attend Pittsburgh Frederick Honors College majoring in Business with a minor in Environmental Sustainability and Spanish.
 
Alexa was surprised and excited to be announced as the first runner-up. After the coronation, she reflected on how Wellsboro feels to her, like Stars Hollow, the fictional close-knit community depicted in the Gilmore Girls TV show. “Everybody is so supportive. People don’t even know who I am, but when I looked into some people’s eyes, I could see their soul. Kids waved their little princess waves back to me in the parade. There is so much love here. I love Wellsboro.”
 
Second Runner-Up was Isobel Anderegg, Miss Wellsboro, who will receive a $1000 scholarship. Isobel is the daughter of Anna and John Anderegg. In the fall, she is planning to attend Alfred University in Alfred, NY majoring in psychology. Isobel has committed to the Alfred University Women’s Varsity Swimming and Diving Team as well. Her goal is to work in psychology/neurology or another health career field.

Rounding out the top ten finalists were Katheryn Kilbourn, Miss Canton; Sophia Dressler,  Miss Central Mountain; Elle Bowers, Miss Warrior Run; Madeline Millard, Miss Cowanesque Valley; Celia Shemory,  Miss Jersey Shore; Hannah Benedict, Miss Mount Carmel; and Tessa Mitchell,  Miss North Penn-Liberty.
 
Judges for this event were: Renata Stiehl, news director and anchor from WENY-TV, Horseheads, NY; Jake Michaels, radio personality from 93.3 WBZD-FM, Williamsport; Marti Shabloski, Tioga County Emergency Services, Wellsboro; and Christine Moore, of Christine A. Moore Millinery, New York City and Wellsboro.
 
The Keystone Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps out of Altoona won the Parade Marshal’s award for the Laurel Parade held from 2 p.m. to 3 p. on June 15^th.