Nicole DeWald of Birdsboro, a 2022 graduate of Daniel Boone High School, recently participated in the Pennsylvania State Laurel Queen pageant held during the 80th annual Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival in Wellsboro. Nicole, who was named Miss Daniel Boone earlier this year, took part in a variety of events at the festival, which is named after the state flower.

Nicole, the daughter of Pete and Kathleen DeWald, said that as a representative of Daniel Boone and Berks County, she traveled the farthest out of the 26 Laurel Queen candidates.

"It took us about four hours to get there. It's right near the New York border," said Nicole, who was accompanied to the event by her parents and grandparents.

Nicole applied to be a participant last November at the suggestion of her high school guidance counselor and was later chosen to represent her school. "We have been to Wellsboro before and we really enjoyed it. When I saw that (the pageant) was posted, I looked into the Laurel Festival because I never heard of it," she said. "It was beginning of senior year, and I was really excited, and I wanted to do everything."

"There is an application process," she continued. "I had to answer three or four questions (in essay form) about why I was a good candidate and why I would be a good representative of my school."

Nicole was on the honor roll all four years of high school and was a member of the Connections Club, the National Honor Society and Key Club. She played basketball and was a sprinter on the track team. She is also a member of Girl Scout Troop 1007 in the Daniel Boone Service Unit.

While in Wellsboro, Nicole and the other queen candidates enjoyed a weekend of activities. They took part in a welcoming ceremony at the Tioga County Courthouse, followed by a picnic lunch and a visit to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.

"It is a really big event, and there were a lot of people there. It is one of their major events in Wellsboro," said Nicole. "They had concerts, vendors and a parade that we were in as candidates on a float. There were a couple of thousand people lining the streets. The community really comes together."

While she did not win the title of Laurel Queen, Nicole said she enjoyed the experience. "I had a fun time, I enjoyed it and I'm really glad I did this," she said. "I got to spent time with the other candidates and made a couple of friends."

This year's queen winner was Miss Wellsboro Regan Regina, who was also named Miss Congeniality. Nicole noted, "This was the 80th year and only the second time that (a) Miss Wellsboro was crowned. I thought that she deserved it."

This fall, Nicole will attend Arcadia University in Glenside to major in biology. She then intends to pursue a master's degree in forensic science. Her goal is to work in a lab and study DNA to help solve crimes.