Seventeen young women will compete July 26 in the 2025 Greater Alliance Carnation Festival’s Carnation Queen Pageant.
The pageant will begin at 6 p.m. at Alliance High School in the auditorium. The winner and her court will reign over the 11-day festival, visiting most events and interacting with attendees.
The 2024 court, which includes Queen Oneal Everett; First Attendant Isabella Hall; 2nd Attendant Alexandra Ritchie; 3rd Attendant Sophia Ayers; and Miss Congeniality Lilyan Ronske, will say goodbye during the July 26 event, recapping a year of participation in events and community gatherings on behalf of the Carnation City.
This year’s competitors are ages 17 to 21, and come from Stark, Mahoning, Columbiana and Portage counties. They have spent the past six weeks traveling around the city meeting public officials, visiting companies and learning about and volunteering with service agencies.
Another activity each year in the runup to the pageant is a meeting at Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce with officials of the Carnation City. The young women sit with a panel and answer questions. They’re judged for their manner, poise and the way they respond to the questions.
The same night, the women meet, also at Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce, the members of the Greater Alliance Carnation Festival’s Board of Directors.
Meet this year’s candidates for the 2025 Carnation Queen title:
1. Avery Horning
Sponsor: Dudley’s G’s Pizza World
Hometown: Alliance
Education: 2025 graduate of Alliance High School
Age: 17
Parents: Matthew and Candice Horning
Employment: Dudley’s G’s Pizza World
Why do you want to be Carnation Queen: I would love to be the Carnation Queen to be a light for my community and to represent all that I stand for. I would love to inspire younger girls who may look up to me to do things outside of their comfort zone.
2. Sophia Thomas
Sponsor: Harding Heating & Cooling
Hometown: Alliance
Education: 2024 graduate of Alliance High School
Age: 18
Parent: David Thomas
Employment: Fun Times Fun Park, as ride operator.
Why do you want to be Carnation Queen: I want to be Carnation Queen to serve my community and help teenage girls feel empowered in their own skin, no matter who you are or what you struggle with.
3. Lyrical Andrews
Sponsor: Heggy’s Confectionary
Hometown: Alliance
Education: Sophomore at Youngstown State University
Age: 19
Parents: Christy Brower and Darnell Lawson
Why do you want to be Carnation Queen: I would love to be the next Carnation Queen because it is more than just the crown. The scarlet carnation itself represents love, and I have so much love for my city and community.
4. Zoey Maxwell
Sponsor: Lisa Tanner, Tanner Real Estate
Hometown: Washington Township
Education: 2025 graduate of Marlington High School. Plans to attend Ohio Northern University to study mechanical engineering.
Age: 18
Parents: Amy and Matthew Maxwell
Employment: Applebee’s, as a host
Why do you want to be Carnation Queen: I would love to be a greater part of the community of Alliance and get to know it better, as well as encourage young girls and show them anything is possible.
5. Abrielle Walker
Sponsor: The Brickhouse
Hometown: Sebring
Education: Junior at Kent State University
Age: 21
Employment: Target, as a cashier.
Why do you want to be Carnation Queen: I want to be the 2025 Carnation Queen because I want to give back to the supportive community of Alliance that has helped me through tough times. I aim to be a role model that is strong and shows resilience. Inspired by art, I hope to enrich young lives. As queen I’d support youth and families, leading with heart.
6. Ariana Aldridge
Sponsor: The Hidden Abbey
Hometown: Beloit
Education: 2025 graduate of West Branch High School
Age: 18
Parents: Earl and Stacey Aldridge
Employment: Hollister at Belden Village Mall, as a brand representative
Why do you want to be Carnation Queen: I want to be an inspiration to little girls who came to the Carnation pageant and because it would be really cool because it is something I have always dreamed about.
7. Faith Savage
Sponsor: Jared Duncan and Alliance Water Conditioning
Hometown: Atwater
Education: 2025 graduate of Marlington High School
Age: 18
Parents: Ann Leasure
Employment: MRP, as an engineering intern.
Why do you want to be Carnation Queen: To be able to take a piece of home with me when I travel 3.5 hours for college.
8. Ciara Rae Evans
Sponsor: Harvesting Hope in Your Community
Hometown: Knox Township
Education: Rising senior at West Branch High School
Age: 17
Parents: Paul Yose and Laura Steed Yost
Employment: Part-time as a waitress
Why do you want to be Carnation Queen: Being the Carnation Queen would be an incredible honor because it’s not just about the crown. It’s about representing the heart of our community. Alliance has shaped who I am and I want to give back by being someone younger girls can look up to. With the values I carry every day – kindness, pride, confident, and the importance of lifting others up. The community has always supported me, and now I want to give that same love back. It would be an honor to represent the heart of a place that helped me become who I am.
9. Cyndi Weatherspoon
Sponsor: T&T’s Cut and Style
Hometown: Alliance
Education: 2025 graduate of Marlington High School
Age: 17
Parents: Angela Weatherspoon
Employment: Sephora, as a beauty adviser.
Why do you want to be Carnation Queen: I want to show people it’s more than just waving at people in parades and winning and trying to show the full experience of what this pageant is all about!
10. Haley Morris
Sponsor: Salon One83
Hometown: Lexington Township
Education: 2025 graduate of Marlington High School
Age: 18
Parents: Linda and Matt Morris
Employment: Sheetz in Hartville on Sundays, and Salon One83 on weekdays.
Why do you want to be Carnation Queen: I want to learn and be a part of the Alliance community. I hope to meet many people and build my clientele as well.
12. Kaycie Jurina
Sponsor: Hot Pots Pottery
Hometown: Alliance
Education: Rising senior at Alliance High School
Age: 17
Parents: Leonard Jurina and Nicole Jurina
Employment: Hot Pots Pottery
Why do you want to be Carnation Queen: I want to be Carnation Queen so that I can push myself to try new things, even if they are scary. I also am excited to meet so many new people and make friendships that’ll last a lifetime.
13. Laney Cross
Sponsor: Robertson Kitchen & Bath Gallery
Hometown: Alliance
Education: 11th grade at Marlington High School
Age: 17
Parents: Jason Cross and Amanda Cross
Why do you want to be Carnation Queen: I want to be Carnation Queen to give girls a role model and someone to look up to. Above all else, I’m running to honor my deceased grandmother.
14. Sarah Gaczkowski
Sponsor: Manhattan Cleaning Service
Hometown: Marlboro Township
Education: 2025 graduate of Marlington High School
Age: 18
Parents: John and Tanya Gaczkowski
Why do you want to be Carnation Queen: I thought it would be a great opportunity to get to know my community and make connections with other people.
15. Brooke Fiegenschuh
Sponsor: Clothed in Righteousness
Hometown: Alliance
Education: 2025 graduate of Alliance High School
Age: 17
Parents: Matthew and Denise Fiegenschuh
Employment: Dudley’s G’s Pizza World
Why do you want to be Carnation Queen: I want to be Carnation Queen because I want to use my testimony to show young women that no matter what your circumstance may look like, you can always go after your dream.
16. Annabelle Goodwin
Sponsor: Dawn Conny, MAD Trailer Leasing for MAC Trailer
Hometown: Alliance
Education: 2025 graduate of Marlington High School
Age: 17
Parents: Melissa Goodwin and David Goodwin
Why do you want to be Carnation Queen: I believe I am an ambitious and dedicated young woman with strong values. I am looking forward to spending time this summer helping businesses around town. With this being said, I am a strong pick to become the Carnation Queen.
17. Karlaysia West-Cole
Sponsor: 7 West Design
Hometown: Marlboro Township
Education: 2025 graduate of Marlington High School
Age: 18
Parents: Cevin West-Cole and John West
Employment: Raising Cane’s, as a certified trainer.
Why do you want to be Carnation Queen: To be Carnation Queen isn’t really a want for me. I enjoy just being a part of the pageant and making new friendships, meeting new people and learning about Allliance.
18. Cadence Luca
Sponsor: Burger Hut
Hometown: Alliance
Education: Rising senior at Sebring McKinley High School
Age: 17
Parents: Samantha Luca and Benjamin and Heather Luca
Employment: Burger Hut, Bann Thai and Crandall
Why do you want to be Carnation Queen: I want to be queen so I have a greater purpose in the community. I also want to honor my grandmother, who passed away and loved everything about the festival and queen pageant. I love being around and working with young children, and by doing this, it gives me an opportunity to be a part of the community as well as a positive role model for the children.
This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Meet the 17 candidates for Carnation Festival queen
Reporting by Alliance Review / The Alliance Review
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