Highland Festival royalty ‘anointed’
53rd annual event is Memorial Day weekend
For the first time since 2019, the Alma Highland Festival and Games will return with a full slate weekend of activities May 27-29.
That also means there will be royalty reigning over the 53rd annual event.
Jazmyne Cushman, 17, an Alma High School senior and daughter of Deborah Cushman and Ernest and Melissa Cushman, has been selected as the Queen of Scots. She will also receive a $1,500 college scholarship.
Members of her court are: First runner-up is Jaina Barden, 17, an Ithaca High School senior and daughter of Jason and Cheryl Barden, and Karly Crowe, 18, and Alma High School senior and the daughter of Cliff and Ali
cia Crowe.
Both will receive $500 college scholarships. Chosen as the Wee Queen, for those between the ages of 8 and 11, was Ozzy Crowe, Karley’s sister and a third grader at Hillcrest Elementary School in Alma. She will receive a $100 scholarship.
The winners were named at the recent Queen of Scots pageant held at the Oscar E. Remick Heritage Center on the campus of Alma College. It’s the first time the event has been able to be held live in three years due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
Other queen candidates seeking the title were: Rylee Koutz, 19, an Alma College sophomore; Allison Onstott, 17 a St. Louis High School senior; Kylie Richardson, 18, an Ithaca High School senior, who was also named Miss Congeniality; and Mckenna Lindsay, 19, an Alma College sophomore.
The other Wee Queen candidates were: Maicee Mcdaid, 9, a fourth grader at St.mary School in Alma; Charlotte Johnson, 10, a fourth grader at St. Mary School; and Vivian Blandford, 11, a sixth grader at Donald L. Pavlik Middle School in Alma.
This year’s Highland Festival will be held over Memorial Day weekend at Alma High School due to several construction projects taking place at its usual location at Alma College.