2016 Queen of Candles Court

by | Jul 4, 2016 | Events, Queen of Candles

MEET
THE
COURT

75th Pageant of the Queen of the Candles

(sponsored by the Lititz Woman’s Club)

 

Twelve young ladies, members of the Warwick High School Senior Class of 2016, are selected by their classmates through secret ballot to serve on the Court. The individual with the most votes is crowned as Queen. The newly crowned Queen lights her candle and in turn, lights the candles of her Court. Lititz Boy Scouts light their torches from the lighted candles and pass teh light to those who will light the colossal display of over 4,500 candles that create the grand illumination of the Park.

 

Valentina F

Valentina Fernandez

Valentina Fernandez is the daughter of Maritza Fernandez and is escorted by her step-father Will Santiago. Valentina has had a great experience during her years as a Warwick Warrior; this year she particularly enjoyed ceramics and English.

Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing the organ, volunteering, reading books, and playing with her little brother. Additionally, she and her family attend Journey Church in Strasburg.

Now that Valentina is a WHS grad, she plans to join the U.S Army Reserves so she can give back to her county and community. She will be taking a gap year to earn money for her education, but ultimately, Valentina would like to pursue a degree in fashion design/merchandising and live on the west coast.

Her advice to someone visiting Lititz would be to stop at Greco’s for ice cream and eat it while strolling through Lititz Springs Park.

 

Katelyn Hipple

Katelyn Hipple

Katelyn Hipple is the daughter of David and Judith Hipple and is being escorted by her father. During her senior year, she has been a member of Interact, UNITE, Yearbook, a Student Athletic Trainer, President of the PALS club, Aevidum and is a member of FCA.
She played Varsity soccer and basketball. Katelyn was the girls varsity soccer team captain her senior year. She was awarded an all-star honorable mention in soccer, received the Lancaster Optimist Club Citizenship Award, and was on Warwick’s Homecoming Court. Katelyn has been on distinguished and honor roll throughout high school.

Outside of school, she leads a youth group at LCBC with kids who have autism and are intellectually disabled. This summer Katelyn will be working for an extended school year program as a teacher’s assistant to educate kids with autism and learning disabilities.

This upcoming fall, she will be attending Millersville University, where she will dual major in early education and special education with a minor in gifted studies.

Katelyn would tell anyone to visit Lititz during any holiday and enjoy the festivities while shopping with aroma of chocolate.

Lindsey Lefever

Lindsey Lefever

Lindsey Lefever is the daughter of Ken and Karen Lefever and is being escorted by her father.  In school she is a member of the National Honor Society, National German Honor Society and the Treasurer of the National Business Honor Society. She is also involved in Student Council and Future Business Leaders of America. She has been on Distinguished Honor Roll throughout her Warwick career.

Outside of school, Lindsey works at Moravian Manor Retirement Home, attends OMPH Church, and she will be attending the University of Pittsburgh in the fall.  The thing a tourist must do in Lititz is go to 2nd Friday!

Alexandra LeVasseur

Alexandra LeVasseur

Alexandra is the daughter of Donald and Mary LeVasseur. She is escorted by her uncle, James McNelis.

She is the Vice President of the senior class, Overall Chair of UNITE club, and Link Crew Commissioner. She is also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Interact, PALS, and Leo Club. Alexandra is a member of the Warwick Swim team and a player and president for the Penn Legacy Rugby Club.

Alexandra was Lititz Rotary Club’s April student of the month. She participated in Warwick’s Dual Enrollment program allowing her to attend Franklin and Marshall College for advanced placement German. Alexandra is the Student Ambassador for the Tobacco Resistance Unit of Lancaster County (TRU). She has enjoyed participating in and developing PSA’s for TRU.

She is a member of LEFC where she enjoys leading. You may see her smiling face lifeguarding at Woodridge or working at Ralph Lauren. This fall, Alexandra is headed overseas to be a missionary for nine months; living in India, Zambia, and Malaysia. She will then attend college with a double major in International Relations and German.

Alexandra would tell a Lititz visitor to start every day of their visit with the best buns in town: Dosie dough.

Samantha Machin

Samantha Machin

Samantha Machin in the daughter of Lazaro and Katy Machin and is being escorted by her father tonight.

Samantha has been a member of the National Spanish Honor Society this past year and maintained Distinguished Honor Roll all throughout her high school career. This past year she had the opportunity to be a Teacher’s Assistant for Mr. Nixdorf and plans to pursue ceramics in her spare time. She played Varsity Soccer during her four years at Warwick and plays for two travel clubs: PA Classics, and Lititz Youth Soccer Club.

Outside of school, Sam is a part of the Lititz United Methodist Youth Praise Band, where on various Sundays she gets the opportunity to do what she loves most: sing and play piano. Samantha is also a sponsor or Susan Lesopia, a Compassion child in Kenya. Currently Sam is working as a food service worker at Luther Acres, where she gets to spend time with the residents.
Her future plans are attending Lebanon Valley College for a degree in Business. While she is there she will play Women’s Soccer for the Dutchmen! In addition she has been awarded a scholarship for a no-major in music, which will allow her to pursue her passion for music.

Her favorite memories of Lititz consist of going into town with friends, during the summer to get some ice cream at Greco’s and recommends that all visitors to Lititz should definitely stop by Greco’s.

Madison Miller

Madison Miller

Madison is the daughter of Craig and Donna Miller. Her father is escorting her this evening.

She is actively involved in school activities such as the Treasurer of the Class of 2016, a member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, and Spanish Honor Society. She is also involved in PALS and Link Crew.

Maddy has been on the Distinguished Honor Roll through high school. She is most inspired by her parents and sister for showing her that nothing is impossible with just a little hard work.

Maddy’s future plans are to attend Bloomsburg University and major in Speech Pathology. A visitor in Lititz must get a bagel at Dosie Dough and walk through Lititz Springs Park.

Natalie Rhoads

Natalie Rhoads

Natalie Rhoads is the daughter of Sara Rhoads-Shank and Todd Rhoads and is being escorted by her father.
In her senior year, she was the secretary of National Honor Society, secretary of National English Honor Society, and a member of the Spanish Honor Society, Link Crew, and the Lititz LEO Club.

Outside of school, Natalie spends the majority of her time at Pulse Dance Studio where she is part of the nationally ranked Senior Company that competes in multiple competitions across the east coast. Natalie has been on Distinguished Honor Roll for all of high school and has worked at Rita’s Italian Ice.

In the fall, she plans to attend Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia to study interdisciplinary health services with the end goal of having a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy.

Natalie would tell a visitor that the beautiful Fire and Ice Festival is a must see event in Lititz.

Samantha Shields

Samantha Shields

Samantha is the daughter of Tom and Melonni Shields. Her father is escorting her this evening.

This year, she has been a member of the National Honor Society and a Co-Vice President of the Spanish
Honor Society. She also participates in Interact, Link Crew, UNITE, and FCA. She has competed with the Warwick High School Cross Country, Swimming, and Track teams and she was chosen to be a captain of all three teams. In Cross Country, she participated in the State meet and was honored as a First Team All-Star by the League and a Second Team All-Star by the State.

Sam has also been on the distinguished honor roll. In addition, she was the Rotary Student of the Month.

She attends church at Saint James and lifeguards at the Lititz Springs Pool where she is also a member of the swim team. After high school, she will be attending the University of Pittsburgh to major in Physical Therapy and run for their Cross Country and Track teams.  While she is in college at Pittsburgh, she will miss walking down to Second Friday and spending time at Tomato Pie with her friends. But, she is excited that she will always be home for the one activity every Lititz resident must do, the wonderful 4th of July celebration!

 

Samantha Springer

Samantha Springer

Samantha is the daughter of Roberta and Garth Springer and is being escorted by her father.

In her senior year, she was the President of National Honor Society as well as a member of the Nation English Honor Society and Link Crew. Samantha played soccer for the Warwick High School girls’ varsity team. She maintained the distinguished honor roll throughout her high school, including her senior year.

Outside of school, she is captain for her club soccer team, Penn Legacy.

In the summers, she works for Savicky Lawn Care as a landscaper. In the fall, she will be attending Franklin and Marshall College to study government/history and play Division 3 soccer for the Diplomats. She would ultimately like to pursue a career in Law.

One things that is an absolute must see in Lititz is the Sturgis Pretzel Factory because of its long history and great tasting pretzels!

Hannah Weidman

Hannah Weidman

Hannah Weidman is the daughter of Neil and Barb Weidman and is being escorted by her father.

In her senior year, she has been a member of National Honor Society, Interact, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She was elected as captain of her varsity field hockey team, and she was also named to the Academic All-State field hockey team. Hannah has been on distinguished honor roll all throughout high school.

She works in food services at Luther Acres and is a member of LCBC Church in Manheim. In the fall, she will be attending Kent State University where she will study speech pathology and play field hockey for the Golden Flashes.

While you’re in town, Hannah suggests you stop by Family Cupboard Restaurant for their breakfast buffet.

Abbie Weit

Abigael Weit

Abbie is the daughter of Scott and Beverly Weit, her father is escorting her this evening.

During her senior year, Abbie was a member of Student Council and was the Student Representative on the Warwick School Board. She served as President of Spanish Honor Society and spent a week of service in the Dominican Republic. Abbie is also a member of the National Honor Society and National English Honor Society.

Abbie mentored incoming freshmen through the Link Crew program. She co-initiated a powder puff football fundraiser at Warwick. She swam on the Warwick Swim Team and was a manager of the Warwick Baseball Team. She was also a member of the Homecoming Court.

Abbie will be attending Virginia Tech in the fall majoring in Neuroscience.

Abbie would encourage anyone to spend a day in Lititz discovering all the fun shops and experiencing the unique feeling of our hometown.

 

Suzanna Whiting

Suzanna Whiting

Suzanna is the daughter of Ron and Rhonda Whiting and is being escorted by her father.  Suzanna played volleyball and swam throughout high school and was the captain of both teams her senior year. She was the boys’ volleyball manager. She is playing her 12th year for Coach Tim with Lititz Youth Soccer. She is also a member of the Lititz Springs Swim Team. Suzanna was secretary of Interact, a member of Pals, Link Crew, Unite, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and National Art Honor Society. She was named the Rotary Student of the Month for the month of May.

She is active in the Youth Group at Lancaster Evangelical Free Church and is an 8th grade girls small group leader. She looks forward to participating in her second mission’s trip to South Africa at the end of July. She will be serving children from the shantytowns of Johannesburg for 18 days. Suzanna works as a lifeguard at Lititz RecCenter and Lititz Springs pool.
Suzanna plans on going to Lancaster Bible College and participating in a gap year program called OneLife. She will then transfer to Central Penn College and become a Physical Therapy Assistant.

I have always thought that a must do in Lititz is to go to the Fourth of July celebration in the park. I encourage my relatives from out of the state to come each year. A day packed with fun, friends, and family topped off with Queen of Candles and amazing fireworks  it doesn’t get much better than that!

Isaac Afutiti – Crown Bearer

Isaac Afutiti – Crown Bearer

Isaac is the son of Josh and Emily Afutiti. He just completed 1st grade in Mrs. Chivinski’s class at Kissel Hill. He enjoys counting by twos and reading. Isaac was one of two children chosen from 1st grade to be a “guest” reader for students, parents and teachers during Kissel Hill’s 2016 reading celebration.

Isaac is the 3rd member of his family to participate in the Queen of Candles court; his Mom, Emily was on the court in 1996 and his Auntie Amanda was on the court in 2000.
Isaac is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and enjoys attending church every Sunday. Isaac plays the piano and drums and enjoys his lessons. Isaac’s other hobbies include swimming, rock collecting and he is a serious board game player.

Isaac suggests a visitor to Lititz should try Isabella’s ice cream! Isaac enjoys going to Isabella’s Ice cream Parlor and ordering his favorite treat which is a root beer float with gummy bears. He says, “Don’t knock it until you try it.” Something else he likes to do is go on family bike rides down town and playing at Lititz Springs Park with his brothers.

Cara Piehl – Flower Girl

Cara Piehl – Flower Girl

Cara is the daughter of Alexander and Amy Piehl. She just completed first grade in Mrs. Thomson’s class at Bonfield Elementary School. She enjoys soccer, gymnastics and running 5K’s with her mom and sister. She has played on the Lititz Youth Soccer Club for two years and will continue being active in sports this upcoming fall.

Cara is interested in modeling and acting, she looks forward to working with her new agency I.T.S. this spring. She is a member of Conestoga Valley Church of Christ.

Cara recommends visiting the District Art Show at Lititz Elementary School.

1952 Crowning of Cynthia Breininger
(ring bearer John Sheaffer)

1959 Queen of Candles Court
Joan E. Klopp Clair crowned as Queen

1976 Bicentennial Celebration
Queen of Candles Court
Elizabeth J. Hanna Counselman crowned Queen

1971 Crowning of Ida Mae Reiff High

2013 Greta Marie Weidemoyer

Former Queens  1942 to 2016

1942 - Polly Moyer Keenen
1943 -  Dorothy F. Sing Graybill
1944 - Jane Reidenbaugh Carper
1945 - Jane S. Martin Kreider
1946 - Margaret Grosh Reidenbaugh
1947 - Sylvia L. Roth Kauffman
1948 -  Ruth Risser Wimble
1949 - Barbara Lou Miller
1950 - Virginia Lou Ranck Ludwig
1951 - M. Jean Sturgis Steffy
1952 - Cynthia Wier Breininger
1953 - Audrey Risser Cochran
1954 - Joan C. Reist Gibbel
1955 - Jane L. Risser Pinkerton
1956 - Vivian C. Landis Aichele
1957 - Susan Beck Smith
1958 - Nancy Eicholtz Badorf
1959 - Joan E. Klopp Clair
1960 - Leslie Reinhart Male
1961 - Suzanne Hosler Kay
1962 - Mary Ann Hess Scherpf
1963 - Sue Minnich Weaver
1964 -  Linnea J. Minnich Hershey
1965 - Terry Kegel Johnson
1966 - Gloria J. Brubaker Quigley
1967 - Donna Ann Wiegand Hammond
1968 - Daphne Shaeffer Treat
1969 - Catherine Hess Figart
1970 - Donna J. Steffy Enck
1971 - Ida Mae Reiff High
1972 - Debbie Ann Kleinfelter Wier
1973 - Kathryn M. Eckert Wanenchak,
1974 - Kathleen Jo Garner Schoenberger
1975 - Cynthia Lynne Gingrich
1976 - Elizabeth J. Hanna Counselman
1977 - Rufina Lynn Eckman Ebersol
1978 - Cheryl L. Martin Tennis
1979 - Jo Ann Washchysion Conjar
1980 - Lisa M. Zercher Goodin
1981 - Kathy Lynne Haddad Howley
1982 - Mary Beth Gibbel Bertrando
1983 - Kathryn M. Badorf Norris
1984 - Beth Ann Eidemiller Duch
1985 - Cynthia N. Hurst Sensenig
1986 - Linda Jo Geiger Fleth
1987 - Julie D. Turano
1988 - Debra J. Haddad Ramsey
1989 - Kimberly Ann Harris Eckman
1990 - Jill Michelle Musser Starliper
1991 - Amy Fyock Stehn
1992 – Dori Harnly
1993 - Bree Allison Derr Arva
1994 - P. Dawn Harnly
1995 - Kelly Jo Coen
1996 - Kaye Louise Bucher Black
1997 - Sarah E. Eshelman Sell
1998 - Christina M. Booth
1999 - Emily Good
2000 - Katie Jo Gerfen
2001 - Nicole Marie Mobarak Diller
2002 - Jill Christine Newberry
2003 - Roxannah Hunter
2004 - Taryn Hollister
2005 - Alyssa Newberry
2006 - Kate E. Stewart
2007 - Sierra Kreft
2008 - Mikaela Soto Watkins
2009 - Kelsey A. Zeswitz
2010 - Marissa Laine Talbot
2011 - Danielle Marie Keim
2012 - Taylor Lee Calta,
2013 - Greta Marie Weidemoyer
2014 - Lauren Gabrielle Stork
2015 - Reagan Elizabeth Conrad
2016 - Samantha Shields

1950  4th of July / Queen of Candles

Lighting of the candles at the park