WELLSBORO, PA (WENY) -- The 2023 Pennsylvania State Laurel Queen was crowned Saturday evening, in a coronation ceremony at Wellsboro High School.

This year's queen is Emma Podobinski, who represented Warrior Run High School. Podobinski was crowned queen out of a field of 26 candidates, representing high schools from across the state of Pennsylvania. The girls spent the weekend touring various attractions in Wellsboro, taking part in community activities and getting to know each other. Each competitor is nominated by their high school, and travels to Wellsboro for the pageant. 

Ms. Podobinski will serve as the Pennsylvania State Laurel Queen for the next year, serving as a representative of the Laurel Festival at Wellsboro's Dickens of a Christmas event in December, and returning next June to crown her successor. As queen, Emma also receives a $3,000 academic scholarship. In the fall, she will attend Houghton College.

First runner up in this year's pageant was Melody Rzeszotarski of Montoursville Area High School, and Katherine West, representing Towanda High School was second runner up. Each also received a money in the form of an academic scholarship.

This year marked the 81st annual Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival in Wellsboro, hosted annually by the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce. WENY's Renata Stiehl served as one of the judges for the queen's pageant. 

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