Carmichaels teen crowned as new Coal Queen
A Carmichaels student was crowned as the 2015 Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Queen during a pageant Sunday evening in the Carmichaels Area High School auditorium.
The King Coal Association continued the week of festivities by hosting its 62nd annual Coal Queen pageant with the theme of “Coal Built America.”
Katlyn Allison, 17, a daughter of Todd and Lisa Allison, received the crown from the previous year’s Coal Queen, Alyssa Gallagher of Laurel Highlands High School.
When her name was announced as the winner, Allison said it was “kind of a shocked moment. It got very loud and it was just kind of crazy,” she said.
Her family has been involved with the Coal Show for years and her great uncle, Ross Allison, was one of the founders of the coal show.
“I just think God placed me here,” she said, when reflecting on her achievement.
Allison won over not only the judges but the crowd as well, when she answered her impromptu question by bringing it back to the reason the event is held: the coal miners.
The win was even more special for Allison because her father had previously been employed at the Hatfield Ferry Power Station as an engineer but lost his job in 2013 when the plant was shut down.
Allison is the drum major in the Carmichaels Area High School marching band and said she was able to march with her fellow band members before resuming her coal queen duties of judging the bike and pet parades.
During the week of the coal show, which she described as a “whirlwind,” Allison said she also called out numbers at bingo and helped make funnel cakes.
Allison, who will be a senior this year at Carmichaels, said after graduation she plants to attend Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va., and major in pharmacy.
Other contenders who competed in this year’s pageant were Dominique Brown, representing Brownsville High School; Sarah Campbell, representing Albert Gallatin High School; Morgan Coyle, representing Trinity High School; Sara Cumpston, representing Mapletown High School; Morgan DeWitt, representing Geibel Catholic High School; Amanda Frampton, representing West Greene High School; Elayne LoFiego, representing Waynesburg Central High School; Megan Keruskin, representing Beth Center High School; Kayla Pendland, representing Jefferson Morgan High School; Keely Smiley, representing Connellsville Area High School; Anna Strauser, representing Laurel Highlands High School; and Alexis Wivell, representing Uniontown Area High School.
Allison also won highest sponsorship, the Miss Photogenic title and the evening gown category. The winner of the talent portion was Wivell, who also placed fourth runner-up. The top interview went to Kayla Pendland, and Campbell won the Miss Congeniality title.
Coyle was named third runner-up, Frampton was named second runner-up and LoFiego was named first runner-up.
The Coal Show continues Friday and concludes Saturday with a wide array of events and activities.
Friday’s events will include exhibits, contests and the carnival, as well as a free music performance from Mark Davis on the fire hall grounds from 7 to 10 p.m. Also, winners will be announced on Friday at 8 p.m. for the King Coal Prince and Princess contests in the fire hall.
The Coal Show will conclude on Saturday with several events, including a car show, car parade, the annual King Coal Parade and more.
The 62nd annual King Coal Charles Workman Memorial Car Show will be held at Wana B Park from 12:30 to 3 p.m., with registration starting at 10 a.m. Registration is $10. Admission is free for spectators.
The 62nd annual King Coal Charles Workman Memorial Car Parade will begin at 3:50 p.m. and will be followed by the 62nd annual King Coal Parade at 4 p.m.
The carnival will be open from 5 to 11 p.m. and a performance from the band “The Hamptons” will be held on the fire hall grounds from 7 to 10 p.m. Admission for the concert is free.