They also applauded as one of the presenters was crowned Winter Carnival Royal Majesty.

Kristen Kautz, who graduates this spring with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, said she was “shaking” when they called her name. She complimented the effort put in by the other candidates, which included several of her closest friends.

“Even the girls I didn’t know, I consider them all my really good friends, so I was really happy for everyone else that won awards,” she said. “I just could not believe that I got Winter Carnival Royalty.”

Eliya Huebner was named first runner-up, followed by Samantha Ludwick. Audience choice went to Evelyn James. Mary Christine Stevens won Miss Congeniality.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette As the crowd awaited the tabulation of the votes for Winter Carnival Royal Majesty, the escorts competed in a trivia competition to test their knowledge of local landmarks — in this case, the Quincy Dredge — and native species.

Contestants answered a pair of questions, one goofy and one weightier. They also performed a talent, each one tied to this year’s Winter Carnival theme of “From Forests to Shores We Love the Outdoors.”

For Kautz’s talent, she provided “The Ultimate Guide for Outsmarting Bears,” which incorporated bear footage.

Drawing on her chemical engineering background, she devised a bear repellent of one part yellow snow, one part dish soap. She also wore “camouflage couture” designed to make the bear think she was a “particularly hairy tree.”

“I spent last summer in Alaska, and bears really freak me out,” she said. “I just thought it was such a cool thing. The video was funny, and I’m very funny, and I have a lot of personality. So I tried to bring that into my talent.”

Kautz was sponsored by Phi Kappa Tau and Celebrations Bridal. As a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, she’s shown up to support other contestants in years past.

“I’ve always been inspired by the past women who have done this, and I’m just so honored to be able to follow their footsteps and be here, and even go past finalist,” she said.

As Royal Majesty, Kautz will be part of other Carnival special events. She’s continuing to help build the monthlong statue for Alpha Gamma Delta and Beta Sigma Theta, which is facing the same weather obstacles as is everyone else’s.

“It’s melting,” she said.

Before Saturday’s ceremony, she’d already played ice bowling and snow volleyball. While it was more like “mud volleyball,” she said, both events went well. She’s also competing in Thursday’s cross-country skiing races.

For a full schedule of Winter Carnival events, go to mtu.edu/carnival/2024.