Ben Garbacz//Daily Mining Gazette Strawberry Queen Cecelia Butler waves to onlookers during the Strawberry Festival Parade Saturday.

HOUGHTON — As is always the case, the highlight of Friday at the Copper Country Strawberry Festival is the crowning of a new Strawberry Queen. Outgoing Queen Nora Keranen introduced the eight candidates for this year’s crown. Each candidate was asked a question by Keranen and were judged on their answers. The queen hopefuls also walked the stage to a song of their choice. After careful deliberation, the judges made their decision and Cecelia Butler was crowned the 77th Strawberry Queen.

Sponsored by Chicadees of Houghton, Butler is a recent Houghton High School graduate who will attend Columbia University in the fall to study psychology and politcal science. Butler said she was honored to represent Chassell and thanked her sponsor, parents and everyone involved in putting the event together.

“I was really surprised,” Butler said. “It was such an incredible week — working with all these women and the judges and Lara and Molly. Everyone has been such an incredible support system and so honestly, it was just so fun at the end of the day and learning that I won was just the cherry on top. I felt so supported and truly inspired to keep doing great things in our community and our world.”

Butler said she wants young women to be passionate about whatever they do in life and to never be afraid to “take up space.” During the question and answer portion, she explained what she meant by taking up space. “‘Take up space.’ This sentence is a sentiment for young girls and women to not be afraid to be powerful and have opinions. It’s not to physically take up space, but rather take up space in your community, take up space in the world, and not be afraid to share your opinions and ideas, especially when those around you don’t support you or don’t agree with you in their opinions. It’s about not being afraid to speak your mind even when people don’t believe in you. So if I have a piece of advice for young girls and young women in the entire world, it would be to never be afraid to take up space, because we are women and we can change the world too.”

Helene Rinkinen was named First Attendent and Paige Danison was chosen Miss Congeniality.