CHASSELL?- The 2015 Strawberry Festival Queen will be crowned on 8 p.m. Friday, as part of the Copper Country Strawberry Festival’s activities. The candidates are as follows, in no particular order:

Ashley Boomer: Ashley is the daughter of Lenora Veker and Tony Martinez. A 2015 graduate of Hancock High School, Ashley was active in Mind Trekkers and Interact. When Ashley was involved with National History Day, her group’s exhibit on the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911 advanced to the National Finals in Washington, D.C.

Ashley has volunteered with Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly by splitting wood and collecting food. Her Hancock Interact group has sponsored blood drives, can drives and decorated cookies with the elderly. Ashley has also been involved with Girl Scouts and helped clean up a local park.

Ashley plans to attend Finlandia University for two years, where she will also play volleyball. Because she has always wanted to be a teacher, she will then attend another university to major in Elementary Education. Ashley is sponsored by Remax Douglass.

Maya Braden: The Copper Country Kiwanis sponsor Maya Braden. A recent graduate of Houghton High School, Maya was involved in Key Club where she served as Lt. Governor, National Honor Society, cross country and track and field. She participated in Science Olympiad and was the Fundraiser Committee First chair for Junior States of America. In J.S.A., Maya submitted a bill and was selected to present it in Washington D.C. at the Winter Congress Convention.

This year Maya volunteered 90 hours of community service with the Key Club, National Honor Society, the Humane Society, Little Brothers and Junior States of America. She received a Distinguished Lt. Governor award from Key Club International for overseeing 8 clubs across the U.P.

In addition to doing research this summer in the material sciences department, Maya will attend Michigan Technological Univesity this fall to major in Biomedical Engineering. She plans to go on to medical school and hopes to participate in a program such as Doctors Without Borders. Maya is the daughter of Briana Braden.

Casandra Chandonais: Cassandra is the daughter of Pam and Tom Beggs. Casandra was an honors graduate with the Dollar Bay High School Class of 2015. While in high school, Casandra was a Student Council representative for two years. She also completed certified training to be a nurse’s aide. Casandra played volleyball in high school and coached the junior high girls’ volleyball team. She participated in cheerleading and ran both cross country and track.

Casandra has volunteered with LBFE for the past five years, where she has helped to prepare and deliver food. Casandra also helps out at church each summer by teaching vacation bible school. During her senior year, Casandra was a counselor at Camp Nesbit.

She plans to attend Northern Michigan University and hopes to pursue a career as a Physician’s Assistant. Casandra is sponsored by Dairy Queen.

Bekah Goodreau: The Chassell Friends of Fashion sponsor Bekah. Bekah will be a senior at Houghton High School this year. Bekah has taken a senior math class and AP chemistry. She has also participated in Health Careers because she hopes to go into the health field.

Bekah uses the skills she has to give to her community by playing piano at her church. This year Bekah’s teachers chose her to be a part of the Grit Leadership Team where she offers input on how to make the school a better place. It also gives Bekah the opportunity to be more involved in her community.

Bekah enjoys playing sports year-round. She is considering a career in either sonography or special education. Bekah’s health career class gave her the opportunity to experience both of these fields. Bekah is the daughter of David and Wendy Goodreau.

Briana Foreman: Briana is the daughter of Brian Foreman and Greta Maples. Briana will be a senior at Jeffers High School this fall. Briana has been active in the Drama Club, cheerleading, band, choir and the Prom Committee. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and is the president of the Student Senate. Briana served as captain of the High School Bowl team. Briana participated as second chair in Honors Band for two years and was also involved with solo and ensemble.

Briana has participated in the past three all-school musicals, and is a member of the Calumet Players and 4-H, and participates in Girl Scouts. Her Girl Scout troop made Christmas stockings for foster homes, and each year bakes Thanksgiving pies for LBFE.

Briana plans to attend college to major in music and minor in theatre. Briana is sponsored by Wicked & Wise Gifts.

Anastasia Johnson: Michigan Technological University’s Dining Services sponsors Anastasia, who is the daughter of Mark and Dana Johnson. Nastia graduated from Houghton High School this spring. While in high school Nastia was on the cross country team. She was also the Key Club volunteer coordinator for LBFE.

Nastia was adopted from Russia when she was 7 years old, as were her two brothers Max and Vassia. She has volunteered her time by walking dogs for the Copper Country Humane Society, selling raffle tickets for Ladies Ducks Unlimited and helping with Little Brothers events. Nastia also has helped with religious education at St. Ignatius Loyola church and has cleaned homes for the elderly.

Nastia has worked at Michigan Tech since she was in the 9th grade and currently works for Dining Services where she is a supervisor for SDC Concessions. She plans to attend Tech to major in Supply Chain and Operations Management.

Eden Klemett: Eden is the daughter of Terry and Faith Klemett. She will be a senior at Jeffers High School this fall. She has been active in basketball where she was a captain of the team. Eden is an honors student and is vice president of the Student Senate. She has also been involved in cheerleading and is a member of the Prom Committee.

Eden has volunteered to bag groceries at Econo Foods for the Student Senate and has walked dogs for the Copper Country Humane Society. She has also taught adults how to use technology and assists with the annual Jeffers School 5K/half-marathon. Eden helps with decorating for homecoming and prom as well.

Eden hopes to attend Finlandia University and play basketball in the fall of 2016. Eden is sponsored by Rangers Post 6165 and Auxiliary.

Quincy Lorenzetti: Celebrations sponsors Quincy, who is the daughter of Joan Tapani and Michael Lorenzetti. Quincy recently graduated from Hancock Central High School where she was in the Student Council for four years. She also played Varsity Basketball throughout high school and participated in track her freshmen year. Quincy was involved in volleyball for two years and ran cross country her senior year.

Quincy has volunteered to walk dogs for the Copper Country Humane Society. For the past four years she also volunteered at the annual Hancock Athletic Booster Club’s basketball tournaments.

Quincy works at Superior Block, Inc. in Houghton and is also a waitress at Quincy’s Restaurant in Dollar Bay. Quincy will attend Finlandia University to major in Healthcare Management and become a physical therapy assistant. She also plans to play basketball for Finlandia.

Shitaye Sam: Shitaye will be a senior at Chassell Township School this fall. She is the daughter of Sharon Sam. She has been in America for three years and is a proud member of the National Honor Society. She runs track and cross country, plays basketball, soccer and recently broke Chassell Township School’s record for the half-mile.

Shitaye has volunteered with Love INC which helps people in need obtain much needed food. She has also practiced her faith as a teacher assistant for children at Evangel Baptist Church where she is also in Youth Group.

Because she enjoys helping people, she would like to become a heart surgeon. One day she would like to have a family of her own because family is very important to Shitaye. The Chassell VFW Post 6507 is Shitaye’s sponsor.

Maria Sliva: Chickadees sponsors Maria Sliva who is a 2013 graduate of Houghton High School. While in school Maria was involved in drama club, cross country, Key Club, and the National Honor Society. She was named Captain of her Quiz Bowl team during her senior year. Maria served as Student Council treasurer, Interact Club president and was also president of her senior class.

After graduation, Maria spent a year in Warsaw, Poland through the Rotary Youth Exchange. She wrote a monthly column for the Daily Mining Gazette titled “From Pasties to Pierogi” to share her experiences abroad. Maria provided a weekly summer story time through the Portage Lake District Library for 6 years. She also started the Amigo’s Bracelets program which enables women and girls in Mexico to provide for themselves by making sustainable jewelry which is sold in the United States. Maria received the Youth Heart and Hands award for this program.

Maria is attending Michigan State University as a STARR Scholarship Recipient. She is majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular and minors in Beverage Science and Technology. Maria would like to work in the food and brewing industries and possibly go back to college for an MBA. Maria’s parents are Micki and Dennis Sliva.

Samantha Verran: Samantha is the daughter of Crystal and Derrick Verran. Samantha recently graduated from Houghton High School where she was involved in Student Council, National Honor Society and the Drama Club. She participated in Quiz Bowl, Lake Superior Youth Symposium and the varsity swim team. Samantha was involved with the History Day Competition at the regional, state and national level. Samantha graduated as a Top Scholar a year early and was on the Honor roll throughout high school.

Samantha is active in Holy Family Parish where she is a lector, altar server and a member of the choir. She has helped the Chassell Volunteer Fire Department and Chassell Medical First Responders with various fundraisers. She has also been a counselor for Camp 911 and helped to raise money for Simple Kindness for Youth.

Samantha plans to attend Tech to major in Computer Science and Psychology. She may eventually become an FBI agent. Samantha is sponsored by the Chassell Medical Frist Responders.

Marti Warren: The Chassell Womens Club sponsors Marti Warren. Marti recently graduated from Chassell High School where she was active in Robotics, the National Honor Society and the School Improvement Board. Marti served as vice president of her class and was on the honor roll throughout high school.

Marti has been a Sunday School teacher and volunteered as a Camp Nesbit Counselor. She has volunteered her time with the Parents and Teachers Together booth at Strawberry Festival and has assisted with the Chassell School turkey dinner.

Marti plans to attend college this fall to major in nursing. After receiving her degree as a registered nurse, she would like to continue her studies in the area of pediatric nursing. Marti is the daughter of Abby Logan.