A candidate for the title of Aurora, 2019 Queen of Snows of the St. Paul Winter Carnival, recently posted an inspirational quote on social media.
“Real queens,” it stated, “fix each other’s crowns.”
That sentiment is certainly true for this year’s group of 14 candidates who hope to be selected as the queen or one of the four princesses of the royal family.
“What strikes me about this year’s group of candidates, they are incredibly supportive and considerate of one another,” says Natalka Kramarczuk, chair of the Queen of Snows Candidate Committee. “The sense of ‘competition’ does not exist. The team of five selected will no doubt be incredible ambassadors for the city of St. Paul and our amazing festival.”
The role of ambassador begins as a candidate: In advance of the Jan. 25 coronation, these 14 women have volunteered at Feed My Starving Children, taken a bus tour to spread the word about the Winter Carnival’s “legend” (a storyline that focuses on a battle between winter and spring); attended various carnival-related functions; even learned a song that they perform together at events. The public can follow their wintery adventures on Facebook by searching for “2019 Queen of Snows Candidates.”
While the Pioneer Press will interview the new queen shortly after she is crowned, for now we want to introduce you to the 14 candidates by sharing their bios and their answers to our question: “What is your favorite winter memory?”
Aundreya Edwards, 21, of Farmington, sponsored by Bob and Cheryl Flood: Edwards is currently a student athlete at Crown College in St. Bonifacius studying relational and media communications. She interned for PULSE ministries as the organization planned and produced Together 2018, one of the nation’s largest worship events in Dallas last October. She also started her own young women’s ministry with the intent to inspire and empower young women to live authentically. She hopes to pursue a career in ministry, news broadcasting and politics. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, discovering new music and adventuring to new places.
Edwards’ favorite winter memory: “Learning how to ski when I was 3. Since then, skiing with my family has been a memory that I have been able to create every winter and something that I plan on doing for the rest of my life.”
Teri Erickson, 54, of Oakdale, sponsored by the Fireside Lounge Bar and Restaurant: Erickson was born in St. Paul and raised her children in Oakdale. She has been a Girl Scout leader, school volunteer, volleyball coach and a childbirth doula. Erickson believes that both her work as a hairstylist and her membership with Toastmasters International have given her the confidence and people skills to make a great ambassador for the St. Paul Winter Carnival, which she has always loved for its history, legend and magic. She especially cherishes a photo of her parents as teenagers at the carnival and hopes they are watching over her and wishing her good luck.
Erickson’s favorite winter memory: “Medallion hunting with my two lady friends. We had been hunting together for 10 to 15 years. Many years we would get dressed at 10 p.m. and go downtown to get the paper at the Pioneer Press building and then head out hunting until 1 or 2 in the morning. We came close to finding the medallion many times, but not close enough!”
Alyssa Grythe, 22, of Cottage Grove, sponsored by Rice Street Festival: Grythe’s passion for helping families and children drove her to pursue a degree in social work. She graduated in May from the University of St. Thomas, and because of her interest in family law, she is in the process of applying to law school. Grythe is currently the assistant manager at Salon Ultimo in Woodbury. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching sports (including cheerleading) and finding new ways to volunteer in her community. Grythe was the 2017-2018 Rice Street Festival Queen.
Grythe’s favorite winter memory: “Building snow forts and hills to snowboard down in the backyard with my siblings!”
Alison Gunter, 25, of St. Paul, is sponsored by Hamernick’s Interior Solutions: Gunter grew up in a small town in Minnesota, going on to earn a bachelor’s degree in communication and psychology at the College of St. Benedict. Currently, she lives in downtown St. Paul — “right on the Mississippi” — and works at Ecolab as a human resources representative. Gunter says she has fallen in love with the tradition, legacy and community of people that is the St. Paul Winter Carnival and that she is committed to carrying on this 133-year-old tradition.
Gunter’s favorite winter memory: “My favorite winter memory is going ice skating at my family cabin. My dad would drive right up to the edge of the lake and shine his headlights out onto the frozen water. We would skate all day and into the night. What made it so special is that none of us were very good, therefore the day was filled with many laughs and lots of memories.”
Cathryn Heimerdinger, 30, of Oakdale, sponsored by Catrina’s Mexican Grill: Heimerdinger is an associate chemist at Medtronic. She has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in regulatory affairs. Her family and friends are very important to her, and she enjoys spending time with them. She also enjoys solving puzzles, reading, watching movies and spending time with
her rescue dog, Rue.
Heimerdinger’s favorite winter memory: “When my dad would help us make ‘igloos’ in the front yard where the plows had piled up the snow. My younger sister and I would try to dig tunnels through our yard.”
Brooke Johnson, 23, of Champlin, sponsored by Northern Prairie Financial: Johnson is currently pursuing a degree in integrative health and healing at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. Upon completion of her degree, she plans to return to the University of San Diego to obtain an international certification as a lactation consultant. Johnson volunteers as a wish granter for Make-A-Wish Minnesota. Johnson enjoys spending time with her two horses, Jewel and Skye, along with her mischievous puppy, Orion.
Johnson’s favorite winter memory: “Going trail riding after a fresh snowfall. Feeling the horses leap through the snow under you is one of the coolest feelings in the world.”
Lauren Kaldun, 29, of St. Paul, sponsored by Doodle Productions: Growing up in St. Paul instilled in Kaldun a deep appreciation for community and a passion for helping others. She used that passion to pursue a career in pharmacy, giving her the opportunity to care for others across the state. She recently accepted a position as chief pharmacist that allowed her to return to the city she loves. Lauren utilizes her platform as a pharmacist to inspire a happier and healthier community by coordinating health fairs and providing education about medication safety. When not in the pharmacy, Lauren loves finding adventures in the world around her. Whether being silly with her niece and nephews, ice fishing at the cabin with family or hiking with friends, Lauren inspires others to remember that magic is all around them.
Kaldun’s favorite winter memory: “My favorite winter memory is one I get to do every year. I love ice fishing with my dad at our cabin in St. Michael, Minn. It’s wonderful to hang out with my dad and bond with him, plus I love catching crappies!”
Kelly Koerpel, 46, of St. Paul, sponsored by Haas Financial: Originally from Rhinelander, Wis., Koerpel followed her heart to St. Paul to attend college at the University of St. Thomas. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in counseling and higher ed administration. Koerpel taught fifth grade in West St. Paul and was assistant alumni director at St. Thomas before moving to Florida, where she created her business, Sanibel Studios ~ The Art of Celebration, a ceremony-design boutique. Now happily living back in St. Paul, Koerpel is the client relations manager at Haas Financial and says she is excited for the chance to volunteer as an ambassador for her favorite city. She is an avid wordsmith, loves the outdoors, her family and volunteering locally.
Koerpel’s favorite winter memory: “Playing in the snow-covered forest behind my mom’s house with my nieces where we created a winter village, complete with a town square, snow-covered paths throughout the woods, tree houses for each kid and a winter village bonfire for roasting marshmallows and making s’mores.”
Morgan Langworthy, 26, of Stillwater, sponsored by Party Time Liquor: Born just in time for a blizzard, Langworthy describes herself as having “snow in her veins and warmth in her heart.” Langworthy is employed by OneCause as an event manager, working to ensure successful fundraising for nonprofits. She is slated to graduate in May with a business degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. If she is not in the gym, painting or engrossed in a good book, you will probably find her blissfully generating organization procedural diagrams with color-coded flowcharts. In 2016, Morgan was a stem cell donor for a 16-year-old with severe aplastic anemia and is passionate about encouraging adults to serve their community as donors. Langworthy spent her youth spinning, bending and tumbling at Circus Juventas. She looks forward to combining her passion for the circus with the Winter Carnival to create the “Most Spectacular Show on Earth!’”
Langworthy’s winter memory: “One of my close friends works for Bridging (a nonprofit that provides furniture and household goods to families in need). Bridging hosts ‘Bedrace for Bridging’ annually at Buck Hill in Burnsville. At this event, teams dress up and complete in downhill snowy races on mattresses. I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer and participate. Not only did we have a blast sliding down the slopes at Buck Hill on a queen-sized mattress, but we were able to work and report on air with Cities 97.”
Chelsea Lawrence, 29, of Lino Lakes, sponsored by Quality Insurance Service: Growing up in Red Wing, Minn., Lawrence embraced her love of exploration and adventure on the Mississippi River. While her heart remains on the banks of the Mississippi, she has lived and worked in many countries since her childhood in Red Wing. Lawrence, who works as a freelance artist, has an associate’s degree in early childhood education from Rasmussen College and a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies and theater, with a music emphasis, from the University of Northwestern. She enjoys skiing (both water and snow), going to the theater, traveling to new places and working with her church ministries.
Lawrence’s favorite winter memory: “When I was a child in Red Wing, my mother used to keep my sister and I up late after snowstorms. She would bundle us up and bring us to the unplowed boulevards. She’d pull us on the sled to the steepest street in the center of town. My sister would be placed behind me and we’d hold on tight as my mom sent us cascading down the sleepy, snowy streets of town. After a few runs, my mother would then pull us home. I loved listening to the crunching of the snow under her feet and the rumbling of the snowplow in the streets as they erased our winter paradise.”
Kara Martin, 31, of Brooklyn Center, sponsored by Steve Doody of Edward Jones Investments: Martin, who grew up in Bloomington, is a two-time graduate of University of Wisconsin-River Falls, completing both her bachelor’s degree in art, as well as her master’s degree in school counseling. She is currently working as a high school college and career adviser. When she isn’t working with students, Martin volunteers with her youth group Job’s Daughters; serves as an adviser for her collegiate chapter of Phi Mu Fraternity; spends time with her husband, Kelly, and chases after their dog, Lady Clementine, on her neighborhood adventures. In her free time, Martin enjoys photography, curling, sewing and crafting.
Martin’s favorite winter memory: “The first time I attended the Winter Carnival (Vulcan Victory) Torchlight Parade. It sticks out to me because I remember how surprised I was at the end of the parade when the 100 or so members of previous Vulcan Krewes started coming around the corner with their torches to storm the castle. It was definitely an ‘OMG, what in the heck is going on?’ moment!”
Becca Moos, 28, of St. Paul, sponsored by Frazer Automotive Services. Moos, who lives in Lowertown, lives for her city. Whether it’s playing intramural softball or participating in the Polar Plunge, Becca has centered her life and love around St. Paul. At Northeast Metro 916, she worked as an educational assistant before going on to earn a master’s degree in occupational therapy from St. Catherine University. As an occupational therapist, she’s finally living her dream — and a new dream is to get involved with Therapists Without Borders. Moos recently became an aunt for the first time and loves pampering the baby. She also loves collecting antiques.
Moos’ favorite winter memory: “When I was 7 or 8 years old, my family lived in a small rural town in southern Minnesota. We lived across the street from the town’s snow pile (snow that was removed from streets, parking lots and sidewalks). The pile was used as a winter snow hill playground for myself and all of the other kids who lived in town. … Sledding down that big hill is what I remember most from my childhood.”
Aly Vogel, 24, Cottage Grove, sponsored by LCS Company: Vogel, who graduated with a degree in hotel, restaurant and tourism from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, works as the front desk supervisor for the Oakdale Hampton Inn and Suites. While in college, Vogel worked at Walt Disney World as part of the Disney College Program, calling it the “experience of a lifetime.” When she is not working, Vogel enjoys volunteering with the Winter Carnival’s Junior Royalty and seeing the young adults grow throughout their reign. She also enjoys reading, knitting, baking, and spending time with her family.
Vogel’s favorite winter memory: “The first time I ever rode a firetruck in the (Vulcan Victory) Torchlight Parade that comes at the end of Winter Carnival. I was 9, and it was so cool to be surrounded by all of these guys with torches marching towards the library.”
Mandie White, 22, of Coon Rapids, sponsored by Langerman Exteriors Incorporated: White, who grew up in Brooklyn Park, works with the 5-12 year olds at the Primrose School of Champlin Park. In her spare time, she likes to read, watch movies, spend time with her family and go on adventures and travel. Her biggest supporter was her grandpa Jacque, who always believed in everything she did. She says she believes that her grandpa is watching over her with a twinkle in his eye. Volunteering is a big part of her life, including serving on the donations team for Hope 4 Youth. She is also a huge Minnesota Vikings fan.
White’s favorite winter memory: “Having the snowplows drive by our house and make a huge snow mound at the end of our front yard. My dad would help us make igloos, and my brother and I would go out and play in them all day!”
IF YOU GO
What: Public viewing of the royal coronation. The public is welcome to attend the royal coronation portion of the evening (full event includes a formal dinner) — the pageantry includes the announcement of the new King Boreas and the crowning of the 2019 Queen of Snows as well as other members of the royal family of the 2019 St. Paul Winter Carnival.
Where: St. Paul RiverCentre, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., downtown St. Paul
When: Doors open for general seating about 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25
Admission: $15 with a 2019 St. Paul Winter Carnival button. Tickets will go on sale at 7 p.m. and are first come, first serve.
Donations: At this event, donations will be accepted for Operation Glass Slipper, a nonprofit dedicated to providing prom gowns and accessories at no charge to high school girls and boys throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin who would otherwise be unable to attend prom due to difficult financial or family circumstances. Needed donations include prom, wedding and bridesmaid dresses; dressy shoes, jewelry, suits, ties and more. Details at Operationglassslipper.org
Info/tickets: Wintercarnival.com/event/royal-coronation/
Copyright 2019 Pioneer Press.