Lonsdale woman competes in Aquatennial pageant

 

She was Miss Lonsdale from 2012-13, and on Friday July 19, Kelli Schanus could receive the state title of Queen of the Lakes or Aquatennial Princess, as part of the Minneapolis festival of the same name.

 

Schanus, daughter of Pete and Sue Schanus of Lonsdale and 2012 graduate of Montgomery-Lonsdale High School, is competing for a title of Aquatennial royalty this week.  The position is part of the Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes Scholarship Program. Each year, the Queen of the Lakes and two Aquatennial Princesses are chosen to represent the festival and city of Minneapolis all over the state, nation and world.   Schanus is one of the 47  young women representing their communities throughout the state of Minnesota in this once-in-a-lifetime program.  

 

The Queen of the Lakes Scholarship Program is a week-long program for women ages 18 to 22 that is held in Minneapolis in conjunction with the Minneapolis' annual festival: The Aquatennial, otherwise known as “The Best Days of Summer”.

 

Schanus and the other candidates are going through a rigorous judging process, being judged on a variety of criterion including poise, professionalism, public speaking ability, current and future goals, education and co-curricular/extra curricular activities. 

 

The Queen of the Lakes has historically visited other festivals throughout the U.S. and the world and is known as one of the most traveled queens in the United States.  At the end of their year of service as an ambassador of the festival, the Queen and Princesses receive educational scholarships.