MISS SCANDINAVIA 2011

Cari Knapp, Senior Miss Denmark, was crowned Miss Scandinavia for 2011 Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival. She is 16 years old and a Junior in High School. Her mother is Melissa Takalo. Her grandparents are Carolyn and Lowell Knapp and Linda and Alan Takalo. Great grandparent is Virginia Estes & the late Margarata Bjarne Thomassen.
Cari is involved in basketball, volleyball, track, drama, Scandinavian dancing, hanging with friends and traveling.
Her favorite memory of past Scandinavian Midsummer Festivals is being Junior Miss Denmark in 2003.

 

 

 

 

JUNOR MISS DENMARK

Emma Christina Meyer is Junior Miss Denmark for the 2011 Senior Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival this year.  She is 8 years old and is in 3rd grade.

Emma’s parents are Chris and Amy Meyer. She has two brothers, Trenten and Dylan. Grandparents are Lynda and Bill Backer, Ave and Judy Brewster, Ginny Brewster, and Kim Meyer and the late Joe Meyer.

Emma’s favorite sport is soccer. She also enjoys basketball, gymnastics, jump rope. She also likes to do art and read.

Emma’s favorite memory of past Scandinavian Midsummer Festivals is to eat aebleskivers.  She can’t wait until she is old enough to work in the Danish booth and help her father cook them.

 

SENIOR MISS FINLAND

Alli Vinje Cahill, a Senior in High School, is the daughter of Chip and Cyndi Cahill.  She is the granddaughter of the late Herman and Mary Lou Haggren. She has two older sisters Hailey and Carly, and many relatives in the area including her Uncle Mikko (Mike) and Bobbie Jo Haggren, her Great Aunt Katherine Karna, Great Uncle Ronald Collman and Great Uncle and Aunt Joe and Gwynn Bakkensen.
Alli is a three sport varsity athlete and participates in a variety of activities including Honor Society, Premiere soccer, traveling and volunteering around the community. She enjoys photography and will attend college in the fall.

 

 

 

 

JUNIOR MISS FINLAND

Josephine Rose Posey/Nice is Junior Miss Finland for the 2011 Senior Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival this year.  She is 9 years old and in the 3rd grade.

Her parents are Lora and Steven Nice.  Grandparents are: Sheri and Mike Posey; Kim Weaver, Great Grandma Bev Jackson and Joann Posey, Great Great Grandpa Bill Rice; Great Great  Great Grandma and Grandpa Miller; Uncle Chris and Aaron Posey, as well as many other extended family members in the area.

Josie is interested in riding her quad, and bicycle, playing with all of her  cats, playing with friends, dancing with the Nordic Dance Group; going to church and good news club, reading, family game night and softball.

Josie’s favorite memories of past Scandinavian Midsummer Festivals are the games at Barn Fest, as well as dancing and all of the good food.

 

SENIOR MISS NORWAY

Sara Christine Storsve Meyer is Senior Miss Norway for the 2011 Senior Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival this year. She was born and raised in Norway and is 17 years old. She is attending school in America for this year.
Her parents are Willy Meyer and Brynhild Storsve Meyer. Guardians while she is in the United States are Bente and Stig Meyer.  Grandparents are Dagfinn Meyer and Dorothy Meyer.
Sara is interested in playing the guitar, playing soccer and acting.

 

 

 

JUNIOR MISS NORWAY

Rachel Ann Dyer is Junior Miss Norway. She is 11 years old and is in the 5th grade. Parents are: Ginny and Tom Dyer.  She has 3 older brothers Andrew, Stephen & David, a younger sister, Ruby.  Grandmother Gladys Jean Nygaard Dyer and late Keith Dyer; LeRoy Schlecht Senior and Bonnie Schlecht.
Rachel’s interests are attending Warrenton Christian Church, playing basketball & softball, Nordic Dancers (like her older brothers and sister), Girls Club; gardening with her mother, catching bees and playing the Wii.

 

 

 

 

SENIOR MISS SWEDEN

Courtney Ruth Carlson is Senior Miss Sweden for the 2011 Senior Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival this year. Courtney’s Swedish heritage comes from her father's side of the family. She is 18 years old and a Freshman in College.

Courtney’s parents are Darren and Karen Carlson (stepmother). She has two sisters, Danielle and Emilee and two brothers, Darren Jr and Dylan.  Laurel Carlson is her grandmother.

Courtney is involved in Astoria FFA Alumni (secretary); Vasa Lodge Member and hunting.

Her favorite memory of past Scandinavian Midsummer Festivals are being Junior Miss Sweden in 2000 and helping the Vasa Lodge with their Pea Soup lunch for the past few years.

 

JUNIOR MISS SWEDEN

Emilee Nicole Carlson is Junior Miss for the 2011 Senior Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival this year. Emilee’s heritage comes from her father’s side of the family. She is 7 years old and is in the 1st grade.
Parents are Darren and Karen Carlson. She has two sisters, Danielle and Courtney; three brothers, Darren Jr, Dustyn, and Dylan.
Emilee loves to read, ride horses, her bike, play with her little brother, hang out with her sisters and she likes to help in the kitchen.
Her favorite memory of past Scandinavian Midsummer Festivals is dancing, the food, and playing in the kid’s area.

 

CROWN BEARER

Kory Constantine is the crown bearer for the 2011 Senior Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival this year. He is 9 years old and is in the 4th grade.
Kory’s mother is Tara Constantine. Grandparents are Sharon Tuveng and the late Gene Tuveng. Great grandmothers are the late Rosanna Tuveng and Hazel Rogers.
Kory is involved with the Scandinavian Nordic Dancers, Cub Scouts, 4-H projects, baseball, basketball, and soccer.
Kory’s favorite memory of the festival is dancing and playing games at the Barn Fest.

 

 

SENIOR COURT CHAPERONE:

Christa M. Svensson is Senior Court Chaperone for the 2011 Senior Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival this year.
Parents are John and Cynthia Svensson
Christa is involved with VASA, Daughters of Norway, Astoria Warrenton Chamber Ambassadors, Oregon Albacore Commission, American Fisherman Research Foundation.  She enjoys beekeeping, outdoor recreation, and reading.

 

 

 

JUNIOR COURT CHAPERONE:

Tara Constantine is the Junior Court Chaperone for the 2011 Senior Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival this year.  She is employed with the Astoria Fire Department.
Tara’s parents are Sharon Tuveng and the late Gene Tuveng. Great grandmothers are the late Rosanna Tuveng and Hazel Rogers.
Tara works at the Astoria Fire Department as the Administrative Assistant, Public Information Officer, and Safe Kids North Coast Coordinator. She is also involved with the Cub Scouts as a leader, 4-H leader, and she enjoys camping, working outside in her flower beds and gardening.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Court

The Midsummer Festival is the traditional way in the larger Astoria community for Scandinavians to celebrate their heritage. Four lodges are active and select a princess to represent them at the festival. The lodges include the Danish Society, Finnish Brotherhood, Sons of Norway, and Swedish Vasa.

The princesses are selected in the fall to serve as ambassadors for the festival. They wear authentic native costumes and go to many speaking engagements in the community. In the process, the princesses educate themselves about the customs and heritage of the country they represent. They also learn a lot about their personal heritage and family connections to Scandinavia.