MISS SCANDINAVIA 2011 & 2012 COURT
Cari Knapp, Senior Miss Denmark, was crowned Miss Scandinavia for the 2011 Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival. In late February the 2012 Court was announced. On June 22, on the first night of the 2012 Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, Miss Scandinavia for 2012 will be selected.
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Senior Miss Denmark is Cala Carlena Anne Petersen. Parents are Celeste and Ernie Petersen. Grandparents are Lewis Richardson, the late Sue Richardson, the late Ernest Petersen, Sr. and the late Vida Petersen. |
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Junior Miss Denmark is Ava Osborne. Parents are Rebecca and John Osborne. Grandparents are Lynette Litwin and the late David Litwin; Patty Osborne. Great Grandparents are David and Janeice Crawford. |
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Senior Miss Finland is Emmi Collier. Parents are Leila and Michael Collier. Grandparents are Lempi and Vaino Koskela of Astoria and Diane and Sonny Collier of Warrenton. |
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Junior Miss Finland is Josie Kero. Parents are Jenae and Doug Kero. Grandparents are Myra Kero, Ken Bonin and Phyllis Thies. |
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Senior Miss Norway is Krista Higgins. Parents are Brenda and Charles Higgins. Grandparents are Mervyn and Kathleen Helmersen, Marilyn Blevins and Larry Higgins. |
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Junior Miss Norway is Ava Catherine Palmberg. Parents are Leslie Claterbos and Jason Palmberg. Grandparents are Marian and Mike Soderberg, Dave Palmberg, Nancy Claterbos and Stephnie Claterbos. |
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Senior Miss Sweden is Meg Dowaliby. Parents are Todd and Dixie Dowaliby. Grandparents are Mike and Sally Dowaliby of Whitefish, Montana; Bill and Betty Cunningham of Astoria. |
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Junior Miss Sweden is Audrey Swenson. Parents are Marci and Vance Swenson. Grandparents are Gerry and Bob Swenson of Astoria, and Brian and Carol Graves. |
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Crown Bearer is Ben Swenson. Parents are Marci and Vance Swenson. Grandparents are Gerry and Bob Swenson of Astoria, and Brian and Carol Graves.
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Senior Court Chaperone is Billie Jo Tarabochia. She is married and her husband’s name is Mark Tarabochia. Her national heritage is Swedish. |
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Junior Court Chaperone is Marci Swenson. She is married and her husband’s name is Vance Swenson. Her national heritage is Swedish. |
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.