Analise Walsh was crowned Winter Carnival Royalty Saturday night. The Grand Haven, Michigan native will graduate this spring with a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science. She was sponsored by Tau Kappa Epsilon and The Forge. (Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Analise Walsh was crowned the 2025 Winter Carnival Royal Majesty in the Rosza Center Saturday evening.

The Tau Kappa Epsilon member was selected from eight candidates, who also selected her Miss Congeniality. Rowan Kuhn was selected second runner up and Anna Hartz was selected first runner up. The winner of the Audience Choice Award was Kaydence Drys.

The evening featured each candidate sharing a bit about themselves and what they do to serve the community. They discussed their work in local organizations and services and explained what it means to be able to contribute to the Michigan Tech and Houghton area.

The candidates were also asked a variety of questions like what show or movie they would like to be a part of, or what is their favorite Winter Carnival event.

The liveliest portion of the event was the talent competition. The talents were keeping with year’s Winter Carnival theme, “Dragons, Knights and Legendary Sights.”

Madelyn Carey performed a cover of a song from the Harry Potter franchise, “Double Trouble,” with a visual display of a variety of potion props.

Drys demonstrated a variety of of fitness exercises with a plushy of Toothless from the How to Train Your Dragon franchise with jokes and puns sprinkled in.

Walsh gave a brief scientific explanation of the Bubonic plague and explained how science ihas made diseases such as that nearly obsolete in the modern era.

Hartz performed a color guard and dance to music from the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. Ella House performed a Winter Carnival themed parody of Winter Wonderland with both vocals and a guitar.

Andie Kozakiewicz demonstrated skills in speed painting with an image of an oriental dragon in a handful of strokes with a brush.

Kuhn demonstrated the steps of blacksmithing with comedy and puns sprinkled into her performance. The last performance was by Elizabeth Harke, who performed music from the How to Train Your Dragon franchise on the piano.

After the talent portion, the candidates’ escorts competed in medieval themed games with foam swords and “steeds” made out of sticks with papers taped at the end of them with illustrated horse heads.

The competitors tried to knock each other out of bounds with the foam swords in one game, and then would have to keep balance as they tried to get across the stage quickly with their “steeds” between their legs while not letting go of an item placed in a spoon in their mouths.

After the games, the winners were announced and Walsh was crowned. The Blue Key National Honor Society awarded Walsh with a $1,000 scholarship and Hartz with a $500 scholarship. Walsh said she was shocked at the results, but was proud of herself and the other candidates. She expressed a deepened interest in celebrating this year’s Winter Carnival from a different perspective.

“I’m looking forward to judging statues,” Walsh said. “I’m looking forward to the hockey games and to ride the Zamboni.”

She is also thankful to the positive community that Houghton and Michigan Tech exhibits.

“I just want to say thank you,” Walsh said. “I’m so grateful for everything, and I’m just happy to be here. I’m very happy to be winter Cardinal Queen.”