Zack Metiva, a fourth-year computer network and system administration major, had been named queen after Saturday’s competition Saturday at the Rozsa Center. Metiva was also the first male candidate in the pageant’s history.

Blue Key Honor Society, which runs Winter Carnival, announced on its website Sunday Metiva had been stripped of the title.

“It was brought to the attention of Blue Key Honor Society that the previously crowned 2020 Winter Carnival Queen displayed inappropriate behavior following the Coronation,” the statement said. “This behavior does not represent the values of Winter Carnival, Blue Key, and Michigan Technological University. The Winter Carnival Queen embodies a well-rounded, confident, and talented individual who showcases the importance of scholarship, community, and character … Blue Key would like to emphasize that the Winter Carnival Queen Coronation will remain an inclusive event, open to all students.”

Riley Simpson, previously first runner-up, takes Metiva’s place as queen. She is a fourth-year mechanical engineering student sponsored by Guardians of the North and Cyberia Cafe.

(Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette) Riley Simpson receives her first runner-up award from Michigan Technological University Carnival President Richard Koubek and 2019 Queen Jill Poliskey. Simpson ascended to the throne Sunday after Zack Metiva, named Tech’s first male queen Saturday, was removed due to unspecified inappropriate behavior.

Dana Anderson is now first runner-up, followed by Abby Bevilacqua, who won the Audience Choice award. Josie Fiore was named Miss Congeniality.

Simpson and Metiva could not be reached for comment Sunday.

Blue Key did not specify the nature of the inappropriate behavior. Tech’s Winter Carnival rulebook lists disqualifying acts, including unsportsmanlike conduct, alcohol or intoxication during Winter Carnival events and harassment of judges or Blue Key members.

After being crowned Saturday, Metiva said he decided to enter the competition because he felt “anybody should be able to feel like a queen during Winter Carnival.”

Also competing Saturday were Ruthie Maki, Dava Lakatos and Sarah Anderson.

“I think it’s great,” he said after winning. “I think that it is a great move forward for Michigan Tech to be super-inclusive and diverse.”

Metiva’s disqualification is the second high-profile reversal for Winter Carnival this year. After unspecified complaints, the organization previously retooled the Winter Carnival logo to remove a caveman and replace it with an image of the Upper Peninsula.

For her talent, Simpson played a medley of Disney songs on marimba, starting with the omnipresent marimba ringtone.

Questions for her included how the weather had impacted her Tech experience, she remembered trudging through a blizzard on the way to an exam. Asked what dinosaur she would want as a pet, she chose a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

She said her biggest passion is flying, and hearing about other people’s passion.

“When they have that thing that makes them spark, like flying does for me, I love to hear about it,” she said.