By Joe Morey
News Editor
In June of 2018, Hayward High School Junior and LCO Tribal Member, Adelyn Stone, was selected Musky Queen, and as part of her reign, she was one of the award presenters at the podium of the 2019 American Birkebeiner.
Adelyn said the highlight of her Birkie weekend was participating in the Giant Ski Race, a race where a group suit up in the same giant ski and race down Main Street of Hayward.
“We did our best,” Adelyn said. “It was a fun experience. I’ve never done anything like that before.”
Adelyn said she decided to run for the 2018 Musky Queen after friends had told her how much fun they would have and how much it would expose them too. Adelyn had been taught a lot about volunteering from her mother Alberta, so she knew there would be a lot of volunteering as part of the Musky Queen royalty.
“I am always excited to help volunteer. I was in Hayward Cheer during my freshman and sophomore years and I was introduced to a lot of volunteering opportunities through Cheer,” Adelyn said.
One of those experiences included the ALS Run/Walk where she not only helped with parking, but she was able to cheer on and encourage the participants.
“Running for Musky Queen has been a great experience and has introduced me to so many new faces,” Adelyn said. “It was a great way to learn so much more about our friendly town, Hayward.”
Adelyn noted her favorite subjects at school include science and art/design. She loves to learn about the environment and different things around the world. She also enjoys taking different art classes, including ceramics and painting, and painting on canvases at home as well.
“A few future goals I have set for myself are to receive my high school diploma, and go to a four-year college or university,” Adelyn said. “I plan to attend college in Minnesota near my other siblings and to live on campus.”
Adelyn explained how living on campus helps students achieve better grades and students who live in university housing for multiple years have higher graduation rates than those who don’t.
Adelyn credits her mother and her siblings for her volunteering spirit.
“My mom introduced me to volunteering and encouraged me,” Adelyn said. “I love it because it puts smiles other’s faces, as well as mine, and I love meeting new people.”
Adelyn first started volunteering at the LCO Elder Nutrition Center where her mother is the nutrition manager. She helped out in preparing, packaging and serving meals. Eventually she was delivering meals too. Lately, she has been helping in the office with menu designing and delivering the newsletters to the surrounding nursing homes.
Adelyn will continue to represent Hayward and Lac Courte Oreilles until the 2019 Musky Festival on the third weekend of June.
In the photos (top), Adelyn is lined up at the podium for award presentations to the Birkie’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers and (below), Adelyn congratulates 2019 Birkie Champion, Akeo Maifeld-Carucci.