The Miss Chain of Lakes' Traveling Bracelet
Every year, the new Miss Chain of Lakes receives the traveling bracelet handed down from her predecessor to wear for the year. The charm represents her year as Miss Chain of Lakes. Eventually, the bracelet will be filled with charms, representing the links that connect every young woman in this sisterhood.
This idea was taken from a local pageant in Louisiana, Miss Northwestern Lady of the Bracelet, who began this because although many young women may wear the crown "it takes a real lady to wear the bracelet."
This idea was taken from a local pageant in Louisiana, Miss Northwestern Lady of the Bracelet, who began this because although many young women may wear the crown "it takes a real lady to wear the bracelet."
Miss Chain of Lakes 2022 Kayla Boettcher
Congratulations on Top 12 finalist
Fight Like GINA STEM Scholarship
Congeniality
photo by Paula Preston
Miss Chain of Lakes Kayla Boettcher is a water conservation advocate currently working on her master's in data intelligence and geoanalytics with Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. Along with pursuing her master’s, Kayla also works full time as a GIS Technician and is a Minnesota Water steward candidate for the Vermillion River Watershed.
Her social impact initiative is H2Whoa: Don't Just Go With the Flow. Kayla’s initiative focuses on the importance of water and what we can all do to protect our local waterways. She created a #WaterWednesday post series to promote simple changes anyone can make to help conserve water. As part of her social media campaign, she plans to create video interviews with people who are instrumental in water conservation.
Kayla backs her social impact initiative with her education: She has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and is working towards her master’s degree to further her passion for protecting natural resources. During her undergraduate program, she developed wetland data for New Mexico and is currently developing data for Alaska that is used to create environmental policies for those regions. She was involved in a hydro-conditioning project for the Cannon River Watershed in Minnesota to support the One Watershed, One Plan initiative and was a Winona Water Day volunteer, where she introduced community members to the importance of water and appreciating the small organisms that work to keep our streams clean.
Her relationship with water has been lifelong and filled with memories of enjoying the lake with her family. For fun, Kayla loves the outdoors and rocking out in her car. She has been a singer for as long as she can remember and is excited to share her love for music with everyone on the Miss Minnesota stage. When not singing or spending time outside, Kayla can be found curling up with her cat, Teddy, to watch YouTube or have friends over for a game night.
Her social impact initiative is H2Whoa: Don't Just Go With the Flow. Kayla’s initiative focuses on the importance of water and what we can all do to protect our local waterways. She created a #WaterWednesday post series to promote simple changes anyone can make to help conserve water. As part of her social media campaign, she plans to create video interviews with people who are instrumental in water conservation.
Kayla backs her social impact initiative with her education: She has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and is working towards her master’s degree to further her passion for protecting natural resources. During her undergraduate program, she developed wetland data for New Mexico and is currently developing data for Alaska that is used to create environmental policies for those regions. She was involved in a hydro-conditioning project for the Cannon River Watershed in Minnesota to support the One Watershed, One Plan initiative and was a Winona Water Day volunteer, where she introduced community members to the importance of water and appreciating the small organisms that work to keep our streams clean.
Her relationship with water has been lifelong and filled with memories of enjoying the lake with her family. For fun, Kayla loves the outdoors and rocking out in her car. She has been a singer for as long as she can remember and is excited to share her love for music with everyone on the Miss Minnesota stage. When not singing or spending time outside, Kayla can be found curling up with her cat, Teddy, to watch YouTube or have friends over for a game night.
Miss Chain of Lakes 2020 Rachel Eron
ConGratulations on 1st Runner Up
photo by Paula Preston
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Miss Chain of Lakes Rachel Eron was honored to be first runner up to Elle Mark, Miss Minnesota 2021. Rachel performed a science demonstration for her talent, helping the audience understand how scientific innovation can save lives and overcome the pandemic. Rachel is a medical device engineer who earned double degree in industrial/systems engineering and computer science at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She won a biomedical innovation challenge by inventing a product to combat deep vein thrombosis. As a student intern, she saved a manufacturing company over $20,000 with her school project. She was president of the Minnovate Industry Readiness Program, and led the 3D Printing Core Team through the Institute for Engineering in Medicine. Rachel 3D printed a prosthetic arm for a young boy who was missing a hand.
Rachel strives to improve the sense of community through her volunteer work and encourages young people to value the potential of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Her social impact initiative is STEMing Creativity, Growing Innovation. As part of her work, she helps students appreciate how fun it is to solve problems when you have the foundational education in STEM. She wants everyone to know that whether you become an engineer or work in a trade such as plumbing or construction; problem solving abilities are valued in whatever you choose to do. She has judged science fairs and set up events encouraging science experimentation. Her talent at Miss Chain of Lakes demonstrated some key concepts in physics in an entertaining way. In her social media, she shares safe and easy science projects to try at home, important developments and historic figures from STEM fields, and fun ways to explore STEM. When Rachel isn't solving engineering problems, she enjoys being active in sports. She is on the Minnesota Loons underwater hockey national team. She was a competitive figure skater for fifteen years. She also does rock climbing and scuba diving. |
Samantha Bretz, Miss Chain of Lakes 2019
Paula Preston, Photographer
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Samantha Bretz, Miss Chain of Lakes 2019, recognizes that children thrive in educational environments where they are permitted to play, create, collaborate, and reflect. Her platform was an outgrowth of experiential learning she did as an intern at the Creating Landscapes summer program. She became a "playologist" at the Children's Museum in St. Paul to help foster creativity and learning for children who visit the museum. She chose a charm that represents change--the delta, as she experienced a year of change moving from her college life at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, to her career life in Minnesota as a financial analyst at Boston Scientific. She graduated magna cum laude with her B.A. in economics, and was elected to the selective Phi Beta Kappa honor society and received honors for her undergraduate research on the intersection of minimum wage policy and poverty. She performed classical ballet en pointe performance to “Amour” from Don Quixote by Ludwig Minkus for her Miss Minnesota talent. She added the Minnesota Vikings to her list of changes in 2019, joining the athletes as a cheerleader.
Congratulations to Samantha for winning 2nd runner up at Miss Minnesota 2019! |
Maren Anderson, Miss Chain of Lakes 2018
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Miss Chain of Lakes 2018 Maren Anderson has a passion for health care. Her charm represents her life's work to save lives in stressful situations. She became interested in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) when she was 15 years old and became CPR certified as a lifeguard. She has since learned more about the technique, going on to receive health care provider level certification from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). She has worked as an EMT for events such as Grandma's Marathon in Duluth. Her platform, CPR: Save a Life, encourages people to learn the skills necessary that could one day save the life of a loved one or a stranger. Maren graduated in spring 2018 with a B.A. in Human Biology from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She was named to the Dean's List and awarded for scholastic and community achievements. She plans to continue her education in the Twin Cities to obtain a doctorate in nursing practice.
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Paula Preston, Photographer
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Alexandra Koes, Miss Chain of Lakes 2017
Paula Preston, Photographer
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As Miss Chain of Lakes 2017, Alexandra organized events and spoke to local communities about how we can change our world by performing simple acts of kindness. She believes that by encouraging people to demonstrate kindness, we spread a contagious wave of selflessness through our community to counteract the pervasive negative messages present in our society. She volunteered as a camp counselor for kids with heart disease, Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters, Girls on the Run coach, Meals on Wheels driver, and nursing aide at the University of Minnesota Medical Center. She organized a clothing drive and collected over 500 items to donate. For all that, she is represented by a simple heart charm on the Chain of Lakes bracelet.
Congratulations to Alexandra for winning the Heart of Giving Award at Miss Minnesota 2017! |
Courtney Igbo-Ogbonna, Miss Chain of Lakes 2016
Paula Preston, Photographer
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Courtney's charm on the Chain of Lakes bracelet represents her platform, Destination Diploma. "Education has set me up for all the success I have achieved in my past and will achieve in my future. It is so near and dear to my heart and I'm so lucky to have spent my year promoting the importance of education."
Congratulations to Courtney for winning the non-finalist interview award at Miss Minnesota 2016! |
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Chelsea Swiggum, Miss Chain of Lakes 2015
3E Love Charm: Embrace. Educate. Empower. Love Life
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Chelsea's charm is small but meaningful. It represents the work she did during her year to promote physical activity in spite of obstacles. She was instrumental in the development of an inclusive playground in St. Cloud, Minnesota, which allows children of all abilities access to enjoy fun outdoor activities. Congratulations to Chelsea for placing in the Top 11 at Miss Minnesota 2015! |
Paula Preston, Photographer
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Grace Christenson, Miss Chain of Lakes 2014
Paula Preston, Photographer
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Grace didn't expect to find any carrot or broccoli charms, but bees are amazing natural indicators and closely related to the food system. They work very hard to pollinate most of our fruits and veggies, and when something is wrong with how we treat our food, the bee population will suffer too. When you have fresh food, thank the bees!
Congratulations to Grace for placing in the Top 11 at Miss Minnesota 2014! |
Queen Bee Charm
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