Five Cowley College students have been selected as finalists for Queen Alalah XCIV as Arkansas City prepares for the 2026 Arkalalah celebration.
The finalists are Edee Boatman of Dexter, Carsen Carpenter of Derby, Ashleigh Gray of Arkansas City, Avery Smith of Girard and Hailey Stanzel of Saint George.
The five will spend the coming weeks making community appearances and participating in Arkalalah traditions before one is crowned Queen Alalah XCIV during Coronation on Friday, Oct. 30.
This year’s Arkalalah theme is “Salute to our Heroes.” Sgt. Tyler A. Juden, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on Sept. 12, 2009, will serve posthumously as grand marshal.
The Queen Alalah finalists will have a busy schedule leading up to Coronation, including meetings with local service organizations, appearances on two radio shows, Chamber Coffee, formal and themed photo shoots, Dodgeballalah, the Queens Tea and other Arkalalah activities.
The finalists will continue attending classes and handling their regular campus responsibilities during the five-week period.
To qualify as a Queen Alalah finalist, candidates must be female full-time Cowley College students enrolled in at least 12 credit hours. Candidates must be sophomores with at least 31 cumulative credit hours and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Continue story below ad.
Candidates also cannot have previously received a degree, been married, have children or previously been selected as a Queen Alalah finalist.
Queen Alalah XCIV Coronation is set for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30. Those attending will receive one ballot for each ticket purchased and will vote during the ceremony. Ballots will then be collected and counted, with the winner and first runner-up announced at the conclusion of the evening.
Tickets are $10 and are available at Arkalalah Headquarters at the Arkansas City Chamber of Commerce or at the door the night of Coronation.
The Queen Alalah coronation is one of Arkalalah’s longest-standing traditions and annually brings together Cowley College, the Arkansas City community and visitors during the city’s fall festival.
