While attending Bridgeport High School, Mateah Kittle was elected homecoming queen by her student peers and senior class representative by school faculty.

 

She was also a member of the BHS Band, captain of the girls’ track team and vice president of the National Honor Society. The list goes on, including BHS Student of the Month for September 2015.

 

One year later, she is preparing for a brand new honor. The West Virginia University freshman pharmacy major has been named as a princess to the royal court of Maid Silvia LXXX Kara D’Ann Alvarez for the 79th Annual Mountain State Forest Festival in Elkins.

 

“I’m excited to represent Bridgeport and be from the same hometown as Maid Silvia,” Kittle said. “It’s a great festival and one that is so well organized and looked forward to by so many people.”

 

Running Oct. 1-9, the Mountain State Forest Festival originated in 1930 and is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of West Virginia’s natural resources. It draws well over 100,000 people to the area – closer to 200,000 during years which feature a presidential visit.

 

Among activities are carnival attractions, a lumberjack competition, grand feature parade and various contests and festivities.

 

Kittle said she and her family have been to the festival, but she never thought about being among festival royalty. Her dad Matthew Kittle was contacted, inquiring as to whether his daughter would be interested in the honor. There wasn’t much to consider, she said.

 

“I feel like it’s a huge honor to be asked and to represent the entire state,” she said. “My dad said my face lit up when he told me and he knew if my mother was still around, she would want me to do it.”

 

Mateah is also the daughter of the late Dawne Kittle, whose favorite color was purple. That’s how Mateah is honoring her mom while being a member of festival royalty.

 

“The festival gives us velvet fabric to use to have a dress made. We each have a different color and we could request a color,” she said.

 

Mateah is very happy to be sporting a purple gown, which is being custom-made by Beth McNemar of Elkins.

 

“I met her last weekend and she measured me and I gave her the material. I’ll have my first fitting in a couple of weeks,” she said.

 

During festival week, Mateah will be staying with a host family in Elkins. Amongst a very busy schedule are a Thursday orientation, Queen’s Ball on Friday and Grand Feature Parade on Saturday.

 

Learn more about the festival and see a full schedule HERE.