Reynolds becomes royalty

MILAN — On Saturday, three contestants — all Edison High School students — competed in the annual Milan Melon Festival queen's contest. The participants included seniors Ilah Reynolds and Becca Houser as well as junior Rose Gall. For the past month, all have prepared for this moment. This included being ready to answer questions at random in front of a live audience on Saturday, picking inquiries out of a fishbowl: • Reynolds shared how her most prized possession is her cross necklace. • Houser explained how her favorite family tradition is a gift exchange with her sisters. • Gall underscored how her family, especially her sisters, inspired her to run for queen. With three exceptionally qualified candidates, the judges had a tough time choosing a winner and the two runners-up. But, ultimately, Reynolds received the crown. Houser came in second place, becoming first attendant; and Gall ended up in third place, becoming second attendant. Charlotte Gall — the 2024 Milan Melon Festival queen and one of Rose's sisters — passed on her crown to Reynolds, who was ecstatic. Reynolds vowed to uphold the queen's title with pride and dignity, promising to represent the Milan community with great spirit at all times. "The festival means a lot to me because it's really representative of our history of the town and what we stand for and all that we honor and our traditions," Reynolds said. Bio blast The Milan Melon Festival committee provided information on Reynolds, helping convince judges to give her the queen's title: Ilah is the only daughter of Greg and Sarah Reynolds alongside her dog, Indi, and two cats, Vivi and Foxy. Ilah is thrilled to be representing her hometown in this year's Milan Melon Festival queen's contest. Driven, creative and always on the go, Ilah is deeply involved in nearly every corner of student life: From high-flying lifts in show choir with her dance partner to performing in drama, writing creatively in club meetings or debating on a national stage, Ilah throws her whole heart into every activity. She's also active in a wide range of academic and service organizations that keep her connected to both her school and community. This summer, Ilah had the adventure of a lifetime: • Her speech and debate team placed 11th out of 195 teams from 16 countries at the national tournament in Iowa, a huge achievement. • At Buckeye Girls State, a reputable mock government program, she was elected to the governor's office as senior policy adviser. • And most notably, she was accepted into the incredibly selective Yale Young Global Scholars program, chosen out of more than 16,000 applicants worldwide with only 1,800 earning a spot — and just 900 from the U.S. While there, she studied literature, philosophy and culture with students from around the globe and made lifelong friends in the process. Now back home in Milan, Ilah is excited to start her senior year, during which she'll graduate with both her honors diploma and an associate's degree. Her next big dream? To return to Yale to double major in French language and filmmaking, blending her love for culture, storytelling and creativity. Ilah would like to give her sincerest thanks to The Baker on the Square for their generous sponsorship and support. She is incredibly honored to represent this beautiful town and its beloved tradition as part of the Milan Melon Festival, and she can't wait to make unforgettable memories along the way.