Tulip Queen


The Albany Tulip Queen and Court is a symbolic monarchy with a yearly coronation at the Tulip Festival, which takes place in May at Washington Park in Albany, New York annually. The Tulip Queen and her court serve as ambassadors of the city and engage in community service projects during their one-year term.
The Tulip Queen is selected through a process involving letters of recommendation and interviews by a selection committee. Women aged 18 to 24 are eligible for nomination. The selection of the Tulip Queen began as a beauty pageant, but for many years now the Queen and her court have been selected solely based on their community awareness, history of serving the community, and dedication to Albany. Along with the queen, four court members are selected to work throughout the City of Albany during the year. Each year the Queen and her court select a literacy project to implement in the City of Albany.
The crowning of the Tulip Queen starts with a short processional. First come the police, then the Albany Police Band playing bagpipes and drums, then a car containing last year's Tulip Queen and the current mayor. Next come a series of five cars each containing the five Tulip Queen finalists. After the processional, the mayor, each finalist, and few other people give speeches. The mayor reads a note that says who has won the Tulip Queen title. Finally, last year's Tulip Queen takes off her crown and puts it on the head of the new queen. The four finalist not crowned then become the court members. The Tulip Queen and her court serve their year of service until the next Tulip Festival takes place and a new queen is crowned.
The Albany Tulip Queen and Court are an asset to the city of Albany contributing thousands of hours each year in volunteer service.

List of Albany Tulip Queens

YearTulip QueenTulip Court Members*Notes
1949Jeanne Coakley-FoleyFirst Queen
1950Dorothy Ward-Scalone
  • d. 2007
1951Judy Davenport
1952Jo Pangie-Henk
1953Peggy Retter Quinn
1954Lois Tewell-Woodworth
  • d.
    • 1955Suzanne Schuster
    1956Nadia Spiak-Rymanowski
    1957Carol Thorsen-Quackenbush
  • d. 2015
    • 1958Jane Armstrong -Snowden
    1959Carol Smurl-Fields
    1960Julie Kaiser
    1961Patricia Ponticello
    1962Nancy Self-Fornato
    1963Joanne Gross
    1964Maureen Glasheen
    1965Bonnie Mason
    1966Donna Vache-Fish
    1967Karen Holtslag
    1968Kathy McTague-Odabashian
    1969Linda Kinnicutt-Lamb
    1970Chritine Little-Daddario
    1971Janet Schlegel-Larkin
    1972Judi Murphy
    1973Patty Mutterer
    1974Jacqueline Regina-Dushensky
    1975Blaine Ryan-Lynch
    1976Patricia Murphy Moonan
    1977Mary Kelly Illnicki
    1978Marjorie Tetrault
    1979Sandy Rector-Deluca
    1980Elizabeth Miller-Grandjacquet
    1981Stephanie Freeman-Cohen
    1982Shelia McGrath-Babbino
    1983Mary Theresa Moreland
    1984Debra Capazucco-Peda
    1985Jill Harris-Johnson
  • Current Selection Committee Member
    • 1986Andrea Palumbo
    1987Anne Marie Dolan-Scott
    1988Maria Mokhiber-Ziamandanis
    1989Heather Britt-Subik
    1990Diane Foley-Chowenhill
    1991Kelly Hogan-Finelli
    1992Jennifer Recene-Gallagher
    1993Wendy Sims
    1994Victoria Lee Palmer
    1995Stacey Vennard-Kirk
    1996Tamara Thorpe-Odem
    1997Christina Roberts-Ryba
  • NYS Supreme Court Justice
    • 1998Katie O'Malley
  • Founder and owner of Katie O Weddings and Events
    • 1999Nichole Stack
    2000Kelly Conlon
    2001Amy Kaplan
  • Currently Selection Committee Co-Chair
    • 2002Jennifer Gould-Lobban
    2003Kaylin Gross
    2004Meredith Rose-Kelly
    2005Amy Deitz
    2006Amanda Benincasa
    2007Amisha Gomes
    2008Sarah Volk
  • Selection Committee Member
    • 2009Juliana Hernandez
    2010Mishka Gilkes
    2011Karen Colehour
    2012Emily Finnegan
    2013 Kate BenderMeghan Cahill, Gigi Diffenback, Fendi Munos, Alexis Osborne
  • Meghan Cahill Selection Committee Member
    • 2014Caitlin WhelanJillian Callanan, TaraMarie Crisafulli, Kasmira Wilkins, Meghan Yi
    2015Alexandra CroninMorgan Heyward, Jacqueline Murphy, Eva Petkanas, Sarah Wilamowski
    2016Adaviah WardSamantha Coons, Mariah Rickard, Racquel Saddler
    2017Ashley LogginsErin Bryk, Kelly Phillips, Julianna Rauf, Amanda Volk
    2018Sawyer CresapKatherine Donnelly, Xavia Francis, Natalie Joseph, Elizabeth Stenard
    2019Emily Barcia-VarnoParneet Kaur, Megan Morrill, Michaela Schramm
  • Reign ended July 18, 2020
    • 2020Kaya Rifenberg-StempelKimberly Guzman-Reyes, Samantha Peck, Maya Wilson, Karina Wojnar
  • Reign began July 18, 2020
  • The first several decades of the tradition did not honor the court in the way that it currently is. The court began to participate in events year round in the 1980s.