Lynleigh Angellé Landry and Alyssa Kay Acker walked away with beautiful new crowns and a sense of purpose topping the 58th annual St. Charles Parish Festival Pageant.

Landry was crowned Miss St. Charles Parish Festival Queen and people’s choice award winner. She is the 20-year-old daughter of Michael and Doreen Becnel Landry of Norco.

A junior at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, her future plans include obtaining a nursing degree from LSUHSC in New Orleans. She maintains a 3.6 GPA and is on the Dean’s List.

Landry, as well as Teen St. Charles Parish Festival Queen Alyssa Acker, will represent St. Charles Parish and the festival by traveling most weekends throughout the state. As part of her prize package, she receives sponsorship into and competes for the title of Queen Sugar at the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival in New Iberia in September.

Just some of Landry’s accomplishments include Phi Sigma Theta National Honor Society, Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, National Honor Society for Collegiate Leadership and Achievement and Pre-Nursing Society.

She enjoys attending LSU football games, volunteering, swimming, DIY crafting and spending time with family and friends. She was sponsored by Becnel’s A/C Services and her sweetheart escort was Chloe Riecke.

The theme for this year’s event, which was held Aug. 6 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School in Norco, was Laissez Les Bons Temps Roulez. Former royalty Miss St. Charles Parish Festival Queen Katie Hymel and Teen St. Charles Parish Festival Queen Maya Ruffin served as co-emcees.

Marcela Saavedra of St. Rose was first alternate to the queen.

Acker was crowned Teen Queen. The 17-year-old Destrehan resident is the daughter of John and Raquel Acker. She is a senior at Destrehan High School, where she is a member of the choir. She enjoys singing, crafting, fashion and doing hair and make-up. Alyssa was sponsored by Jerry at J Nail Spa and her sweetheart escort was Leilani Wilson.

Halle Bourdonnay of Destrehan was first alternate and fashion award winner; Kinyson Voges of Destrehan was second alternate, as well as sweetness and photogenic awards winner; and Alexis Pradat of Hahnville was third alternate.

For winning, Landry and Acker received a custom banner, an ornamental piece of crystal, the use of custom designed crowns, a scholarship award, rings, gift certificates and numerous other prizes.

As a special highlight of the evening, Walter Becnel was crowned St. Charles Parish Festival King honoring him for his many years of service and dedication to the organization. Becnel has been married to Gay Nell Becnel for 51 years and is the father of three and grandfather of four.

He is retired from Shell Oil Refining Company after 30 years of service and is the owner and operator of Becnel’s Air Conditioning Services.

Becnel is the festival chairman and has served on the executive committee for 35 years.

He has been a member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 3634 since 1978 and is a past Grand Knight and Knight of the Year. Becnel is also a member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, where he volunteers with the Queen of Hearts pageant. In his spare time, Becnel enjoys traveling, spending time with family and acting like he is retired.

Doreen Becnel Landry is the director of the Festival, Celeste Becnel Stein and Kerri Montz Roussel are assistant directors. Executive committee members are Gay Nell Becnel, Caroline Bleakley, Cliff Bleakley, Melissa Perret, Michael Landry and Stacie Falgout.