Ellie Peter

To say that the May Queen is one of the highest honors a Marian girl can get is not an understatement. The student selected as May Queen is voted on by the senior class, based on her devotion to her faith and her embodiment of Mary. The student chosen as the May Queen has the honor of placing a flower crown on the statue of Mary in the May crowning ceremony on Friday, May 3, and sharing a faith/witness talk with the school community. 

For the 2023-2024 school year, senior Amber Johenek was chosen for the honor of May Queen. Johanek has proven herself May Queen-worthy in her four years here, gaining a reputation as one of the sweetest and most kind young women to ever walk these halls. 

For Johanek, the title is nothing short of an honor. “It means the world,” Johanek said. She is proud to represent her grade in this way, and she is especially proud of the way the senior class regards her. Mary is Johanek’s biggest inspiration, and being able to place the crown on her head and live in Her honor is a dream come true. 

While Johanek had no idea she would be awarded May Queen, it came as no surprise to the senior class. Johanek is known for her kindness and willingness to help anyone who crosses her path. Despite hardships, downfalls and troubles, Johanek continues to live each day under the arm of Mary, and is unafraid of whatever obstacle falls in her path. 

Johanek’s faith, above all else, is everything to her. In her address to the community, she plans to speak about her own faith journey, with all its hardships and struggles. With faith, all hardships become beautiful in the end. For Johanek, faith “gives [her] hope, a lot of hope.” 

Throughout her four years at Marian, Johaneks faith has not only evolved, but strengthened, even through rocky rivers and hard times. Her freshman year was barely fulfilled, with her faith standing at the bare minimum. After hitting her rock bottom in December of 2022, Johanek felt disconnected with God, struggling with the fact that He is able to take things away so easily. 

While talks with priests about reviving her faith were unconvincing, something, or someone, better was coming her way. Johanek’s mother gifted her a book about Mary. This gift inspired Johanek to get back into her faith, and her connection with God is stronger than ever. Johanek’s faith is something to admire, as well her kindness. She is proud of her reputation, and “the fact I can embody the spirit, kindness, empathy [of Mary],” she said.