Cordova’s 2026 Iceworm Festival committee is busy preparing for this year’s “Ice and Dice” festivities, which will be held the week of Jan. 31-Feb. 7.
The Miss Iceworm program for high achieving girls is in full swing again this year.
The program involves local teachers choosing two girls from each 7th through 12th grade class for the Miss Iceworm competition. Candidates are required to show good character, hard work, involvement in their school and community, creativity, and motivation. The festival then offers each candidate various educational, professional and personal development opportunities, as well as a scholarship upon their high school graduation.
Meet this year’s Miss Iceworm candidates:
Violet Simpler
Age: 17
Parents: Ben Simpler and Kimmi Rabourn-Simpler
Year in school: Junior
Favorite subject in school: My favorite subject in school is literature.
Residency in Cordova: I have lived in Cordova for 16 years.
How the Miss Iceworm nomination feels: I felt stoked! It’s such an honor to be nominated for Miss Iceworm.
Plans after high school: I plan to go to college to become a civil engineer!
Morgan Saiget
Age: 18
Parents: Darcy & David Saiget
Year in school: Senior
Favorite subject in school: My favorite subject in school is history, because I love learning about how the world evolved.
Residency in Cordova: I’ve lived in Cordova for 8 years.
How the Miss Iceworm nomination feels: It felt honoring and exciting – even being on the Miss Iceworm Court is a special experience.
Plans after high school: I plan to attend Columbia University in New York City next fall.
Avery Reynolds
Age: 16
Parents: Brad and Julie Reynolds
Year in school: Sophomore
Favorite subject in school: My favorite subject in school is English.
Residency in Cordova: I have lived in Cordova since I was born.
How the Miss Iceworm nomination feels: It was very special to be recognized, as well as exciting to be nominated for Miss Iceworm because it is something that I’ve always wanted to do.
Plans after high school: I plan on going to college after high school and through that experience, broaden my world beyond our small town.
Isla Haisman
Age: 14
Parents: Kevin Haisman and Chelsea Haisman
Year in school: Freshman
Favorite subject in school: History and science are my favorite subjects in school.
Residency in Cordova: I have lived in Cordova for my entire life.
How the Miss Iceworm nomination feels: I was very excited to be nominated for Miss Iceworm and immediately showed my mom. I wasn’t expecting to be nominated for it but am very grateful I was.
Plans after high school: After high school I plan to go to college because it would be fun to do something related to marine biology or other natural sciences as a career.
Mary Ladd
Age: 15
Parents: Bridget and Wesley Ladd
Year in school: Freshman
Favorite subject in school: Art
Residency in Cordova: 3 years now
How the Miss Iceworm nomination feels: I felt excited and honored.
Plans after high school: I want to attend an art school.
Pheobe Tschappat
Age: 17
Parents: Adam Tschappat and Stefanie Tschappat
Year in school: Senior
Favorite subject in school: My favorite subject in school has changed from year to year.
Residency in Cordova: I moved here when I was six years old, so about 11 years now.
How the Miss Iceworm nomination feels: Being nominated for Miss Iceworm is truly a privilege and an honor. The program includes so many different parts such as an essay, interview, and a photoshoot. It showcases each individual’s beauty and strength as a person. I find myself extremely lucky to spend time with other young women who have also been nominated and showcased as leaders. I think my favorite part of Ms. Iceworm is seeing how immersed we become in the community and how much the community holds up the young women in this town and fosters their skills and talents. I was nominated my freshman year as well so it’s an amazing experience to find myself looking back at my younger self and seeing how much I’ve grown and changed as a person. In being nominated I feel like I’m an inspiration to the younger generation of girls who are also growing up in this close-knit community. I remember watching the Miss Iceworm crowning as a little girl and thinking how beautiful and spectacular those girls seemed. Now that I’m older it’s hard to believe I’m standing in the same place as them.
Plans after high school: I plan to attend college as a form of secondary education. I want to enter the medical field, specifically by obtaining a degree in nursing.
Sadie Fry
Age: 17
Parents: Katie and Brooks Fry
Year in school: Senior
Favorite subject in school: My favorite subject is math.
Residency in Cordova: I have lived in Cordova for four years.
How the Miss Iceworm nomination feels: I feel honored and excited to be nominated.
Plans after high school: I plan to go to college for a year, then on a church mission, then back to college.
