The Maine Lobster Festival has announced the five candidates for the 2025 Delegate, who will represent the festival and the lobster industry at fairs, parades and other events.

Running for the position of 2025 Delegate are Kayla Baines of South Thomaston, Nataleigh Corbett of Cushing, Rebecca Spearing of Owls Head, Riley Whitman of Rockland, and Trishelle Ames of Warren.

Kayla Baines is an Oceanside High School graduate of the class of 2025. Her high school activities included Key Club, National Honor Society and student government. She was also the editor of the yearbook. She plans to study nursing and human nutrition at the University of Maine while playing lacrosse.

Nataleigh Corbett is entering her senior year at Oceanside High School, and will graduate in 2026. She works at Little Learners in South Thomaston, is the Oceanside Little League T-ball/minor league coach and a member of the National Technical Honor Society. She plans to pursue a career in nursing.

Rebecca Spearing is a member of the Oceanside High School class of 2026. Her high school activities include the National Honor Society and Key Club. She plans to attend the University of Maine to study early childhood education, and has early acceptance for this program.

Riley Whitman graduated from Camden Hills Regional High School in the class of 2025. She will be attending Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston to pursue a doctorate of pharmacy degree.

Trishelle Ames is a 2023 graduate of Medomak Valley High School. She was class president her junior and senior years, managed the boys basketball team and soccer team, and participated in Girl Scouts. She is studying business administration with a concentration in management at the University of Maine, and hopes to become the chief executive officer of a business.

The festival also announced the four judges who will be choosing the winner and runner-up at the coronation on Wednesday, July 30, opening night of the festival. The judges are Robert Baines of the Maine Lobstermen Association, Jen Feldman of Midcoast Music Academy, Waldoboro Town Manager Julie Keizer, and Honorary Lobster Festival Director Sharon Lombardo. 

The Delegate competition is open to Maine residents ages 16 to 22. Candidates attend a public speaking workshop, learn about Lobster Festival history and go out on a lobster boat to learn about the industry first-hand.

The candidates will participate in a public judging event on Wednesday, July 23, at the Samoset Resort in Rockport. The public can purchase tickets at tinyurl.com/lobster-fest.

The coronation of the 2025 Delegate, the Second Delegate and Congenial Award – which is voted on by the contestants – will take place on Wednesday night, July 30, starting at 6:30 p.m.

More information on the Maine Lobster Festival can be found at mainelobsterfestival.com.