Dreams of royalty
The lilac bushes remain dormant under the frost of winter, but the Lilac Festival is already blooming. On Sunday, a queen and her court will be chosen for the 67th annual Lilac Festival. They will reign over this year’s events, culminating with the Armed Forces Torchlight Parade on May 21. Every high school in Spokane County was invited to participate in the royalty program, and from the names presented, 14 candidates were selected. A queen and six princesses will be chosen from the field of candidates.
Scholarships of $1,250, provided by Northern Quest Casino, will be awarded to each of the seven members selected as the 2005 Royalty Court.
An additional $1,250 in scholarship funds, awarded to the queen, has been provided by the Spokane Lilac Festival Past Presidents. Other scholarships, for which all 14 candidates are eligible, will be provided by Mike and Cecelia Stephens, Airport Ramada Inn and Avista Utilities.
This year’s coronation is sponsored by Avista Utilities.
Here are the 14 finalists:
Stacey Blodnick attends Mead High School, where she is a member of the National Honor Society and Associated Student Body. She spends time tutoring math and elementary students.
Blodnick has taken a mission trip to Mexico with her church, teaches Sunday school and attends Bible study.
She hasn’t chosen a college yet but plans to major in either engineering or architecture.
Lindsey Cressey is a cheerleader at North Central High School. She is a New Connections leader for the incoming freshman class and has 10 years’ dance experience.
Cressey has been a dance team teacher at Garfield Elementary for three years. She is a student leader and member of Young Life Malibu Club.
She plans to major in religious studies or international missions and is considering attending Southwestern Assemblies of God University, Eastern Washington University, Washington State University or Whitworth College.
Lauren Doruth is the yearbook sports editor at Gonzaga Prep, and she volunteers at Sacred Heart Hospital Birth Place.
She plans to major in business, specializing in advertising, or pre-med to become a plastic surgeon, at either Santa Clara University or UCLA.
Cassidy Gardner is a student a Ferris High School, where she is the National Honor Society president.
She is a member of the Ferris Action Team and is a team member and previous captain of the Knowledge/Science Bowl team. She is a student leadership member at her church and a Sunday school assistant.
Gardner plans to attend either Seattle Pacific University or the University of Washington and major in English, with plans to become a professor in aarly American literature.
Christina Griffith is the cheerleader captain at Rogers High School, where she is also a Link leader, assisting incoming freshman.
She is a Young Life student leader and Spokane Pure Abstinence Movement (SPAM) presenter.
Griffith plans to major in biology at either Western Washington University or Washington State University. She would like to become an animal trainer.
Nicole Holland is a student at Northwest Christian High School. She is a National Honor Society officer and Math Is Cool member. She also participates in the pep band.
Her church activities include drama team member and youth group leader and organizer. She plans to attend Whitworth College and major in either communication studies or pre-med and possibly enlist in ROTC.
Krista Kautzmann attends Lewis and Clark High School. She is National Honor Society secretary and past public relations officer. She is the cross country team captain and a National Merit Commended Scholar and studied Spanish in Spain for four weeks.
She hasn’t determined which college she’ll attend but plans to major in education and Spanish.
Alissa Lanker plays varsity basketball at University High School. She is University’s DECA Club historian.
She also is a member of Overcomer’s Outreach.
Lanker plans to attend Whitworth College and major in education to become a special education teacher.
Kiranda Marshall is a student at Central Valley High School, where she is a Link member, mentoring the freshman class. She is in Associated Student Body leadership and participates in the a cappella and jazz choirs and orchestra.
She also is involved in CV Hype, dance activity and Youth Leadership Spokane.
Marshall plans to attend Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle and major in vocal and instrumental music.
Courtney Millan is the cheerleader captain at East Valley High School. She is a National Honor Society member and was Homecoming coordinator.
Millan is a member of Washington Drug Free Youth and a Link mentor to freshmen. She is a member of the youth choir and missionary youth group at her church.
She hopes to attend Seattle Pacific University and major in business administration and management.
Jamie Pacello id the National Honor Society president at Shadle Park High School. She is a Washington state governor’s office volunteer and Candlelighters volunteer.
Pacello plans to study medicine and become a physician but hasn’t chosen a college at this time.
Rachael Roig is a cheerleader at Cheney High School, where she participates in two school choirs. She is a peer mentor in IGNITE, a group that helps students make the transition from middle school to high school.
She has participated in Youth Leadership Spokane, Evergreen Girls State, Washington Drug Free Youth, Family Career and Community Leaders in America and Key Club.
Roig has yet to determine where she’ll attend college but plans to major in either psychology or political science.
Anna Willard is the National Honor Society community chairman at Freeman High School. She is the statistician for the volleyball team and is a Running Start student at Eastern Washington University.
She plans to attend a four-year college but hasn’t decided where.
Tiffany Yoder is a National Honor Society member at Medical Lake High School. She plays tennis and is a before- and after-school tutor.
She is a member of her church’s youth group, an AWANA leader, a 24-7 core group leader, on a drama team and helps provide child care. She has participated in national and international missions trips.
Yoder plans to attend either Liberty University in Virginia or Southeastern University in Florida and major in linguistics and minor in Spanish.