Coronation time
Most female ambassadors are addressed as “Madame Ambassador.”
Spokane Valley’s ambassador is a “Miss.”
The Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce will crown its third Miss Spokane Valley Ambassador next Saturday at University High School.
Last year’s court, Miss Spokane Valley Carly Jordan and her court, Amanda Hansen and Laura Schlect, will crown their successors at the end of the 7 p.m. ceremony.
Juniors from each of the Spokane Valley’s high schools submitted essays, and 15 finalists were chosen.
They include: Anna Daines from Central Valley High; Jaclyn Numata, Patricia Karle, Leslie Berkseth, Allison Seymour, Laura Drews, Cari Trotter and Brittany Birkett from University; Elise Biviano, Rhea Woolley, Kindra White, Loni Page, Amanda Edens and Marla Paulson from West Valley High; and Rhylee Smith from Valley Christian School.
“I don’t want people to think that we overlooked East Valley,” Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Eldonna Gossett said. “We solicited entrants from all of the Valley high schools, but once we get their essays, we consider them all on their own merits. We don’t choose finalists based on what school they go to.”
Finalists were chosen based on their ability to write a convincing essay. To be crowned Miss Spokane Valley, finalists must be able to speak in front of a crowd of friends and neighbors. Each will deliver a prepared speech and must deliver an extemporaneous address on a topic pulled from a fish bowl.
Other factors affecting the outcome will be each finalists’ scholastic achievement, community involvement, personality, poise and appearance.
The 2006 Miss Spokane Valley will be the third ambassador chosen since the pageant was revived after a 25-year hiatus.
Just don’t think of it as a beauty pageant.
“This is a scholarship program,” Gossett said. “We’re looking for someone with excellent communication skills who is community minded. The person who is crowned is called Miss Spokane Valley and wins a $1,000 scholarship. The two members of her court each receive a $500 scholarship through the Spokane Valley Chamber Foundation.”
The Valley Chamber has plans for its ambassador – and that’s why Miss Spokane Valley is always crowned during her junior year of high school.
“We just felt that, if we crowned a high school senior she would have a very limited time where she would be able to serve before going off to college,” Gossett explained. “This way, with high school juniors, they can serve the whole year.
Miss Spokane Valley Ambassador’s duties are many.
“They come out to ribbon cuttings, grand openings for new businesses as well as many of the community festivals in and around the area,” Gossett said. “We rent a float for the Lilac Festival Parade.
“It’s important to build up these community relationships and to help create an identity for the city of Spokane Valley.”