Ferris senior Meghan Long crowned Lilac queen

Ferris High School senior Meghan Long was crowned queen of the Spokane Lilac Festival tonight. Long, 18, the daughter of William and BethAnn Long, was bestowed the honor at the Spokane Lilac Festival Association’s “Festival to Remember” coronation at the Bing Crosby Theater. “This isn’t real,” she said after the ceremony as friends and loved ones snapped pictures of her onstage. “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. Hearing my name, that was the last thing I would have thought. … I’m still in shock.” Long is the 12th Ferris High student to be named queen of the Lilac court since 1940. The six princesses rounding out the court are Maddy Wilhelm, West Valley High School; Chandler Stein, Mead High School; Kendra Kilpatrick, Northwest Christian High School; Danica Guerrero, Rogers High School; Jami Pratt, Freeman High School; and Bailyn Piecewicz, Mt. Spokane High School. They were selected by the judges from 14 finalists, dubbed the “Fab 14.” Long has a 3.76 GPA and is editor of the Ferris school yearbook team. She is in the Canterbury Belles Choir, symphonic choir and show choir, played the lead role in her school’s fall musical, “White Christmas,” tutors students and teaches guitar. Long volunteers with The Ronald McDonald House and Southside Christian Youth Group, and is leader of worship at Summit Youth Group. Long plans to attend Seattle University, Eastern Washington University or the University of Washington to study psychology and social sciences with the goal of becoming a teacher or counselor.