Four Princesses bloom in Puyallup

Photo by John Larson

STEPHANIE CLARK DURING THE TAPPING CEREMONY AT PRINCESS PROMENADE ON FEB. 13.

Girls representing four Puyallup/South Hill high schools made their first official appearance as Daffodil Festival royalty during the annual Princess Promenade. Held on Feb. 13 at Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood, the event began with the princesses being escorted into the banquet room.

Stephanie Clark of Puyallup High School was led in by P.J. (Peter) Sirl, who teaches biology and drama. Clark is the daughter of Ed and Casey Clark and she holds a 3.76 grade-point average (GPA). Her interests include theater and the stage, both at school and in the community, music, running, volleyball and other sports, and spending time with family and friends. She has volunteered with the Seafair Festival in its Hydroplane and Race Boat Museum.  She plans to attend a four-year university, then dental school, and eventually wants to become an orthodontist.

Mandy Barton of Cascade Christian High School was escorted by Dennis Clevenger, who teaches American government. She is the daughter of Jeff and Diane Barton and holds a 3.52 GPA. She is captain of the volleyball team, homecoming senior princess, a senior class officer, captain of the fastpitch team and a member of National Honor Society. Barton loves photography and volunteering at Linden Grove Nursing Home. She plans to attend Point Loma Nazarene University to major in international business.

Victoria Knight of Rogers High School was escorted by Kelly Schakel, who teaches education careers. She is the daughter of James and Heidi Krajewski. She holds a 3.54 GPA, is senior class secretary/treasurer, enjoys taking on responsibility in leadership, and loves participating in school musicals and in community theater. She is founder of Queens for a Cure and also of America’s Next Top ROLE Model. Knight plans to attend Central Washington University to major in secondary education and hopes to become a high school English teacher.

Jenae Wilczynski of Emerald Ridge High School was led in by Mariano Leon-Guerrero, a social studies teacher. She is the daughter of Kevin and Chris Wilczynski and holds a 3.97 GPA. She is varsity swim team captain, an honor society officer and holds a letter in community service. Wilczynski loves swimming, music and volunteering at the Children’s Museum and at Habitat for Humanity, where she helps build houses. She would like to attend either University of Washington or Washington State University to major in biological engineering and business, and hopes to study abroad in Spain.

Several upcoming events will take place in Puyallup. The Daffodil Princess Spaghetti Dinner is from 4-8 p.m. on Feb. 26 at Puyallup High School. Cost is $10 per person. Enjoy a meal of spaghetti, sauce with and without meat, green salad, cookies, punch and coffee.

The Queen’s Coronation will be at 7 p.m. on March 12 at Puyallup Foursquare Church, 601 9th Ave. S.E. Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 for students and seniors.

 The Queen’s Coronation is a celebration and special event for the Daffodil Festival and the young women of the Royal Court, the official ambassadors of the festival. On this evening a Queen will be selected to reign over the many festival activities that take place throughout the year.

The 23 young women participating have each been selected by their schools and communities to represent the Daffodil Festival and Pierce County as the festival travels throughout the Pacific Northwest. They not only vie for the title of Queen, but also for scholarships provided by Daffodil Scholarship Foundation. During the coronation program they are judged on their academic standing, personality, attitude, speaking ability, appearance, sociability, content of their speech, festival awareness and impromptu speaking.

For more information call (253) 863-9524.

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