Apple Blossom Court crowned
February 14, 2016
Three high school senior girls followed their yellow brick road to become Apple Blossom royalty last night at the 2016 Apple Blossom Royalty Selection Pageant.
Wenatchee High School’s Kori Martin was coronated as Apple Blossom Queen. WHS’s Sami Everhart and Eastmont High School’s Emily Holmes were declared Apple Blossom Princesses.
Competitors were graded over the entire day, beginning with panel interviews in the morning, followed by one-on-one interviews in the afternoon. Both make up 22.5 percent of a candidate’s points, individually. Community vote accounts for five percent of a candidate’s points, and the evening pageant is weighed at 50 percent.
Candidates were judged on prepared speeches as well as their ability to think on their feet. These were judged by the out-of-town judging panel, made up of Shayna Levine, Adam Bake, Alex Todak, Maria Myers, and Alice Currah. For their speeches, candidates were given a topic one month before the pageant based on the theme, The Wizard of Oz. Those themes were heart, courage, and brains, based on the gifts that the titular Wizard had given the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow respectively.
WHS’s Megan Sand won the award of Most Original Speech, speaking on wisdom.
“Throughout life, you’re not handed wisdom. Little by little, we must acquire it for ourselves,” Sand said. “Wisdom is the accumulation of experience, knowledge, and good judgement.”
Other award winners include Sand, winning Most Photogenic for being comfortable during camera shoots; Everhart, winning the Congeniality award for her kindness to her fellow candidates; EHS’s Veronica Wright, winning the Achievement award for her success outside the pageant; and Martin, who won the award for Community Involvement.
To judge their ability to think on their feet, the candidates were all asked the question: “Click your heels three times like Dorothy. Now where would you go and why?” Answers ranged from grandmother’s houses, to Italy, even to a Disney village.
At the pageant, Lions Club members Gary and Patty Sparks were recognized with the Leman Johnson award for their contributions to the pageant.
The event also featured live performances from Dance Creations and the cast of the Music Theater of Wenatchee Production, “Mary Poppins.”