It’s good to be Queen
February 26, 2016
Dressed in a floor length gown, covered in sparkles, and on the brink of tears Kori Martin shared her excitement for being the 2016 Apple Blossom Queen.
“I feel blessed, numb, and my feet hurt, but I’m doing good,” Martin said shortly after the coronation.
Apple Blossom has been a tradition in the Wenatchee Valley since 1920. Each year a new royal court is selected; this royalty represents the community.
“I am hoping to get to know a major portion of the community and learn how the community functions. I think I am prepared for this role because I have done a lot of public relations and community outreach. I know my community and I can carry myself well in front of others. I want to become more outgoing and express my opinion in intellectual ways. I hope this opportunity will teach me time management skills and let me learn about my beautiful hometown,” Martin said.
Martin does an addition of various activities. She is the Washington DECA State President, volunteers at the Lighthouse, and is the Senior Class President at WHS.
Before running for Apple Blossom, the Wenatchee High School senior had to consider the importance of her priorities.
“The hardest part of this process has been knowing that Apple Blossom is going to interfere with my DECA and softball career. This will require me to let things go that I have been apart of for a really long time, but I know that it will provide me with opportunities and will be worth it in the end. I am going to go to school whenever I can and make sure I am keeping up with my homework. [It helps] knowing that I have very understanding teachers that understand how important this role is to the community and myself,” Martin said.
In spite of the Apple Blossom royalties journey just beginning, memories have already been made.
“My favorite part so far has been getting to know everyone in the Apple Blossom Festival, whether it’s the Director General, or the Applearian Chancellor, or the top 10 girls that were absolutely amazing. I’m really excited for this year with Sami [Everhart] and Emily [Holmes],” Martin said.
For many people, who live in the Wenatchee Valley, Apple Blossom is the highlight of the year. Throughout the years of the festival people have formed family traditions and valuable memories.
“When I was little [my family] used to always go to events together and do the Apple Blossom Run. It has been a huge part of my family ever since I was little. We used to set up and tie down our chairs by the Avenue in preparation for the parade. Getting into high school and having the opportunity to give back to something that has given me so much seemed natural,” Martin said.
If the queen was feeling numb on selection night, the princess from WHS was equally numb. Getting into high school and having the opportunity to give back to something that has given me so much seemed natural. — Kori Martin, Apple Blossom Queen
“I’m feeling astonished, overwhelmed, so excited, and blessed to have this opportunity,” Sami Everhart said of being named an Apple Blossom princess. “This experience has made me more organized and efficient with my time because it is an on-the-go activity. I have to do a lot of things that bend to Apple Blossom and doing homework has helped me learn to balance everything,” Everhart said.
The community plays a major role in helping and contributing to the Apple Blossom festival.
“Everyone’s so supportive, kind, and generous, especially this community and local businesses.” Everhart said.
Everhart also participates in multiple extracurricular activities, including ASB, Mock Trial, and Honor’s Society.
“Anyone who feels like they want to do Apple Blossom should never be discouraged to do it because of their body type or their intelligence level, because [the judges] are not looking for a specific thing, they are looking for you and how you will represent Wenatchee in the best way possible,” Everhart said.