Rose Festival Court Mentor Program
We’re proud to take part in one of Portland’s most beloved and long running traditions as the presenting sponsor of the Rose Festival Court. One of the unique opportunities our sponsorship provides is a mentor program where we pair strong female leaders in our organization with each Princess.
Representing Portland Metro-area high schools, this year’s Rose Festival Court is comprised of 15 outstanding young women elected by members of the community and their school peers who exemplify an impressive range of involvement from academic achievement, school leadership positions, community service, and extracurricular activities.
Mentors volunteer their time meeting with Princesses during their time on Court, sharing life experiences, career advice, leadership guidance, and more. This relationship often lasts far beyond the bounds of the three-month mentorship program, developing into lifetime advisors and friendships.
Despite the impact COVID-19 has had at this year’s Rose Festival, this bright group has adjusted with poise and ease. We’re confident the future is bright with dynamic, driven leaders like these stepping into the world!
Highlights of the Mentor Program include:
- Weekly virtual activities and guest speakers
- A virtual Q&A in the Princesses’ job field of interest
- A virtual Financial Education Workshop to prep for college and beyond
Meet the 2020 Rose Festival Court
The Rose Festival began choosing their Court in 1930 from local high schools in the Portland area, a tradition that continues to this day. Meet the 2020 Rose Festival Court Princesses!
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Princess Michelle LeDavid Douglas HS
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Princess Natalie Cetina-HuchinJefferson HS
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Princess Carmella ThomasGrant HS
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Princess Grace GentnerSt. Mary’s Academy
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Princess Anya AnandLincoln HS
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Princess Dyllan NewvilleRoosevelt HS
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Princess Wren LouisMadison HS
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Princess Doré YoungFranklin HS
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Princess Emma LaboeWilson HS
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Princess Zoey WeesnerCleveland HS
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Princess Roserina ChipenBenson HS
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Princess Kimberly HuynhMetro West – Liberty HS
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Princess Jensen KaelinMetro East – Lake Oswego HS
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Princess Brenda Ortegon BriceñoParkrose HS
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Princess Melyssa OkazakiCentral Catholic HS
Meet the 2020 Rose Festival Court Mentors
Mentors will congratulate the Princesses at their school announcements, provide mentoring, and volunteer their time sharing life experiences, career advice, guidance, and leadership tools.
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Lori WilliamsFinancial Education Officer
Unitus Community Credit Union -
Lori FinkMarketing Manager
Unitus Community Credit Union -
Rose HalfordTraining and Strategic Implementation Manager
Unitus Community Credit Union -
Heather LaneMember Happiness Manager
Unitus Community Credit Union -
Michelle LachenmeierMember Loan Center Manager
Unitus Community Credit Union -
Jessica BrownHuman Resources Manager
Unitus Community Credit Union -
Shannon KnightCompliance Officer
Unitus Community Credit Union -
Gayle EvansSVP/Chief Human Resources Officer
Unitus Community Credit Union -
Megan SnyderAVP, Loan Operations
Unitus Community Credit Union -
Karen SalmanAVP, Deposit Operations
Unitus Community Credit Union -
Corlinda WoodenVP/Chief Retail Officer
Unitus Community Credit Union -
Gigi GardnerOrganizational Development Consultant
Unitus Community Credit Union -
Heather BianchiniDigital Manager
Unitus Community Credit Union -
Alyssa CullenContact Center Assistant Manager
Unitus Community Credit Union -
Carmen RammMultnomah Village Assistant Branch Manager
Unitus Community Credit Union
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The Crown of Rosaria
The crown jewel of all flowers is the rose. In Portland, the reigning monarch represents that rose and the mystical realm created in its honor, Rosaria, and she wears a beautiful crown designed to symbolize both.
The Crown’s Beginnings
Since 1922, the Queen of Rosaria has worn this distinctive crown made of 14-carat gold filigree, featuring a blue zircon at its tip, six hundred white sapphires and seven rare pigeon-blood rubies. The crown was commissioned by the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Portland at a cost of $1,200, which in today’s dollars is close to $15,000. The club financed the crown by selling paper rosebuds at twenty-five cents apiece.
Notable Women to Wear the Crown
Over the years, the Crown of Rosaria has graced the heads of more than eighty young women, among them businesswomen, students and even a place-kicker for her school’s football team. In 1924, Edith Daily, a 29-year-old Women’s Club member, was selected by the Rose Festival board to serve as queen, in part to thank the club for its donation of the crown. Edith was the manager of a downtown office building, and her identity was kept secret and only hinted at in photographs where her face was obscured by a veil or behind a hedge, until Coronation day at Laurelhurst Park when she was revealed to the cheers of 35,000 spectators.
In 1931, Rachel Atkinson Hancock officially opened the new St. John’s Bridge by leading a special parade of Rose Festival floats across the beautiful, green structure. Fifty years later Rachel was quoted as saying, “My scrapbook is yellow with age, the ribbon faded, the pressed roses long gone, but each Rose Festival I recall those exciting days when, so many years ago, I shared the special affection and pride the people of Portland extend to each new court.”
Court Selection from Local High Schools
The Rose Festival began choosing its court from local high schools in 1930, a practice still in place today. Regardless of their backgrounds, these women have represented the cream of Portland’s rose crop, and they have reigned over a festival renowned around the world for its spectacular events and its enthusiastic reflection of civic pride.
Provided by: Marilyn Clint, COO Portland Rose Festival