Rose Festival Court Mentor Program
Unitus is proud to take part in one of Portland’s most beloved traditions as the presenting sponsor of the Rose Festival Court. One of the unique opportunities associated with our sponsorship is a mentor program where we pair strong business women in the Portland area with each Princess.
Representing Portland Metro-area high schools, this year’s Rose Festival Court is comprised of 14 outstanding young women elected by members of the community and their school peers who exemplify an impressive range of involvement from school leadership positions, academic achievement, community service and more.
Mentors volunteer their time meeting with the Princesses during their time on Court, sharing life experiences, career advice, guidance, and leadership. This relationship often lasts far beyond the bounds of the three month mentorship program, developing into lifetime advisors and friendships.
Follow our amazing journey as the Rose Festival Court sponsor on Facebook!
Highlights of the Mentor Program include:
Community service activity at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
Job shadow opportunity in the Princesses field of interest.
Financial Workshop with topics on money management and financial responsibility to help prep the Princesses for life beyond college.
Meet the 2018 Rose Festival Court
Beginning in 1930 the Rose Festival began choosing its court from local high schools in the Portland area, a practice that continues today. These 14 outstanding young women exemplify academic achievement, community service, and leadership. Say hello to the 2018 Rose Festival Court Princesses.
Visit the official Rose Festival Court Princesses page for bios and speeches for each Princess.
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Princess Lux Preciado-SolisLincoln HS
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Princess Kash'Imani ThomasJefferson HS
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Princess Melissa Torres-DuranGrant HS
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Princess Jennifer WhiteSt. Mary’s Academy
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Princess Alanesia VangDavid Douglas HS
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Princess Madison NieuwendorpRoosevelt HS
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Princess Stephanie Vo-NguyenMadison HS
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Princess Amaya GustaveFranklin HS
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Princess Anna KienWilson HS
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Princess Sydney ToopsCleveland HS
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Princess Mariamou AbdoulayeBenson HS
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Princess Maya BedgeMetro West – Westview HS
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Princess Caitlin McCabeMetro East – West Linn HS
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Princess Kiara JohnsonParkrose HS
Meet the 2018 Rose Festival Court Mentors
Mentors will congratulate the Princesses at their school announcements, provide one-on-one mentoring, and volunteer their time sharing life experiences, career advice, guidance, and leadership. Together they will participate in volunteer activities in the community.
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Kathryn JoslinSenior Accountant
Unitus Community
Credit UnionLincoln HS
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Victoria SchwoeffermannAssociate Director of Development
Self Enhancement, Inc.
Jefferson HS
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Jenny ShermanHuman Resources Manager
Unitus Community
Credit UnionGrant HS
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Laurie KreslVP/Chief Marketing Officer, Marketing & Brand Development
Unitus Community
Credit UnionSt. Mary’s Academy
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Lori WilliamsBusiness Development Officer
Unitus Community
Credit UnionDavid Douglas HS
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Jan DardenSenior Computer Operator
Unitus Community
Credit UnionRoosevelt HS
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Rose HalfordStrategic Implementation Manager
Unitus Community
Credit UnionMadison HS
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Rashinda HearlsonIntermediate Accountant
Unitus Community
Credit UnionFranklin HS
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Michelle LachenmeierConsumer Lending Manager
Unitus Community
Credit UnionWilson HS
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Betsy ThomasAssistant Branch Manager, Beaverton Branch
Unitus Community
Credit UnionCeleveland HS
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Shannon BerglundCompliance Officer
Unitus Community
Credit UnionBenson HS
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Char SearsContact Center Manager
Unitus Community
Credit Union
Metro East – West Linn HS
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Megan SnyderLoan Operations Manager
Unitus Community
Credit UnionMetro West – Westview HS
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Karen SalmanAVP, Operations Support
Unitus Community
Credit UnionParkrose HS
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