Honor Roll student is Franklin High’s Rose Festival Princess

Published 12:00 am Friday, March 31, 2017

The announcement of each year’s Portland Rose Festival Court “Princess” selections signals that spring, and the city’s enduring festival, is once more about to begin.

The first Inner Southeast Portland school “Princess” announcement was made on the Ides of March — the 15th — at “Franklin High School (FHS) at the Marshall Campus”.

As students were filtering into the theater, FHS Principal Junita Valder told THE BEE that she was pleased about the amount of student participation in the competition this year.

“All of these candidates are an astoundingly amazing group of young ladies, and any one of them would represent our school in the best possible way,” Valder assured us.

Along with the introductions of Portland Rose Festival Foundation dignitaries and staff who were present, the FHS Theater Department’s cast of “Annie” performed the song-and-dance number “It’s a Hard Knock Life” from their winter musical — a fine production previewed in THE BEE’s February issue.

Unitus Community Credit Union Mentor Sandi Hess presented a memento to each of Franklin High’s four Princess candidates: Erika Decklar, Mara McCarthy, Keely Nguyen, and Tyteanna Hardridge.

Then, Principal Valder stepped up to reveal the selection: 16-year-old FHS Junior Keely Nguyen will be representing the Quakers during this year’s Portland Rose Festival.

Princess Keely stepped forward and said, “I’m looking forward to representing all of you at this year’s Portland Rose Festival!”

During the photo session that followed, Princess Keely told THE BEE, “I’m really excited and really thankful that I’m being allowed to represent my school, and I will not let them down. I’m really excited to start this journey!”

In addition to being an Honor Roll student, Princess Keely said she plays Varsity tennis, and has built her leadership skills in being an ASB Student Representative, and working with several school clubs.

Princess Keely has ambitious plans for her education and career. “I plan to attend a four-year university, and go to medical school. I’d like to become a pediatrician, and open a vegan bakery.”

Her favorite Portland Rose Festival event is CityFair. “And, I look forward to telling new friends about our great school; Franklin is a place where students don’t feel left out. It feels more like a community and a family, than a school,” she said.

Plan to cheer on Princess Keely at the Portland Rose Festival Queen’s Coronation on June 10 at 8:30 a.m., in Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum, just before the beginning of the Grand Floral parade.

Cleveland High named its Princess after THE BEE was on its way to press. We’ll report on that ceremony in our May issue.

To learn more about the Portland Rose Festival, go online: http://www.rosefestival.org