4/10/08

Festival pageant decides royal court

by Beckye Randall

2008 Strawberry Festival court includes (from left) Princess Lila Hart, Princess Che Renouard, Queen Danielle Wilcoxson.

Friends and family members of this year’s Strawberry Festival Court enjoyed an evening of fun and excitement as five young people vied for the Strawberry Festival crown on Saturday, March 29. The April Friesner Royalty Scholarship Pageant took place at Marysville-Pilchuck High School Auditorium.

Crowned as Strawberry Festival Queen was Danielle Wilcoxson, 17, with Ché Renouard, 17, and Lila Hart, 16, selected as Princesses. The three young women will serve as Strawberry Festival royalty, and will be joined by fellow contestants Michele Giesler, 18, and Michael Running, 18, as they represent Marysville in more than a dozen parades throughout the summer.

As the top vote-getter, Danielle will receive a $3,000 college scholarship, along with an additional $250 award for being named Miss Congeniality. The two runnersup will each be awarded $2,000 scholarships.

The traditional titles of Queen and Princesses were displayed on sashes draped on the girls, but Maryfest organizers had also prepared banners with gender­neutral Ambassador titles in the event Running was selected in the top three.

The contestants were scored on a number of criteria as they participated in a group dance number, delivered prepared speeches and displayed their talents for the crowd. A panel of three professionals also used votes cast by members of the City Council, Marysville School Board, Kiwanis and Rotary clubs based on the candidates’ earlier ­appearances before those groups.

The four young ladies chose to showcase their singing skills during the talent competition, while Running performed the zombie dance from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” complete with one sequined glove.

Michele Giesler sang a Carrie Underwood hit, “All-American Girl.” Donny Osmond’s “­Puppy Love” was Lila Hart’s choice, and Ché Renouard took the stage singing “Big, Blonde and Beautiful” from the musical “Hairspray.” Danielle Wilcoxson added a piano accompanist and a prop—a venti Starbucks cup—for her version of Kristen Chenowith’s “Taylor the Latté Boy.”
To go along with this year’s magic lampinspired theme of “Wish Upon a Berry,” the pageant’s opening dance number was set to “You Ain’t Never Had a Friend Like Me” from Disney’s “Aladdin,” choreo­graphed by Colette HerringCompton.

The three young ladies representing the festival as Junior ­Royalty were also introduced. ­Julie Hodgsen, Madi Doty and ­Franceska (Franqui) Rojas delivered introductory speeches and were bestowed with flowers, ­tiaras and honorary sashes by members of the 2007 Strawberry Festival Court. The Junior Royalty will participate in several parades and be available to represent the community if the older Ambassadors are unable to do so.

Ted Wright, former owner of Bigfoot Music in Smokey Point and currently a real estate professional with Coldwell Banker Gary Wright Realty in Marysville, served as the program’s emcee.

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