by Dot Cannon
Festivity and excitement were in the air at Pasadena’s Tournament House this morning.
Pasadena City College’s Tournament of Roses® Honor Band was playing. People were laughing and talking. School groups waved hand-lettered signs, rooting for classmates.
Nine-thirty was the scheduled time for the announcement of the names of the seven members of the Royal Court for the 2015 Rose Parade®.
Queen and Court Committee Chair Mark Leavens told the waiting audience of families, friends and media that the interview process began on September 13th, and that over seven hundred applicants had tried out for the Royal Court.
“Even after your reign is over, once you’ve been a member of the Royal Court, you are forever part of the Tournament of Roses® family,” he said, just before presenting three former Rose Princesses from the 2014 Royal Court: Sarah Hansen, Alicia Widjaja and Kayla Johnson-Granberry.
Next, he introduced the thirty-one 2015 Royal Court finalists. Cheers, applause and lots of camera clicking followed.
Then, it was time for the announcement.
“Let there be no mistake about the depth and beauty of these incredible thirty-one young women,” Tournament of Roses® President Richard L. Chinen said. “No matter the result today, you should all be so honored by how they represent you and the rest of our community, by standing here today…I’m looking forward to the impact that these young ladies will have on the lives of others in the future.”
In his introductory remarks, President Chinen included a tribute to the late Louis Zamperini, Grand Marshal of the 2015 Rose Parade®. “One of the things that Louis told me when we first met, was how he was so looking forward to meeting the Royal Court,” he said. “He would have been so thrilled to share this tournament season with any one of these thirty-one incredible young women.”
(President Chinen said that Mr. Zamperini, who passed away on July 2 at the age of ninety-seven, will be represented by his family in the parade on New Year’s Day.)
“So with that–everybody breathe–Mark, the first envelope, please.”
Screams and cheers filled the air, following the announcement of each name.
The 2015 Royal Court members (pictured left to right) are: Alicia Olivas Stoker, age 17, from Temple City High School; Veronica Sara Mejia, age 19, from Pasadena City College; Mackenzie Joy Byers, age 18, from Pasadena City College; Gabrielle Ann Current, age eighteen, from Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy; Simona K. Shao, age seventeen, from Westridge School; Madison Elaine Triplett, age seventeen, from John Marshall Fundamental High School; and Bergen Louise Onufer, and seventeen, from Mayfield Senior School.
After the announcement, several of the new Rose Princesses talked about the moment of their selection.
“Just insane. I can’t believe it’s actually happening, to hear my number first, I was just so shocked and so happy,” said Bergen Onufer.
“This morning was kind of nerve-wracking, I wasn’t expecting to be chosen for the court, but it’s a great honor…I was just in complete shock, my mouth just dropped, and I walked out here shaking, I started crying when my mom started crying, so–it was really scary but it was great,” said Emily Stoker.
“I was just kind of prepared for anything,” Mackenzie Byers added. “I walked up with Emily…Mostly, we were just really excited for whatever the outcome is. (The friends that didn’t make it in the group), they’re just so amazingly beautiful and talented, and I honestly just got lucky, because it could be any one of them up here and they would completely deserve it.”
Former PCC Rose Princess Sarah Hansen recalled her selection, one year ago, and explained what would come next for the new Rose Court. “The girls will go to a parents’ meeting, where they get the lowdown on everything they have to do, and what’s expected of them,” she said, “and then they will go to a very fancy lunch at the Athenaeum.”
What’s expected of the 2015 Royal Court, according to President Chinen, will include making over a hundred official appearances, as Tournament of Roses® ambassadors, over the next two and a half months. One of the seven new princesses will be crowned Rose Queen on October 21st.
Not surprisingly, when asked what advice she might give the new Rose Princesses, based on her experience, Sarah mentioned prioritizing their time, in order to get their college applications finished.
“Make the most of every moment,” she said,”and really get to know the girls on the court with you, because these will be the best friendships of your life.”