by Dot Cannon

At Pasadena’s Tournament House on Monday morning, the mood was festive.

Families and friends were gathering.  Signs waved in the air amid a general sense of excitement and anticipation.

At 9:00 that morning, 2020 Tournament of Roses® President Laura Farber would announce the members of the 2020 Royal Court.

From twenty-five semifinalists, seven young women would be chosen to serve as ambassadors, not only for the Tournament of Roses® ambassadors, but for the Pasadena community and greater Los Angeles area.  They would make a number of public appearances, culminating in presiding over the 131st Rose Parade® and 106th Rose Bowl® game on New Year’s Day.

And in three more weeks, one of the seven would be crowned the 102nd Rose Queen®.

At 8:30 the PCC Tournament of Roses® Honor Band began playing.

Rocking an uptempo version of Chicago’s “Old Days”, the official band of the Tournament of Roses® sounded as good as they looked.

They segued into The Knack’s “My Sharona” and A-Ha’s “Take On Me.”

Then, the gathered audience were asked to take their seats.

A nod to Royal Court history–and timelessness

With a fanfare, courtesy of the Honor Band, Queen and Court Committee Chair Ruth Martinez-Baenen appeared.

“Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us on this beautiful Monday in Pasadena.”

Chairperson Martinez-Baenen offered some background on the Royal Court.

“We crowned our first Rose Queen® in 1905..  Her name was Hallie Woods.  And there were sixteen other finalists that year. The sixteen young ladies who weren’t selected as Queen actually rode in the parade with her.  And Hallie decorated her own carriage.”

Since then, she continued, the Rose Parade®–and the Royal Court members–had seen a number of changes.

“But what hasn’t changed, over the 114 years, are the qualities and attributes that each member of the Royal Court exemplifies, illustrates and illuminates.  Strength of character, active in her community and school, and ready to take on the world, and then some.

…”As Chair of the Queen and Court Committee, I’m honored to present to you this morning, the twenty-five finalists selected from hundreds of applicants from forty-five area schools.”

The finalists

Selecting seven winners, Chairperson Martinez-Baenen said, had not been easy.

“This indeed was a group of outstanding finalists.  And we did make some very difficult choices, to select the seven members of the Royal Court.”

After acknowledgments of the volunteers who made the Rose Parade® possible, the finalists began appearing.

One of Tournament of Roses®’ 935 White Suiters escorted each one to the stairs.

Shrieks and applause greeted the names as Chairperson Martinez-Baenen introduced them.

In just a matter of minutes, seven of these twenty-five would become a part of Rose Parade® history.

“Now, please help me welcome the President of the 2020 Tournament of Roses, Laura Farber!”

The PCC Honor Band Tournament of Roses® played another fanfare.

A President’s Perspective

“This year’s theme is ‘The Power of Hope’,” President Farber began, adding the Spanish translation.

“Hope is the belief that what is wanted, can be attained.  From the struggles of those that came before us, to dreams yet fulfilled, hope is more than the possibility of fulfillment.

“Hope is dignity, joy and happiness.  Aspiration, and achievement.  And with hope, we can aspire to do better, and inspire others to reach higher.

“With hope, everything is possible.  Hope never quits.  No one can take hope away from you.

“And currently, in this country and in this world, we are so divided.  And hope can bring everyone together, on America’s New Year Celebration®.

“And, we look at these finalists, and we have hope for our future.”

The audience responded with cheers and applause.

“And we look at these finalists, and we have hope for our future.

The official moment

“Now, without further ado, it’s time to hear who will comprise our 2020 Royal Court.  So, Ruth, the first envelope, please.”

“Our first Royal Court member…from South Pasadena High School, …Cole Fox!”

…”From LaSalle College Preparatory, …Camille Kennedy.”

…”Our third Royal Court member, from Maranatha High School, …Michael Wilkins!”

Shrieks and cheers had followed each announcement–but especially after Michael’s name.  “You won, you won!” gathered family members and friends called excitedly.

…”From Marshal Fundamental School, Reese Rosental Saporito…

 

“…From Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, Emilie Risha…

 

“…From Marshal Fundamental School, Mia Thorsen…

…From Arcadia High School, Rukan Seif…

…”Ladies and gentlemen…the 2020 Royal Court!”

The audience cheered.  Media swarmed.  Cameras clicked.

And the seven smiling young women had become a part of the Tournament of Roses® family.

The Royal Court experience

We had the easier job, listening and recording.   But what had the morning been like for these new Rose Princesses and their families?

“Today was surreal.  Absolutely phenomenal,” said Rose Princess Rukan Saif.

“The best part of today was just getting to be with all of the twenty-five girls, and talk to them,” said Rose Princess Reese Rosental Saporito.

“And everyone was so nervous, but it’s so cool to be a part of this.  And you meet so many new people, every round.  But especially today.”

Asked about her perspective on the 2020 Rose Parade® theme, Princess Reese said, “The power of hope, for me, was definitely fostered by the girls I was around.  They helped me believe in myself.”

“I think I had kind of mounting nerves as I came closer to this process,” said Rose Princess Emilie Risha.

“But as soon as I came here and I saw all my friends that I made throughout this process, I felt more calm, and of course everyone here who works for the Tournament of Roses® is very supportive and encouraging.  And I’m just coming out and seeing incredible support from my school and from my family and my community.  I feel very loved and honored to be here.”

Reflecting on the parade theme, Princess Emilie said, “I think hope is intertwined with strength.   And hope is the continuation, to continue to be inspired, to live your life, to make the best of every situation.”

We also had the opportunity to speak with two very proud grandmothers.

Heritage, hope and the future

Asked what had gone through her head when she heard her granddaughter’s name, Mia Thorsen’s grandmother Claudia van Corva, said, “She deserves it.  She’s wonderful.  And really, I was thinking of my mom, who passed away, who never missed a Rose Parade® in all of her 95 years.”

Describing her granddaughter, Mrs. van Corva said, “I think the story that encapsulates her character, is, when she was in first grade, she was a tiny little thing.   And she saw a fifth grader bullying another fifth grader.  And she marched across the whole playground with her finger out, and told him to ‘stop it now’.  And that’s her.  She cares about the community, she’s incredibly accomplished on the soccer field, she’s an AP student, she has her own business tutoring girls.  She wants to be Secretary of State!”

Wait–why not President?

“Because she thinks Secretary of State has more influence, and she wants to make a difference.”

Nearby stood Reese Rosental Saporito’s grandmother, Mary Saporito, who commented on the morning’s activities.

“Oh, my gosh.  It’s been absolutely amazing. And so rewarding.  She’s so deserving.”

Asked about her granddaughter, Mrs. Saporito said, “She’s a wonderful young woman, and everybody’s her friend.  There’s not an ounce of guile in her.  She loves life,she loves everything she does.  She’s just a dear soul.”

And what guidance might she give her now-Royal Court-member granddaughter?

“(I’d like her to know that) this is all wonderful and dear, but there’s so much more in this world.  So not to let all of this be the only thing that defines her.”

Congratulations, 2020 Royal Court!  Your future leadership will almost certainly be defined by many things.