by Dot Cannon

Twenty-eight young women stood on the steps of Pasadena’s Tournament House. Each held a single, long-stemmed red rose.

Monday morning had arrived. It was just after nine.

And Pasadena Tournament of Roses® were just about to announce their 2025 Rose Court.

From these twenty-eight finalists, awaiting the announcement, seven would soon learn that they’d been selected.

These seven would serve as community ambassadors for numerous events up to New Year’s Day 2025, when they would appear as the Rose Queen® and her Royal Court in Pasadena’s 136th Rose Parade®.

The morning’s program

The morning had started with an official welcome and announcements from Queen and Court Committee Chair Leigh Gluck.

“As you probably know, the theme of the 2025 Tournament of Roses is ‘Best Day Ever’,” she began.

“…How exciting that the 2025 Rose Court will kick off the first ‘best day ever’ of 2025, by presiding over the 136th Rose Parade®, presented by Honda, and the 111th Rose Bowl game, on Wednesday, January first.”

Chairman Gluck acknowledged members of the Queen and Court Committee, as well as their spouses, partners and family members, before the introduction of the finalists.

She also acknowledged the Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band, under the director of Kyle Luck, who were providing live-event music.

“We are also excited to announce that Pasadena City College is partnering with us this year, as the official sponsor of the Rose Court float,” she said, to whoops and applause.

“This year marks Pasadena City College’s centennial celebration, and the Tournament of Roses® is thrilled to partner with PCC, as the college celebrates one hundred years of excellence.”

Members of the family

Next, Chairman Gluck introduced three previous members of past Rose Courts.

“Once you’ve been a member of the Rose Court, you are forever a member of the Tournament of Roses® family,” she said.

“I am very pleased to welcome back cherished members of our family, who have joined us here this morning to help with our announcement.”

Three members of previous Rose Courts appeared on the red-carpeted steps: Trinity DelaCruz, from the 2024 Rose Court; Reese Saporito, from the 2020 Rose Court; and Meghan Sheehan, who was celebrating the twentieth anniversary of being chosen for the 2005 Rose Court. Chairperson Gluck gave a brief update of what each was currently doing, since serving on the Rose Court.

Smiling, the three young women linked arms and descended the steps. They would distribute bouquets of red roses to the members of the 2025 Rose Court®.

The finalists appear

The time had come to meet the twenty-eight finalists.

“It is always a monumental task to choose the finalists selected from hundreds of applicants, representing nearly fifty Pasadena-area schools, and then to select the final seven who will comprise the 2025 Rose Court,” said Chairman Gluck.

“It feels impossible.

“But these twenty-eight young ladies who you are about to meet have once again impressed us…with their maturity, their humor, their wisdom, and their fearlessness, in an increasingly challenging world.

“I am quite sure that for seven of them, this may be their best day ever.

“But after meeting every single one of them, we are beyond confident that countless ‘best days’ are indeed ahead of them, as they boldly and gracefully march into a future filled with opportunity, excitement and adventure.”

“…It is my privilege to present to you, the finalists for the 2025 Rose Court.”

The moment approaches

Finalists began appearing in the doorway at the top of the stairs, each on the arm of a Tournament of Roses® staffer. After an announcement of each young woman’s name and school they attended, each took their place on the red-carpeted stairs.

When all twenty-eight were in place, the audience acknowledged them with a hearty round of applause. (According to an email from Tournament of Roses®, nearly 200 people, including friends and family of the finalists, were present on the south lawn of Tournament House.)

“Now,” continued Chairman Gluck, “please help me welcome the President of the 2025 Tournament of Roses®: Ed Morales.”

To applause and a fanfare from the PCC Honor Band, President Morales stepped up to the podium.

“So, when was your best day ever?” he asked, after thanking the Tournament staff and his wife for their support.

…”For us, here, in Pasadena, we get to have our ‘best day ever’ every single year, on January first, when the world tunes in to a spectacular international parade, filled with the grandest floats, incredible marching bands, amazing equestrian units, beautiful antique vehicles and a special feeling of joy and fun that is difficult to put into words.”

“…But it’s my hope…that January first is only the beginning. That you’re able to make the joy, the excitement, and the exhilaration last, so that 2025 is filled with many ‘best days ever’.

“Actually, why wait until 2025? How about we begin today, right now, with announcing the seven incredible, accomplished young women, chosen to comprise the 2025 Rose Court®?”

The audience whooped again and applauded.

“Chairman Leigh, may I have the first envelope?”

The announcement

Tearing open the envelope, President Morales announced,

“From La Canada High School, number 60, Kate Kelly!”

Applause and a flourish from the band followed, as Kate accepted her bouquet.

“From Westridge School, number 273, Lindsay Charles!”

“Number 77, Simone Ball, from Arcadia High School!”

“From Flintridge Preparatory School, number 260. Natalia Pradhan!”

“From Mayfield Senior School, number 311, Lara Georgian!”

“From John Muir High School, number 313, Saniyah Brunston!”

“From Maranatha High School, number 299, Lisette Parker!”

As the seven new Rose Princesses (one of whom will become Pasadena’s 106th Rose Queen®on Tuesday, October 29th!) stepped forward, the audience responded with applause, cheers and joyous shouts.

“Please join us next week, when we announce our Grand Marshal, Monday, October 7th at 10 am,” requested President Morales, after inviting the audience to “join us, next year, as we look forward to all our ‘best days ever’.”

Congratulations, Kate, Lindsay, Simone, Natalia, Lara, Saniyah, and Lisette! May today be just one of your many “best days ever”.