Find out who was picked to represent the Scots, as Portland’s internationally-known festival announced the first member of their 2010 Royal Court …
It’s an amazing sight – 1,500 underclassmen (the other half of the student body is on the other side of the gym) – all waiting to welcome the 2010 Portland Rose Festival David Douglas High School Princess.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The “Scots” of David Douglas High came out if full force to show their support for the 2010 Portland Rose Festival Princess Selection assembly on March 1. Every inch of the bleachers in the gymnasium was filled, as 3,000 students and teachers were seated for the 2:15 p.m. event.
Before the formal program started, Portland Rose Festival board member and director Amy Johnson told us how this year’s selection process had changed from past years.
“We narrowed the field of candidates at each school from six down to five,” Johnson said. “And this year, instead of holding the judging deliberations at the school, it was done at a central time and location. Of course, the results remained secret.”
Award-winning David Douglas High Cheerleaders entertain the crowd at the event.
Pacific Power Mentor, Michelle Follette, gives a memento to each Princess candidate.
The students at the participating schools were offered the option whether or not to hold a school-wide vote. “The result of this vote was counted in the final selection,” Johnson noted, saying that DDHS students did participate in the process.”
One of the candidates, Natalia Mosailova, answers the question put to her by the event’s Master of Ceremonies.
The candidates speak
The candidates were escorted through the length of the gym before they alighted on a 6-foot-high, decorated stage.
Before the school’s 2010 Portland Rose Festival Princess was announced, each candidate spoke briefly. Each answered a question put to them, even though all knew the school’s Princess had already been selected. They each thanked member of the student body.
Waiting to learn who would represent David Douglas High School during the 2010 Portland Rose Festival events are seniors Mackenzie Busby, Chelsea Kopacz, Natalia Mosailova, Kaitlyn Swyers and Selena Zou.
Introducing Princess Natalia Mosailova
A deafening cheer went up when Natalia Mosailova was announced as the school’s representative to this year’s Portland Rose Festival.
After receiving her tiara and bouquet of roses, Mosailova told the cheering audience, “Four years and six months ago, my family moved to the United States. I came to his school. I went to my first Rose Festival, saw the Princesses, and said, ‘Oh, my gosh! They all speak English!’”
This statement drew a big laugh from the audience as she continued, “I’m grateful to everyone in the Portland Rose Festival. I’m grateful to be in the United States of America. And, I thank all of you so much.”
Natalia Mosailova learns that she’ll be David Douglas High’s representative to this year’s Portland Rose Festival.
Photographers snapped photos of the Princess and her court. Asked what it meant to her to be selected, Mosailova, told us, “I’m very honored to be the representative from David Douglas High School. I’ll do my best to represent them in the best way. It’s been wonderful to become part of this great community here. And now, I’m so honored that I’ll actually be playing a role in it – representing our school, and this wonderful community. I find this to be thrilling.”
Born in Chisinau, Moldova, this 18-year-old DDHS Senior said she plans to pursue the University of Washington pre-medical program, and go on to be an Obstetrician and Gynecologist.
At DDHS, Mosailova has participated in the PRIDE Team, National Honors Society, and has won the school’s Award of Excellence (4.0 cumulative GPA at end of junior year).
Princess Natalia accepts a bouquet of roses.
Mosailova’s hobbies and special interests include Ballroom, hip-hop, and salsa dancing; is active in the Russian community, translating for Russian/Romanian/Ukranian residents, and works part time as office specialist at the OHSU Surgery Department.
During the interview process, Mosailova was asked, “What have you discovered about yourself during high school?”
She responded, “I’ve discovered myself as an excellent public orator, and defender of my personal views. I have an outgoing and giving personality. I’ve always been the person to whom friends and acquaintances would come for help or advice.”
It’s not too early to consider attending the 2010 Portland Rose Festival Queen Selection Ceremony, held just before the Grand Floral Parade. For more information about the Portland Rose Festival, visit their official website: CLICK HERE.
-8 Surrounded by her court is David Douglas High School’s Portland Rose Festival Princess Natalia.
© 2010 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
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