Leodis V. McDaniel High School ‘Rose Festival Princess’ named

INCLUDES EXCLUSIVE VIDEO | Here’s a look at the charming announcement program at which Julie Liu was presented as the school’s ambassador for the 2024 Portland Rose Festival …

The Leodis V. McDaniel High School Library is decorated for this special occasion, and guests are seated, as their school’s 2024 Portland Rose Festival Princess announcement begins.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Thursday, March 21, was the day of the 2024 Portland Rose Festival Princess announcement at Leodis V. McDaniel High School.

In the school’s library again this year, the school went all out to make this an elegant event which included stage and backdrop, larger audience seating, and a trellis arch under which the Princess candidates entered.

Watch our exclusive video of the this delightful announcement program:

“These four candidates are amazing individuals,” Leodis V. McDaniel High School Vice Principal Ian Twiss paused to tell East Portland News. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with all of them; they all represent themselves, their families, and their community in wonderful ways that really exemplify who we are, as a community – and our values at McDaniel High School. Congratulations to all of them.”

Leodis V. McDaniel High School Media Specialist Nancy Sullivan – credited for spearheading the Princess program at the school – promptly began the program by introducing the Masters of Ceremony.

Ably serving as hosts are Leodis V. McDaniel High School student emcees Mekai Anderson and Von Butenschoen.

Looking sharp, the two formally-dressed hosts, Mekai Anderson and Von Butenschoen, Co-Presidents of the school’s Senior Class, got the program began by introducing this year’s Portland Rose Festival Leodis V. McDaniel High School Court, one at a time.

The school’s Court members – Amelie Carter, Brenda Hernandez-Rangel, Julie Liu, and Lucy Shields – each individually announced as they were escorted down the center aisle and onto the stage.

On stage are members of the 2024 Portland Rose Festival Leodis V. McDaniel High School Court: Amelie Carter, Brenda Hernandez-Rangel, Lucy Shields, and Julie Liu.

Portland Rose Festival Foundation officials and dignitaries were next to be introduced – and the invitation was given for all to attend the festival’s many and varied events this year.

Unitus Community Credit Union’s Mentor, Ashlee Jacobson Dunbar, presents each Court member with a memento.

Last year’s Rose Festival Princess for McDaniel High School, Lilly Santangelo St. Martin, waves as she walks through the audience to the podium.

Then, the school’s Princess from a year ago, Lilly Santangelo St. Martin, appeared. She told the candidates they all should be honored for “taking a step forward to apply for being in the Court”.

She reflected, “I was excited about my time doing this! My advice is to write things down, to be sure to save the memories”. [To see, once again, the 2023 Portland Rose Festival Leodis V. McDaniel High School Princess Announcement program article and video, CLICK HERE.]

Julie Liu hears it announced that she’s the one – this year’s Leodis V. McDaniel High School Rose Festival Princess!

Newly-announced Princess for the school, Julie Liu, is presented with a bouquet of roses by her predecessor – 2023 Princess Lilly Santangelo St. Martin.

After she graduates Leodis V. McDaniel High School in the Class of 2025, Princess Julie plans to obtain a Ph.D. degree, and become a bi-literate psychologist or psychiatrist – an aspiration that will be supported by the $3,500 scholarship presented to her by The Randall Group.

Over the past 21 Portland Rose Festival seasons, East Portland News has been honored to take a photographic portrait of each new outer East Portland high school Princess, and conduct a brief interview with her. However, we were not permitted to do so on this occasion.

We assure our you, our readers, we mean no disrespect to Princess Julie, or indifference to Leodis V. McDaniel High School, by the lack of these elements in this article in covering their delightful and elegant ceremony this year.

Learn more about the 2024 Portland Rose Festival, and all that it has to offer, by visiting their official website: CLICK HERE.

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