McDaniel High’s Rose Festival Princess named

We congratulate the new Leodis V. McDaniel High School Portland Rose Festival Princess, Stella Jackson …

As the assembly gets underway, on the screen is projected the speech given by Stella Jackson, in which she advocated for being the representative during the Portland Rose Festival for Leodis V. McDaniel High School. Patrick Smith photo, courtesy Portland Rose Festival Foundation

By David F. Ashton

After having the announcement assembly put back a week, the last Portland Rose Festival Princess to be named this year in outer East Portland was revealed on March 16, during the noon hour, in the Leodis V. McDaniel High School auditorium.

The process of becoming Portland Rose Festival Princess nominee is rigorous. It is not a traditional “beauty pageant”. Instead, judges vet each candidate based on academic achievements and community involvement.

The Unitus Community Credit Union Rose Festival Mentor, Autumn Foster, presents to Stella Jackson a memento. Patrick Smith photo, courtesy Portland Rose Festival Foundation

So, selected for McDaniel High School’s Rose Festival representative was Stella Jackson, who became their Princess that day.

Princess Stella was invited to attend the Princess announcement assembly later that afternoon at Inner Southeast’s Cleveland High School, where she spoke with East Portland News.

“I’m really looking forward to representing my school this year; and, to have a place in this year’s Portland Rose Festival,” Princess Stella exclaimed. “And, I’m also looking forward to meeting all the women on the Rose Festival Court, and participating in all the events during this year’s season!”

Last year’s Leodis V. McDaniel High School Portland Rose Festival Princess, Faith Isibor, places the ceremonial tiara on the head of 2022 Princess Stella Jackson. Patrick Smith photo, courtesy Portland Rose Festival Foundation

“As I represent my school, I’ll let everyone know that McDaniel High is a strong high school,” Princess Stella assured. “The best thing about my school is that we are a very community-oriented school, where we all feel so closely knit.”

As a member of McDaniel High’s junior class, Princess Stella is the founder of the Passion Impact Volunteer Event Program there, and is involved with College Possible and Upward Bound, college-readiness programs that help students plan their future.

Scholastically, her proudest accomplishment in high school to date has been ranking first, academically, out of 261 students.

Although she still has another year to go in high school, Princess Stella said she’s considering becoming an attorney – or going into the sciences by studying at an Ivy League university, where she aspires to earn a Master’s or Doctoral degree. Her education will be aided by the $3,500 scholarship she will be awarded by The Randall Group.

Congratulations to Leodis V. McDaniel High School’s 2022 Portland Rose Festival Princess – Stella Jackson! East Portland News 2022 image

We look forward to seeing Princess Stella again on June 10, at the 2022 Portland Rose Festival Queen’s Coronation – to be held this year at Peninsula Park Rose Garden.

For authentic, indisputable information about this year’s Portland Rose Festival, see their official website: CLICK HERE.

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