Community Clicks
Sarah Berkes, left, first row, Ashley Fuentes, Fallon Schneider, left, second row, and Sierra Shelden strike a pose during a practice for the upcoming Irrigation Festival Royalty Pageant. Photo provided by Cindy Bacon
Each spring an event happens in Sequim that sets the tone for the Irrigation Festival. The 33rd annual Royalty Pageant combines the long-standing traditions of the state’s oldest festival and the youthful energy of the young women who are vying for the title of Sequim Irrigation Festival queen.
This year, four energetic and charismatic girls — Sarah Berkes, Ashley Fuentes, Fallon Schneider and Sierra Sheldon — will answer questions from judges, perform a fun dance number and read an essay they wrote during the pageant.
One young woman will be selected as festival queen and the others will be named festival princesses during the event.
The pageant will take place in the auditorium of Sequim High School, 601 N. Sequim Ave., at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 6.
Admission to the event costs $5 per person.
Tickets can be purchased at Kitsap Bank, 990 E. Washington St, Suite F, and 1320 W. Washington St., and Solar City, 135 W. Washington St.
Tickets will also be available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the door the night of the event.
The royalty court is one of the most visible parts of the Irrigation Festival.
Court members make appearances around town to represent the Irrigation Festival, travel with the festival float around Western Washington to community parades and take part in community service activities in the area.
In return, each member of the court receives a scholarship.
The queen receives $1,000 and the three princesses each receive $750 scholarships.
In addition, the girls receive travel and float wardrobes, parade travel expenses, speech and poise training and the opportunity to make life-long friends around the state and within the community, said Cindy Bacon, festival pageant chairperson.
“We have a wonderful group of girls this year who really work well together,” Bacon said.
“They have known each other a long time and are all friends. We are having a lot of fun and I expect great things from them throughout the festival activities.”
Royalty are community-minded students who volunteer their time by working with the festival committee and promoting community involvement.
Bacon encourages people to attend the pageant to support the festival and to receive an introduction to the royal court, pioneers and grand marshals.
The pageant’s guest emcees will be local singer Amanda Bacon and KING 5 Television news anchor Brad Goode.
This year, the pageant is sponsored by Kitsap Bank.
“The pageant is a fun community activity and is the kick-off event for the festival, which will take place May 1 – 9,” Bacon said.
“The girls have been working very hard on their speeches and dance routine to make the pageant exciting and entertaining for those who attend.”
For more information about the pageant, phone Bacon at 360-670-9694.
For festival details, click on www.irrigationfestival.com.
2010 Irrigation Festival Royalty Candidates:
Ashley Fuentes, 18, is a senior at Sequim High School.
Fuentes enjoys volunteering at her church and for a variety of other organizations.
She is involved in the school’s Random Acts of Kindness Club, Women in Networking and Link Crew.
Outside of school, Fuentes enjoys spending time with family and friends.
She hopes to attend the University of Washington or Washington State University to pursue a career in criminal justice.
Fuentes is the daughter of Milton and Mary Fuentes.
Her pageant sponsor is The Fifth Avenue Retirement Center.
Fallon Schneider, 16, is a junior at Sequim High School.
She plays bass clarinet, clarinet and piano and was selected as a member of the WMEA All-State Band.
Schneider is the president of Interact Club, a member of the Honors Society and part of the Women in Networking program.
She enjoys running cross-country, tennis, hiking, sketching, making collages and volunteering for local groups.
Schneider plans to attend an East Coast college to study international relations, anthropology, Spanish or education.
She is the daughter of Kim Schneider.
Tom’s Plaza Jewelers is Schneider’s pageant sponsor.
Sarah Berkes, 17, is a junior at Sequim High School.
Berkes is a member of Future Business Leaders of America, Interact, Random Acts of Kindness and International clubs, Honors Society, Women in Networking and Advent Conspiracy, a project of Dungeness Community Church’s youth group.
She enjoys being involved in her community, shopping and spending time with family and friends when not in class.
Berkes hopes to attend Pepperdine University to become an editor of a fashion magazine.
She is the daughter of Ken and Paula Berkes.
Berkes’ pageant sponsor is Tender Touches Spa.
Sierra Shelden, 16, is a junior at Sequim High School.
She is a cheerleader, president of the Random Acts of Kindness Club, an Honors Society member and is involved in Link Crew and the school’s leadership class.
When not at school, Shelden enjoys hanging out with friends, shopping and meeting new people.
She plans to attend the University of Washington to become a children’s therapist or an elementary school teacher.
She is the daughter of Anthony and Tara Bush.
Shelden’s pageant sponsor is William J. Wickline, an optometrist in Sequim.
