Daffodil
Princess Names Clague Teacher of the Year...
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by Dixie A. Walter
February 9, 2005
The Daffodil Festival
implemented a new program for royalty in 2005: "Teacher of
the Year." The Daffodil
royalty was asked by Vice President Royalty, Connie Wekell to select a
"certified teacher...who has had a positive influence...during
her high school career." Chosen teachers will featured during the
Promenade March 5, Coronation of the Queen April 1 and the Grand
Floral Parade April 16.
Eatonville Daffodil Princess Karly McKee,
crowned October 5, chose Jim Clague a popular biology teacher
(check out his shirt) at
Eatonville High School. In a letter dated January 18, 2005 Karly
writes in part, "I nominated you because you encourage all
students to strive for their best and you treat every student with
respect and dignity. You could teach anything and make it fun and
interesting.
"I feel that you open many windows of
opportunity to so many young lives. Your passion for education is to be
commended and rewarded. I have enjoyed each minute in your classroom
and have grown because of your guidance and knowledge."
Clague was given a plaque and a "Thank you" balloon.
Karly is Senior Class President, a member of
the National Honor Society and a Scholar Athlete. She has played
fastpitch for four years, volleyball for three years and loves all
water sports including scuba diving. She is a huge EHS sports fan who cheers
for all the school teams. Karly's proud parents are Jim McKee and Lucy
Schilter-McKee.
The Daffodil Festival theme this year is
"Dreams Come Alive in 2005," and Karly's dream is to
become a marine biologist. To that end she has already put in over 200 volunteer hours as a
Teen Naturalist at the Seattle Aquarium.
Karly said she
especially enjoyed working with kids and got a kick out of them
asking, "Where's Nemo?" and pointing out the nemo fish
(a clown fish) to them. Karly was accepted to Western Washington
University last week. Her mom tells us, "They have an excellent
Marine Biology program in Anacortes that she hopes to apply for in her
sophomore year." During the Daffodil Princess selection last fall
Karly said in
ten years she sees herself teaching high school biology, no doubt
inspired by Jim Clague, and/or doing field research at an aquarium.
Karly McKee Crowned 2005
Daffodil Princess...
Photos
by Dixie A. Walter
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by
Dixie A. Walter
October 20, 2004
Eatonville High School senior Karly McKee was crowned 2005 Daffodil
Princess Wednesday, October 20 in the school auditorium.
She is pictured above visiting with two of the Daffodil Festival
officials at a reception after the ceremony. Karly succeeds 2004
Daffodil Princess Rachel Abrahams, who is now a student at Western
Washington University.
Karly is Senior Class President, a member of
the National Honor Society and a Scholar Athlete. She has played
fastpitch for four years, volleyball for three years and loves all
water sports including scuba diving. Like all teens Karly also
enjoys going to movies and she is a huge EHS sports fan who cheers
for all the school teams. Her parents are Jim McKee and Lucy
Schilter-McKee.
The Daffodil Festival theme this year is
"Dreams Come Alive in 2005," and each of the five
candidates for Eatonville Princess spoke of their dreams. Karly
was the first candidate to speak, and said when she was little she
dreamed of being a singer but couldn't carry a tune now. Her passion
shifted to the sea and now she dreams of becoming a marine
biologist. To that end she has already put in over 200 volunteer hours as a
Teen Naturalist at the Seattle Aquarium.
Karly told the audience that she
especially enjoyed working with kids and got a kick out of them
asking, "Where's Nemo?" and pointing out the nemo fish
to them. She plans to attend Western
Washington University and major in marine biology and science. In
ten years Karly sees herself teaching high school biology and/or
field research at an aquarium.
Poised and confident, with a sunny
disposition, Karly was crowned amid cheers and tears. She could
barely get out of the auditorium through a crush of
well-wishers. Her escort for the evening was Chris Schubkegel, the
son of Preston and Julie Schubkegel. Chris was extremely good
natured about the swirl of friends hugging Karly and vying for
her attention.
A natural comic, John Bratholm kept the mood
light and hilarious as Master of Ceremonies. John and his wife,
Tammi, are the proprietors of John and Tammi's Pizza Place and
Italian Cuisine in Eatonville. John told the gathered crowd he was
not going to mention the name of his business because it wouldn't be
fitting, and he didn't. What he did instead, during the course of
the evening, and at various times, was don a red, white and green
(Italian flag colors) vest, hat and apron emblazoned with
"Pizza Place."
All of the five candidates, which
included Brandy Rinkel, Shelby Simianer, Kimberly Blue and Valerie Cromwell,
would have done Eatonville proud if chosen Daffodil Princess, and
all of them shared a camaraderie which will continue throughout the
school year. The candidates were mentored by EHS Daffodil Princess
Coordinator and school nurse, Linda Moffitt. It was a lovely
evening, and a lovely young woman was chosen to represent our
community. Eatonville can be proud that Karly McKee will represent
the community so graciously, and with such spirit and intelligence.
Royal Flowers...
Rachel
Abraham's bouquet rests next to a discarded Daffodil Princess banner
in the teacher's lounge behind the scenes at the Princess
selection October 20. Rachel was Eatonville's 2004 Daffodil Princess.
Glowing
Rachel Awaits Her Last Moment in the Daffodil Yellow Spotlight...
Princess Rachel Abrahams told the audience, and this year's Princess
Candidates, that she was a bit "jealous" of the girl who
would be selected to follow her. Rachel explained how the girls who
were part of the Daffodil Court last year forged lifetime friendships.
One of her best friends is Bethel's 2004 Princess, Alayna
Melton, who is attending Western Washington University, as is
Rachel.
Vivacious Rachel explained how important her
Princess year had been to her, and advised the future princess to
cherish her time representing the community. She said the new princess
will really devote most of her time immersed in Daffodil Festival
events, especially during three months in the spring when, in just one
day, the Grand Floral Parade goes through four cities.
Princess Rachel also explained to the candidates
that all five of them were winners, and how it takes a very special
girl to handle the responsibilities of being a symbol of the
Eatonville community. She pointed out that commute time also had to be
added to those responsibilities and said, "Eatonville princesses
are a special breed of royalty."
Rachel advised the girls to take "full
advantage" of visits to retirement homes, and noted the
Princesses visit quite a number of these facilities. She said
listen to the the people there and you will learn so much. And
described how she "grew and learned" from all of her
experiences as Daffodil Princess.
Then lovely Rachel brought down the house when
she told the candidates she had one little piece of advice for
them that she wished had been given her. "When they measure you
for your dress, stick your gut out a little bit for insurance."
The dress must last for the year. This down-to-earth, honest statement
was greeted by laughs and applause from the audience.
Lovely Rachel thanked her Queen "Mom,"
Sandy Hust, the Eatonville chaperones, Connie Boettcher and Kelly
Mayne, and the entire community for keeping the Daffodil Float alive.
Without a float Eatonville would have no Daffodil Princess to
represent the town and school. Rachel ended her reign saying,,
"Once a princess always a princess." She was third runner-up
in the Daffodil Queen selection last year.
Pizza Guy - John Bratholm
No,
John didn't play the horn, nor did he play the accordion he brought on
stage later during the evening. In fact it seems this merry
prankster never plays the musical instruments he carries around.
However, he kept the audience in stitches and had a very amusing
exchange with candidate Shelby Simianer over names.
Escorts
Took Care of Candidate's Bouquets
With good
humor the Daffodil Princess Candidates' escorts held the girls'
bouquets during a break in the Princess selection. Everyone agreed
the boys were "too cute." From left to right:
Chris Schubkegel, Ken Rebic, Bryan Overaa, Jimmy
Allen and Niclas Olson. Behind Niclas is candidate Brandy Rinkel with
the bling.
A Musical Interlude...
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During the tension-filled time while the judges were making their
decision the Eatonville High Choir members, led by Jason Hunter,
entertained the audience. The judges were Dennis
Townsend, Glenn Nutter, Debbie Almont, Deanna Valentine and Heather
Bateman. Dennis Townsend and Glenn Nutter are running for State
Legislature and John Bratholm had a lot of fun with that piece of
information. Later Townsend said the decision was undoubtedly the
hardest he would ever make. State Senator Marilyn Rasmussen also
remembered when she was a judge and said the same.
A Little Peek Behind the
Scenes...
Last
Minute Instructions...
EHS Daffodil Princess Coordinator, and
school nurse, Linda Moffitt, has a moment with the escorts before the
event. Moffitt has been coordinating Eatonville's Daffodil Princesses for six
years. Prior to coming to Eatonville she also coordinated Princesses for
seven years at Franklin Pierce High School. Moffit was a
Daffodil Princess when she attended Lincoln High School.
Nerves
and Excitement as the Candidates Prepared for Their Big Moment...
Left to
Right:L Kimberly Blue, Karly McKee, Valerie Cromwell, Shelby Simianer
and Brandy Rinkel took a moment to pose for the camera in the
teacher's lounge. The girls are all friends and that was evident
behind the scenes because they all wanted to be sure everyone was
included in photos.