Daffodil Princess Names  Clague Teacher of the Year...

     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


                                                                             

     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...

     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.

                                                                                                          Back to Top

                                                                                                                   Back to Front Page

 


 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
   

 

 
 
 
 
 
  © 2002 Eatonvillenews.net We Care!