Spokane Lilac Festival Association names 2023 “Onward” Queen

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[Spokane, WA] At a coronation held on Saturday March 25 at the Bing Crosby Theater the Spokane Lilac Festival Association (SLFA) crowned the 2023 “Onward” Festival Queen, Queen Josephine Ortega from Medical Lake High School.
Queen Josephine is involved in the National Honor Society, golf team, a vocalist for the MLHS choir and plans to attend Gonzaga University in the fall of 2023.


In her speech Queen Josephine spoke about the military careers of both of her Mom and Dad. She shared about the hardships military kids must overcome while their parents protect our country and freedoms.


The SLFA Royal Court is comprised of seven senior girls selected from among regional high schools. The selection process begins in the fall, with the court being selected in February and the Queen named in March.


The Royal Court Princesses are:
Kate Spinden representing West Valley High School
Aidyn Whitehead representing Gonzaga Preparatory School
Maddie Champagne representing East Valley High School
Mercy Cummins representing Shadle Park High School
Lori Petroske representing Ferris High School
Kaitlyn Hawker representing Lewis & Clark High School

At the coronation, Royal Court Members were presented with a court scholarship. Additional Scholarships were presented including The Spirit of Lilac, Community Service, and Academic Achievement among others based on specific criteria.
Queen Josephine and Royal Court will represent the SLFA at the Annual Armed Forces Torchlight Parade in downtown Spokane on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 7:45 p.m. and will travel with the SLFA Float to many community festivals across the Pacific Northwest this summer.


Kids of all ages are invited to meet and support the Royal Court at a Royal Tea Party held on Sunday, April 30, at the Historic Davenport Hotel, tickets can be found online at www.spokanelilacfestival.org.

Spokane Lilac Festival Seeks 2023 Royal Court Candidates

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The Spokane Lilac Festival Association (SLFA) has opened applications for the 2023 Royalty Scholarship Training program.

High School Senior girls interested in joining the 2023 Royal Court are required to attend one of four orientation meetings with a parent or guardian to be eligible for the Spokane Lilac Festival Royalty Scholarship Program.

Orientation meetings:

  • Tuesday, November 1st 6pm – Moran Prairie Library – 6004 S. Regal St.
  • Wednesday, November 2nd 6pm – North Spokane Library – 44 E. Hawthorne Rd.
  • Sunday, November 6th 2pm – The HIVE – 2904 E. Sprague Ave.
  • Monday, November 7th 6pm – Spokane Valley Library – 12004 E. Main Ave.

The Royalty Scholarship and Training Program provides an opportunity for outstanding young women to be recognized for their achievements.  Every Spokane County high school is invited to present one senior girl for participation in the SLFA High School Royalty Scholarship and Training Program. Selection of the high school student is decided upon individually at each school.

Each candidate selected from her high school will participate in a five-week preparation course which supports character building and servant leadership with a strengthened focus on community service, integrity, and teamwork. The candidates will attend workshops in communication, personal and professional etiquette, resume development, interview skills, military history and protocol and self-defense.

Candidates will participate in community service activities such as Blessings Under the Bridge, Salvation Army, Clothe A Child and Second Harvest Food Bank

The training will culminate with individual candidate interviews before a panel of judges who have the very difficult task of determining the 7 members of the Spokane Lilac Festival Royal Court.  The Royal Court will continue training and preparation for coronation and the selection of the Spokane Lilac Festival Queen in March of 2023.

Interested candidates should consider attending if they:

  • Are interested in civic participation
  • Want to meet other student leaders
  • Want to network with local mentors
  • Want to learn more about the Spokane region
  • Want to give back

Spokane Lilac Festival Royal Court Honor Teachers of the Year

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Members of the Spokane Lilac Festival “Our Town” Royal Court have selected seven teachers to be honored as a part of the 2022 Armed Forces Torchlight Parade.

The Lilac Festival is committed to the continued education of our Royalty Court and celebrates those who helped shape into the young women they have and will become. Founded in the early 2000 by Festival Director Russ Brown, a long-time educator, the Teacher of the Year program was created to celebrate the teachers going the extra mile to ensure bright futures for their students.

Annually, each member of the Royal Court selects a teacher who most influenced them throughout their high school experience. Recipients are presented a plaque and certificate at their school alongside the Festival’s President and are also invited to attend the Queen’s Luncheon during festival week on May 20. GESA Credit Union is the 2022 sponsor of the program.

The 2022 Teachers of the Year are:

  • Tamara Kennedy-Gibbens – Mead High School
  • Karen Round – Gonzaga Preparatory School
  • Kaysha Reinhart – University High School
  • Craig Johnson – Medical Lake High School
  • Mary Pratt – Cheney High School
  • Andy Mattson – The Oaks Classical Christian Academy
  • Emily Torres – Ferris High School

The Queen and six Princesses submit an essay that describes the reasons for their nomination. Queen Janna said this of Tamara Kennedy-Gibbens, “Mead High School is all about belonging, and this amazing teacher really embodies this so admirably. She has made students like me feel welcomed and that we belong.”

Belonging and support were a common theme in many of this year’s selectees. “This teacher has served as a great role model for me since the first day I met her,” said Princess Ryan of Karen Round. “Beyond academics, I never once had doubts that she cared for me as a student and a person.”

Princess Velerie said of her selection Craig Johnson, “This teacher never lets a student leave the room with anything less than they came with. Their kind words and genuine empathy and care for their students never wavers and ensure that students never leave the building unhappy.”

In 2022, the selected teachers had the opportunity to ride alongside the Royal Court on a KC – 135 refueling aircraft as guests of 141st Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base.

The honorees are invited to ride as a VIP in the Armed Forces Torchlight Parade on Saturday May 21, 7:45 p.m. in downtown Spokane. To read the 2022 honoree essays and view photos of the presentations, visit here!

Janna Huber Named 2022 Our Town Lilac Festival Queen

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[Spokane, WA] At a coronation held on Saturday March 26 at Spokane First Church the Spokane Lilac Festival Association (SLFA) crowned the 2022 “Our Town” Festival Queen, Queen Janna Huber from Mead High School.

Queen Janna is involved in Link Crew, Marching Band, Pep Band, Wind Ensemble, Young Life, Student Council, and co-captains the Tennis team. She plans to attend either Washington University or Eastern Washington University in the fall of 2022.

In her speech Queen Janna spoke about feeling a sense of belonging when her family relocated to the Spokane area and hopes to reinforce that feeling to others in the Spokane community and Pacific Northwest region.

The SLFA Royal Court is composed of seven senior girls selected from among regional high schools. The selection process begins in the fall, with the court being selected in February and the Queen named in March.

The Royal Court Princesses are:

  • Princess Velerie Dancel of Medical Lake High School
  • Princess Megan Tallman of The Oaks Classical Christian Academy
  • Princess Taryn Frerichs of Ferris High School
  • Princess Ryan Ham of Gonzaga Preparatory School
  • Princess Shelby Zehm of University High School
  • Princess Ella Hilliard of Cheney High School

At the coronation, Royal Court Members were presented with a court scholarship. Additional Scholarships were presented including The Spirit of Lilac, Community Service, and Academic Achievement among more.

Queen Janna and Royal Court will represent the SLFA at the Annual Armed Forces Torchlight Parade in downtown Spokane on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 7:45 p.m. and will travel with the SLFA Float to over one dozen community festivals across the Pacific Northwest this summer.

What are the Candidates up to?

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