MARYSVILLE Because its fun and its cool.
Oh, and the possibility of picking up $3,000 in scholarship money doesnt hurt.
Those three reasons were at or near the top of the lists given by all five local teens trying for the title of Royal Ambassador or Ambassador of the Marysville Strawberry Festival.
Although its not the first time, for the first time in a few years the pageant contestants include a gentleman along with the usual young ladies.
All at least 16-years-old and carrying academic grade point averages of at least 3.0, the contestants are Michelle Giesler, Lila Hart, Che Renouard, Michael Running and Danielle Wilcoxson.
Although all officially will remain members of the Strawberry Festival Royalty Court, one will be named Royalty Ambassador and two will become runners-up Ambassadors at the annual April Friesner Royalty Scholarship Pageant set for 7- 10 p.m., March 29, in the auditorium of Marysville-Pilchuck High School, 5611 108th St. NE.
The first-place winner takes home the citys Strawberry Festival crown and that $3,000 scholarship. The two runners-up each earn $2,000 scholarships, while congeniality prize earns a $250 award.
The teens involved really are or soon will be formal ambassadors of the city of Marysville, said pageant organizer Bobbi Young. They will travel on the official Marysville float in at least 12 parades throughout the area.
According to Young, their busiest day will be April 12 when, in that single 24-hour span, they will take part in four parades in spots as far flung as Olympia and Wenatchee.
Volunteers put the float itself together with donations from local sponsors. What might be called float roadies travel with the float, putting it together and taking it apart. Young said when moving from parade route to parade route, the disassembled float travels in a trailer.
According to both Young and Strawberry Festival president Judy Anderson, volunteers really are the backbone of one of Marysvilles biggest annual events. Since last year, the pageant bears the name of longtime volunteer April Friesner, who died from cancer two years ago. Young said her family has remained major supporters of the festival.
I have volunteered for the Strawberry Festival for 10 years and just had a blast, said Giesler, 18. Besides I wanted to be on the float permanently, not just as a stand in.
But beyond riding on the Marysville float, Giesler said getting to meet different people from Marysville and from other cities is the real reason she became involved with the pageant.
The people you meet, the volunteers, they become your second family, Giesler said.
Giesler is the daughter of Ed and Marcy Giesler of Marysville.
I just thought it would be really cool, said 16-year-old Lila. Its been a lot of work, but a lot of fun.
Her pageant speech is on volunteering and Lila said shes spent plenty of time giving of her time at the Marysville YMCA and with Marysville-Pilchucks minority achievers group.
Lila is the daughter of William and Esperanza Hart of Marysville.
It just seemed like a fun thing to do, said Che, 17, echoing some of Lilas comments. She also specifically mentioned hoping to grab a piece of the scholarship money. Through the schools Running Start program, Che already takes classes at Everett Community College.
Che really is looking forward to pageant night for more than the usual reasons. Her family recently moved to Utah, leaving Che to live with her grandparents and finish her senior year at Lakewood High School. Mom Nicci and at least one of her five brothers and sisters will be in town for the pageant. Che is, by the way, the only representative of Lakewood High School in the pageant, with the rest all attending Marysville-Pilchuck.
As the only male in the group, Running admits hes taken a little ribbing from some of his friends, though he adds most are cheering him on.
Theres been a king in the past, he said, and I just thought Id give it a shot.
The first Strawberry Festival king actually was Brandon Hemming in 2001. Hemmings win is what spurred pageant organizers away from picking Strawberry Festival queens and princesses to naming ambassadors.
Running, 18, is the son of Dan and Patricia Running of Marysville.
Im here to meet people and be a positive representative of Marysville, said Danielle, 17. Shes convinced her hometown is a special place.
What is there not to make it special? she asked.
Danielle is the daughter of Greg and Rhonda Wilcoxson of Marysville.
During the pageant, participants will be judged on a number of different factors. Each takes part in a choreographed dance that opens the show. Each gives a speech, with self-chosen topics. And each must display a talent. This year, the girls all will sing, while Running plans to do a Michael Jackson dance imitation.
Some judging is already completed. Each contestant has spoken before and been graded by the City Council, the Marysville School Board of Directors and the Marysville Kiwanis, among other groups. Those votes will count in the final decision, which is up to a three-judge panel selected by pageant organizers.
Young noted each judge is from outside of Marysville, helping ensure impartiality. All are professionals of some kind, including, for example, a music professor from the University of Washington, who also happens to direct a Korean opera company.
Pageant organizers already have selected the pageants Junior Royalty. Those winners are Julie Hodgsen, Madi Doty and Franki Rojas. All are under 12 years of age or in the sixth grade. Though not as often as their older counterparts, the Junior Royalty also rides on the float, sometimes taking the place of older ambassadors who are unavailable.