Sean C. Morgan
It’s been a bit of a soft opening for the 2017 Sportman’s Holiday Court – no official announcements; just a plunge into a schedule of activities that will culminate at the community festival next July.
Six girls are serving on the court, which was finalized earlier this fall.
They are Kylie Armstrong, Elizabeth Chelstad, Jessica Coats, Bethany Gingerich, Kendyl Stutzman and Jessi Thomas.
The six were selected from among 14 applicants, said chaperon Kayla Rosa. “It was super hard to pick. All of them had outstanding grades.”
All the applicants came with great recommendations too, she said. That made the interview process key to the selections.
The princesses are all high achievers, Rosa said. Most carry a 4.0 GPA. They’re involved in sports, including soccer, swimming, track, cross country and basketball.
“They all are just great ambassadors for Sweet Home,” Rosa said. “They really want to dig in.”
She recalled Princess Bethany’s response to a question about why she wanted to be part of the court.
She gave the typical response about how she wanted to since she was little, Rosa said, and “she really wanted to get better at public speaking.”
Those are the kinds of skills they learn on the court, Rosa said. They learn to represent the community. While some of the work isn’t the most exciting, like picking up bingo cards, they’re busy helping where they can, greeting people at events and being part of the community.
“They’re already great students, great citizens,” Rosa said. “It’s just another way for them to dive in and give back.”
The selection committee included chamber Executive Director Katrina Crabtree; assistant chaperons Lesli Temple, Sadie Gordon and Karla Burcham; and Rosa.
Gordon and Temple joined the program this year, while Burcham continues from last year, when she returned to help facilitate the transition to Rosa as chaperon. Burcham chaperoned the Sportsman’s Holiday Court with Mary Sue Rey-nolds for many years.
The Sportsman’s Holiday Court selections were early again this year – and may be even earlier still next year for the 2018 court.
“There’s a lot of everything in the fall we’d like them to be a part of,” Rosa said. That includes things like the Boys and Girls Club Back to School program, the Harvest Festival and Christmas events in December. “It’s hard to get the previous court to come back for things.”
Most of them are in college by the fall, Rosa said. If the court officially lasts from October to August, “they can be involved in all these activities.”
The princesses were officially selected the first of October. So far, the princesses have been involved in the Zombie Zoup Run in October, Turkey Bingo, the Singing Christmas Tree, the Christmas Parade, Trees for Scholarships and Shop with a Cop.
With selections announced at the beginning of October, it would have been rushed to make it to the Harvest Festival, which was held on Oct. 3, she said. Organizers didn’t have enough time to purchase supplies and prepare for the festival.
That’s why court organizers may want to move the selection process earlier, with selections in the spring and the court beginning its duties for the Oregon Jamboree.
Beginning in January, they are required to attend a School Board meeting, a City Council meeting, a Kiwanis Club meeting and the monthly chamber After Hours programs January through June. In February, they will attend City Council and ceremonially announce the 2017 Sportsman’s Holiday theme, “Around the World.”