Scott Swanson
Of The New Era
Sportsman’s Holiday Princess Tabatha Trahan says she’s participating on the court this year “because I feel that I would make a good representative because I want to be more involved in our community.”
Tabatha, 17, is one of six young women who are candidates to be chosen Sportsman’s Holiday queen for the festival, to be held July 7-9. The queen will be crowned July 6.
Tabatha, a junior at Sweet Home High School, is the daughter of John and Tina Trahan. She has a sister, Brittany, in high school and a younger brother, John, in junior high.
She said she likes Sweet Home because “I am comfortable here, I feel safe and it is a small community where everybody knows everybody.”
Tabatha said she likes how “people come together” for the parades, Sportsman’s Holiday, the Oregon Jamboree and football games.
“I love that Foster Lake is close by and that teenagers have a place to get together with their families and friends,” she said.
The scenery here in Sweet Home is beautiful. Not only is it country living in a small town, but we are close to the beach, the mountains and bigger cities.”
Tabatha said her goals are to graduate from high school “with excellent grades,” attend Linn-Benton Community College for two years, then transfer to a university to study marine biology.
“My life-long dream is to someday be a marine biologist, specializing in dolphins,” she said.
Tabatha says she is “a good, positive role model” who values her reputation and works hard to maintain good morals and standards.
“I can make a difference in my community by showing that teenagers are a valued part of our society and that we can contribute to the community, serve as positive role models and make decisions that are good for our community,” she said.
“I feel that by making wise choices and keeping high standards and morals, people will look up to me and respect me for being my own person and not giving in to peer pressure.”