“Strawberry Nights,” the theme for the Strawberry Festival’s 117th year, invites the Strawberry Festival Court to reflect on the iconic film “Grease,” a movie about friendship, confidence, music, dreams, summer memories, school spirit and classic style.
Just like the film’s main characters, each Strawberry Princess is approaching the end of an era to enter the bigger world beyond, marked by a carnival or, in this case, a Strawberry Festival.
Princess Emma Estes resonates with the movie’s reflection of school spirit because it was her job as Lebanon High School’s own spirit coordinator to hype-up the students and get them excited.
She had to plan pep assemblies that the students would love, create spirit weeks that encouraged everyone to dress up based on the theme, and – her favorite type of event – put on dances.
“There would always be fun activities throughout the week leading up to a dance on the weekend, and dancing was always my favorite part,” she said.
In fact, between her festival wave, ability to eat fair food and her dance moves, she believes she would excel best in a dance competition.
“I can only truly groove, though, if I’m vibing with the song,” she said.
So it would be of no surprise that, if she could step into a scene from “Grease,” it would be the dance-off competition, during which time the characters performed the iconic hand jive.
“The whole energy of the music and the dancing would be the most entertaining scene to be in for me.”
Of all the characters in the movie, Estes identifies most with Frenchy.
“She is a girly-girl just like me, a loyal friend and has a super bubbly personality,” she said. “If I could, I would dye my hair pink just like her.”
But Estes steps outside of that Frenchy character when she steps onto the athletic field, where for four years she played varsity soccer (and served as team captain her senior year) and track and field.
She was also a member of the National Honor Society, Leadership, Associated Student Body and leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She was awarded Junior Rotarian (April 2025) and completed more than 50 hours of community service throughout her time at LHS.
Outside of school, Estes loves hiking, cooking and baking, thrifting and finding things to “DIY,” and babysitting “just because I love hanging out with kids.”
Following graduation, the 18-year-old plans to attend Linn-Benton Community College to complete her prerequisites before applying to the Diagnostic Imaging Program so she can become an ultrasound tech.
Her parents are Tony and Angela Estes. She has a brother, Parker.
Being a Strawberry Princess fits right into her role as an involved member of her community. Estes said she really started getting more involved after she got into high school, and found it opened a lot of doors for her.
And that’s most particularly so while she was in the high school’s Leadership class, during which time she formed a strong passion for connecting with the people in her community. The Strawberry Court gave her the best opportunity to do what she loves, she said.
“Being able to represent my community as a young lady has given me a chance to be a light for everyone – between the children, adults and elders. I get to be someone that people look up to, and hopefully can continue to be someone that people can lean on and trust.”