SEQUIM — A teen who hopes to become a midwife has been chosen queen of the Sequim Irrigation Festival.
Karla Najera was crowned queen at the Sequim High School auditorium Saturday.
Princesses are Alison Cobb, who wants to become a casting director; Abby Norman, who aims to become a pediatrician; and Emily Straling, who plans to study broadcast journalism.
They will reign over this year’s festival, which will celebrate its 122nd year May 5-14. They also will represent the city of Sequim at community functions and participate at some 14 other festivals throughout the year.
Upon completion of their reign, the members of the royal court will receive scholarships. The queen will receive a $1,000 scholarship while the three princesses each will get $750 scholarships.
Najera, daughter of Carolina and Rigoberto Najera, plans to transfer from Peninsula College’s nursing program to the University of Washington’s midwife program.
Cobb, daughter of Trisha and Michael Cobb, plans to attend a four-year school to study business management and marketing and minor in theater.
She wants to become a casting director and “stay as close to Sequim as I can.”
Norman, daughter of Trayce and Brad Norman, choreographed the high school’s operetta “Cinderella” last year and will choreograph the upcoming show this spring. She wants to be a pediatrician because she grew up around several nieces and nephews much younger than her and she enjoys science and math.
Straling, daughter of Shenna Younger, plans to attend Washington State University for broadcast journalism with minors in communication, history and Spanish.
Also in the running for spots on the royal court were Kyla Armstrong, Cortney Gosset and Aubree Young
The festival celebrates the irrigation ditches which brought water to the once-dry prairies of Sequim.
A kick-off dinner is set for 5 p.m. March 25 at 7 Cedars Casino Club Seven, where the festival float will be rolled out at 4:45 p.m. Tickets of $80 are available at Sound Community Bank, ReMax Prime & Cherry Creek Mortgage and the Sequim-Dungness Valley Chamber of Commerce.
A Sequim High School operetta will begin May 1. Crazy Callen Weekend will be May 5-7 and the grand finale weekend — which will include a strongman competition, logging show and grand parade — will be May 11-14.
For more information, visit www.irrigationfestival.com.
Outgoing Queen Victoria Hall for the Sequim Irrigation Festival crowns newly selected Queen Karla Najera on Saturday in the Sequim High School auditorium. Najera was selected for the 2017 royalty court for the festival, which celebrates its 122nd consecutive year. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
