25 FINALISTS SELECTED FOR THE TOURNAMENT OF ROSES® 2020 ROYAL COURT
Royal Court Announcement, Monday September 30
PASADENA, Calif. (September 24, 2019) – Before the final round of interviews, the 25 finalists for the 2020 Royal Court took a group photo on the front steps of Tournament House.
Applicants from 45 Pasadena area schools participated in the interview process and seven of the 25 finalists will be named to the 2020 Royal Court on September 30, 2019. Members of the 2020 Royal Court will each receive a $7,500 educational scholarship and serve as ambassadors of the Tournament of Roses, the Pasadena community, and the greater Los Angeles area.
Volunteer members of the Tournament of Roses’ Queen and Court Committee made its selections based on a number of criteria including public speaking ability, academic achievement, youth leadership, and community and school involvement.
The 25 Royal Court Finalists are:
First row, from left: (#100) Lailah Batchelder, Blair High School; (#093) Carly Witteman, La Canada High School; (#088) Janelle Johnson, John Marshall Fundamental High School; (#059) Rukan Saif, Arcadia High School; (#033) Siena Dancsecs, La Canada High School; (#030) Emilie Risha, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy; (#023) Reese Rosental Saporito, John Marshall Fundamental High School.
Second row, from left: (#252) Samantha Kennedy, Mayfield Senior School; (#248) Ai Kusayanagi, Temple City High School; (#235) Michael Wilkins, Maranatha High School; (#209) Amaiya Drew, Pasadena High School; (#200) Ava Walters, Pasadena High School; (#189) Lily Nelson, Westridge School; (#129) Saudia Usher, John Muir High School.
Top row, from left: (#492) Mia Thorsen, John Marshall Fundamental High School; (#484) Lily Mendez, Mayfield Senior School; (#410) Camille Kennedy, La Salle High School; (#394) Sydney Chang, Arcadia High School; (#390) Sydney Haupt, La Salle High School; (#315) Heein Kim, San Marino High School; (#296) Eleanor Washburn, Westridge School; (#295) Kathleen Fox, South Pasadena High School; (#294) Mia Dawson, South Pasadena High School; (#273) Sophia Rubbo, Westridge School.
About the Pasadena Tournament of Roses® and The Rose Parade® presented by Honda
The Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that hosts America’s New Year Celebration® with the Rose Parade® presented by Honda, the Rose Bowl Game® presented by Northwestern Mutual and a variety of accompanying events. The Association’s 935 volunteer members supply more than 80,000 hours of manpower, which will drive the success of 131st Rose Parade, themed “The Power of Hope,” on Wednesday, January 1, 2020, followed by the 106th Rose Bowl Game. For more information, visit www.tournamentofroses.com. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.