Sequim Irrigation Festival Royalty Pageant
7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13
Sequim High School Auditorium, 533 N. Sequim Ave.
Cost $5 at the door, Sequim-Dungeness Chamber of Commerce, Cherry Creek Mortgage; For more information, visit www.irrigationfestival.com
It’s one year later and interest remains high to represent Sequim in the 121st Sequim Irrigation Festival.
Eight girls will compete at the festival’s royalty pageant at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Sequim High School Auditorium. Girls will answer questions about themselves, their potential platforms to help the community and share a talent for the judges who determine the queen and court.
This year’s hopeful contestants are Alison Cobb, Stephanie Grow, Victoria Hall, Tatum Jensen, Hailey Kapetan, Danica Miller, Dana Nguyen and Jaycee Thompson-Porrazzo.
Each girl is sponsored at the pageant with Cobb by RE/MAX Prime, Grow by Olympic Mailing Services, Hall by Anytime Fitness Sequim, Jensen by Evergreen Home Loans, Kapetan by Pacific Northwest Veterinary, Miller by Jon Jack Insurance, Nguyen by Kim Nails, and Thompson-Porrazzo by Sequim Physical Therapy. The pageant also features Aspire Academy of Expressive Arts performing.
This year’s festival, “Looking to the Future Through the Past,” runs May 6-15.
For more information, visit www.irrigationfestival.com.
Alison Cobb
Platform: Visit an assisted living facility and create an “Adopt a Grandparent” program
Hobbies/Activities: Theater, SHS cross country, Shiso City Sister City exchange student, ASB, languages (Chinese, Japanese, Sign Language).
• Why do you want to be Irrigation royalty?
Cobb: I’ve always loved being involved in the community. When I moved here at age 4 during the Irrigation Festival, I was at the parade and I saw the princesses and I just fell in love. I’ve wanted to be a royal ever since. I also want to contribute to our community as much as I can.
• What’s one thing people might not know about you?
I can sleep in very small places.
• What’s your best or first memory of Sequim?
My first memory of Sequim was when we were coming to look at properties. We’d gone to a few houses. Nothing seemed right until we went to a place by the water. I was amazed how beautiful this town was.
• What’s the best part of the Irrigation Festival?
I’ve been in the parade every year and we try to sit and watch it all but it never happens for some reason. One year, we were finally going to do it but my dog went missing and we ended up walking the entire parade handing out fliers. I’ve also been in the parade for Sunshine Generation and the operetta. There’s nothing like being in it.
Stephanie Grow
Platform: Teach young swimmers water safety
Hobbies/Activities: SHS swim team, nutrition as a profession, SHS band (flute/piccolo), SHS Jazz Band (flute)
• Why do you want to be Irrigation royalty?
Grow: I was born in Sequim and I feel that being queen or princess would complete the feeling that I’m representing Sequim like I’m supposed to. Like a true Sequimian.
• What’s one thing people might not know about you?
I want people to know that I think kindness is the best thing in life. It doesn’t matter what you look like or what you’ve done. You should always be kind and people should be nice to you despite what you and they have been through. What’s better than everyone getting along?
• What’s your best or first memory of Sequim?
I lived in Dungeness and I would have to take the long drives in the valley to get home but it was worth it because Sequim is a beautiful place with its mountains and water.
• What’s the best part of the Irrigation Festival?
I get to march with the band (in the parade) and I get to see all the smiling faces and my parents and grandparents on the side smiling and clapping. Sometimes I’m nervous but that’s because I’m excited to show what I’ve accomplished to all my friends and family.
Victoria Hall
Platform: Advocate for Native American Education in the Sequim elementary schools
Hobbies/Activities: theater, SHS vocal ensemble, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe member
• Why do you want to be Irrigation royalty?
Hall: Being a royal would mean a lot to me. I’ve lived in Sequim my whole life and I want to give back to the community that’s been my home for 16 years. Also, since I was a little girl, I’ve always gone to the parades and seen the floats and princesses and wondered what they did. Once I found out and learned more, I realized this is something I wanted to do.
• What’s one thing people might not know about you?
My parents have always taught me to be very hard-working. I’ve learned to take that with me and apply it to any of the activities I’ve done. It just comes naturally to me.
• What’s your best or first memory of Sequim?
During the Lavender Festival, there was a shuttle that went to Purple Haze Lavender Farm and it was so beautiful. It made me appreciate how beautiful our town is.
• What’s the best part of the Irrigation Festival?
The parade because you get to see all these different organizations that you don’t usually get to see and it makes you want to learn more and maybe help if it interests you.
Tatum Jensen
Platform: Participate in the Boo Hunger program to help Sequim’s hunger problem.
Hobbies/Activities: SHS Cheerleading, National Honor Society, SHS Be the Change Club, SHS International Club, SHS Leadership, secretary of SHS junior class
• Why do you want to be Irrigation royalty?
Jensen: I have lived in Sequim my whole life and it’s held a special place in my heart. Watching the irrigation parade I see all the girls in their poofy dresses and I want to be just like them. They are all so happy and they get the chance to represent Sequim and that is what I want to do. I also want to inspire others and show other little girls they can be leaders, too.
• What’s one thing people might not know about you?
I recently put together the Boo Hunger Drive the week before Halloween. We held a regular food drive at the school and during that week we dropped paper bags off at houses in Sequim with a note asking for food. On Halloween, we ran around the town and picked up the bags. It was about 4,000 pounds of food from the community. It was one of the most successful food drives at the Sequim Food Bank. I’m so proud of that accomplishment and that so many people wanted to serve the community on the holiday.
• What’s your best or first memory of Sequim?
When I was a little girl my mom would set up lawn chairs in front of White Cup Espresso and we’d eat ice cream. When the cheerleaders walked by I noticed they were so happy and I wanted to aspire to be like them.
• What’s the best part of the Irrigation Festival?
I really enjoy the parade because you get to see a little bit of our community, the dancers, the band, and it’s such an awesome experience to see our community in a few hours.
Hailey Kapetan
Platform: Raise awareness for the Welfare for Animals Guild.
Hobbies/Activities: SHS band (percussion), SHS softball, animal care and advocacy
• Why do you want to be Irrigation royalty?
Kapetan: To be able to spread our community’s name as a representative and show what we have to offer. I hope to see young kids to senior citizens light up. I also like the community service aspect of it.
• What’s one thing people might not know about you?
People might not know I really love horses. I grew up with large breeds and swine because my brother was in FFA. We’d go down to the farm a lot. I don’t show it necessarily. I also help my neighbor with her three horses with training, too.
• What’s your best or first memory of Sequim?
I have this memory as a little kid seeing them setting up the streets that were closed off for the Irrigation Festival. I thought, wow that’s a lot of people for a small town. The whole town is coming together. Now I realize how much work goes into it and how many people volunteer and give their time just because they want to be a part of it.
• What’s the best part of the Irrigation Festival?
I like walking down the crowded streets and seeing people happy. So many people get joy from it like getting toys and hats from the carts (at the parade) and how we come together as a community where everyone can show what they are involved in.
Danica Miller
Platform: Combat negative body image with a series of activities at the Boys & Girls Club
Hobbies/Activities: Gymnastics, SHS cheerleader, SHS Leadership, SHS spirit commissioner
• Why do you want to be Irrigation royalty?
Miller: When Angela Bentley was queen, I was sitting out front of Jon Jack Insurance. The float was going by and she waved at me, not a royal wave but an actual wave, and that made my entire week. I was so excited that the queen of Sequim waved at me. I want to make other people happy like that, too.
• What’s one thing people might not know about you?
I love cereal. I would eat it breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the summer, I went to a gymnastics camp in Idaho and they had a breakfast bar that was always open and I had cereal for every meal except for one.
• What’s your best or first memory of Sequim?
When I come to school in the morning I get to see the elk sign coming into school. It’s such a great representation of Sequim. I know all towns say Welcome but for Sequim it feels truly welcoming and it’s beautiful.
• What’s the best part of the Irrigation Festival?
The parade is my favorite part. We watch it in front of Jon Jack Insurance each year.
Dana Nguyen
Platform: A day of fun with the royalty at the Boys & Girls Club
Hobbies/Activities: Boys & Girls Club member and volunteer, SHS girls basketball team manager
• Why do you want to be Irrigation royalty?
Nguyen: Being a queen or a royal in general would be a blessing for me. Seeing how all these girls gracefully represent Sequim is very inspiring to me. I’d like to show others and all of this town how much I appreciate it. I remember one of the queens or princesses looked straight at me and waved and I practiced the wave, and she told me that’s how you wave. Ever since then I remember that being my inspiration to join the court because I want to do that. I want to inspire someone to represent Sequim as much as I want to represent Sequim.
• What’s one thing people might not know about you?
I’m pretty much an open book. I’m very loud. I like to laugh a lot. If you want to know something about me, just ask.
• What’s your best or first memory of Sequim?
My mom owns Kim Nails and since I was little, I was there. When I lived in California I remember some really mean people but people here have always been very nice in the shop telling me what’s going on and where there are opportunities to volunteer.
• What’s the best part of the Irrigation Festival?
Since we were right in front of the street (at Kim Nails), I like the parade where all of us as a town come together, be full of love and laughter while honoring Sequim.
Jaycee Thompson-Porrazzo
Platform: “Court of Kindness” where royalty perform random acts of kindness
Hobbies/Activities: SHS swim team, office assistant at Sequim Physical Therapy, Running Start at Peninsula College, volunteer at Sequim Community Church’s Middle School Youth Group
• Why do you want to be Irrigation royalty?
Thompson-Porrazzo: I feel like Sequim is my home. I go to other places and it doesn’t feel like home. I’ve lived here my whole life. If I travel to Seattle, it doesn’t feel like home. Plus, I think it’d be cool to give back and create memories I can look back on.
• What’s one thing people might not know about you?
I really like learning first aid. I’ve taken classes for three years. My dad was a firefighter and taught me CPR when I was really young. My dad would always tell us what to do (in certain situations). I felt like it was great to know. That’s why I really enjoy learning about it. I want to be a first aid instructor.
• What’s your best or first memory of Sequim?
With my brother, Anthony, we’d go store hop. It’s best to do it during the Christmas season because it’s so pretty with the lights.
• What’s the best part of the Irrigation Festival?
The Street Fair. I don’t go shopping very often but everything is on display and it’s just great to walk with my family. Plus elephant ears are the best part.
