Three young ladies, all juniors at Oroville High School, participated in May Festival Royalty Selection Night at the Oroville High School Commons. The 2009 May Festival Royalty are (L-R) Princess Rachel Peters, Princess Serena Carper and Queen Kayla McKin

OROVILLE – Kayla McKinney has been chosen to represent Oroville as this year’s May Festival Queen. She will be accompanied by Princesses Rachel Peterson and Serena Carper.

“Being chosen as queen is definitely a great honor. I am very happy and excited for the upcoming May Festival,” said Queen Kayla.

The theme for this year’s 75th Annual May Festival is “A Jeweled Past, a Sparkling Future,” adds the new queen.

“We will be honoring all the past May Festival Royalty,” she said, explaining that former royalty will be invited to ride on a special float in this year’s parade.

The three girls, all juniors at Oroville High School, participated in the official Selection Night held at the high school gym on Saturday, Jan. 17. After being introduced to the girls and learning a little bit about them members of the community had a chance to vote on their top selection.

“It was a close vote, so close for all three we had to have a recount to make certain,” said Roger McClendon, who served as emcee at the event.

Queen Kayla is the daughter of Rich and Erin McKinney and has lived in Oroville her whole life. She is active in volleyball, basketball, softball and track and is President of the Photography Club, junior class Vice President and ASB Treasurer. She is also involved in several community activities like Girl Scouts, 4-H, youth group, youth softball, AAU basketball and helping with Little Dribbler’s basketball.

Princess Rachel has lived near Oroville her entire life and her parents are Laara Peters and Stephen (Thomas) Kessler. While maintaining Honor Roll grades she has received athletic awards for cross country, soccer, track and field and basketball. She is President of the junior class and Secretary for High School ASB. Apart from school she is an active member and student supervisor for the U.S. Border Patrol Explorer Unit post 0023. During her time as an Explorers she helped has out with many charities like Shop with a Cop and food and coat drives.

Princess Serena is the daughter of Gaius Carper of Oroville and Teresa Crane of Kelowna, B.C. She has lived her whole live in Oroville and participates in O-Club and Honors Society and last year was president of her sophomore class. She helped make backpacks for homeless children at the Washington Association for Student Councils and has been involved in basketball, volleyball and softball.

The three young ladies will not only represent their school and community during the May Festival festivities Saturday, May 9, but also at festivals in other communities around the region. Their first out-of-town parade, the Wenatchee Apple Blossom Festival Grand Parade on Saturday, May 2, will be a warm up for their hometown event the next weekend.