The Asian reporter., April 17, 2017, Page Page 12, Image 12

Community
Page 12 n THE ASIAN REPORTER
April 17, 2017
Community, school pride fuels Franklin Rose Festival princess
By Maileen Hamto
The Asian Reporter
hriving in Franklin High School’s
diverse and vibrant community,
Portland Rose Festival princess
Keely Nguyen is proud and excited to
represent the east side in the 2017 Rose
Festival court.
“I refuse to believe the claim that, ‘west
side is the best side’ because people
underestimate the variation of cultures
displayed on the streets,” Keely said. “I am
prideful to admit that the districts of east
Portland possess the liberality and tran-
quility that derive from the inclusiveness
and uniqueness of the community
members.”
Franklin’s close-knit and supportive
culture ensures that every student has a
place to belong, Keely said. “Even though
our community is small, we have so much
to offer. We gather as a collective group to
support and secure each other. No one
should ever feel isolated. There are so
many clubs and groups that we should
never feel lonely because whether it’s a
peer or a staff member, somebody is
always there.”
Keely honed her leadership skills early
at Franklin. She was only a sophomore
when she led a penny drive during a
“Franklin High School Gives Back”
fundraiser that collected more than $3,000
for the Franklin community.
“I was skeptical of my abilities as a
leader before raising those funds. I didn’t
think we’d collect that much,” she said. “I
was overjoyed with the results because I
was doubtful I’d be able to handle the
responsibilities
of
collecting
bins,
assigning jobs, and making sure things
were running smoothly.”
Beyond school pride, Keely also is a
passionate cheerleader for east Portland’s
community gems. If given the chance, she
T
PROUD PRINCESS. Keely Nguyen is seen with her family (left photo, from left — Keely, grandma Muoi,
father Hoang, mother Kathy, and sister Kathleen) during a vacation in Mexico and with fellow teammates on the
varsity tennis squad (right photo, from left — Taylor, Keely, Trinity, and Kathy). Nguyen is representing Franklin
High School as its 2017 Rose Festival princess. The Portland Rose Festival’s Queen’s Coronation takes place
Saturday, June 10 at Portland’s Veterans Memorial Coliseum. (Photos courtesy of Keely Nguyen)
said she would take the entire Rose
Festival Court to the Hawthorne District
to experience unique foodie, cultural, and
shopping experiences.
“Hawthorne is a welcoming neighbor-
hood with a lively spirit; this energetic vibe
will make anyone feel youthful again,” she
said. “From the collection of cute
boutiques, vintage stores, and delicious
restaurants and food carts, there is a wide
range of entertainment and eateries. In
the summer, people can truly celebrate
and explore the local pizzazz through the
Hawthorne Street Fair.”
Closer to home, Keely is equally
enthusiastic about sharing pride in her
Asian-American upbringing. Growing up
in a mixed Chinese and Vietnamese home,
Keely is entrenched in the traditions from
both sides of her family. She speaks fondly
of family traditions during the Lunar New
Year and other cultural celebrations and
also relishes time spent at Buddhist
temples all over Portland.
“Our traditions primarily emphasize the
importance of respecting our elders and
limiting self-interests. My dad cooks a
variety of vegan food as sacrifices to our
ancestors. We kneel, pray, and bow for
hours … veneration of our deceased
relatives will ensure our prosperity and
health,” she said.
“On Chinese New Year, we leave the
house wearing new red clothes to provide
an auspicious future. These celebrations
are festive and exhilarating: people are
dancing, eating, and socializing.”
Bringing her full self to the Rose
Festival court, the aspiring pediatrician is
thrilled about the opportunity to share the
unique experience of serving as a court
princess with her peers from Portland-
area high schools.
“I think this experience will allow me to
mature and learn more about the
important aspects of my community and
explore Portland culture more,” Keely
said. “I believe this will deepen my values
of how I feel about others so I can have a
firmer hold on who I am as a person.”
A Rose Festival princess represents her school and
acts as the “face of the Rose Festival” at many events
in the community, including parades, volunteer
activities, luncheons with community and business
leaders, and more. The Portland Rose Festival
Foundation awards each court member a $3,500
scholarship, courtesy of The Randall Group.
To qualify for the Rose Festival Court, a candidate
must be a full-time junior or senior at a 4A, 5A,
or 6A high school in Multnomah, Washington, or
Clackamas county and have a minimum cumulative
grade point average of 3.0. Potential princesses are
evaluated on citizenship, scholastic achievement,
school activities, civic involvement, volunteer projects,
communication skills, and overall impression.
The Portland Rose Festival Queen is chosen from
all of the court members at Portland’s Veterans
Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, June 10 from
8:30am to 9:30am. To learn more, call (503)
227-2681 or visit <www.rosefestival.org>.
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