East Portland Diversity Reflected on Rose Court

A diverse group of young women on the 2015 Portland Rose Festival court represents Mid-Multnomah County. The first is Amber Shackleford of Madison High School. The 18-year-old senior is a National Honor Society member, sickness an AP Scholar, ed a Mathlete and the winner of an excellence in chemistry award.

She runs track and cross country for the Senators and is co-editor in chief of the yearbook. She has designed t-shirts, posters and logos as a graphic artist and lists photography as one of her special interests. She plans to pursue a career in urban planning with a focus on disaster and emergency planning.

Amber is the daughter of Jennifer and James Shackelford. She has one sister, Ally.

The next to be crowned Rose Festival Princess was 17-year-old Cristell Gonzalez Perez of Parkrose High. Born in Guerrero, Mexico, Cristell recalls attending the Grand Floral Parade as a fifth grader. She says it was then that she became determined to become a member of the court. She is also a member of MEChA, AVID, the student senate, Linkcrew, and Key Club and plays on the tennis team. She is especially proud of the volunteer work she does.

Cristell said she will study science at Portland State University and would like to be a pediatrician one day. She is the daughter of Karina Perz Samacona and has a brother, Alexis.

Representing David Douglas High School on the court is 17-year-old senior, Elli Simotas. Elli is also a National Honor Society member as well as an AHEPA Academy Scholar. AHEPA is a Greek-American leadership and professional development program.

She is the Associated Student Body’s third vice president, and she is a staff reporter and the sports editor for the school newspaper.

Elli will study chemistry at Oregon State University before pursing an advanced degree at Oregon Health Sciences University and a career as an anesthesiologist. She is the daughter of Anna Simotas and has one sibling, Alexandros.