Parkrose Rose Festival Court members, from left, senior Leah Coyle, sophomore Olivia Emmons and senior Melissa Ibrahim react to the announcement she is to be Parkrose’s representative on the Rose Festival Court.
STAFF/2016
This year’s Rose Festival Court draws a diverse group of young women from east Portland. Parkrose High School students selected Melissa Ibrahim, 17. Born in California, the Parkrose senior is a competitive swimmer and member of the school’s water polo team. She acts in school plays and sings in the choir and with the Debonaires. Ibrahim said she plans to attend either Macalester College or Oregon State University for a science degree in pursuit of a career as a pediatrician, traveling nurse or a nurse practitioner with a specialty in pediatrics. “I love to paint, draw and write in my free time,” Ibrahim told Rose Festival judges in her essay. “I also like to read and practice piano.” She is the daughter of Femmy and Daud Ibrahim. She has one brother, Jeremy.
Stephanie Vo, 17, was overcome with emotion after being named David Douglas High School’s Rose Festival Court
representative.
Stephanie Vo, 17, represents David Douglas High School on the court. Born in Portland, the senior is a competitive swimmer and member of the Scots’ track and field team. In addition, she’s on school council; is a member of the Tams, the school’s dance team; acts in student theater productions; and is a member of the National Honors Society. “I try to be open-minded to the unknown because of my strong belief that experience is the best king of knowledge,” she said in her essay. “That is why I took part in Taekwondo, snowboarding, piano lessons, baking/cooking, acting/singing and various other activities I might not be very good at.” Vo said she plans to study fashion journalism in college. She is the daughter of Phuong-Mai Nguyen and Long Vo. She has four siblings: Sylvia, Sonya, Heidi and Steven.
Abigail Reyes Santiago, 16, middle—one of only three juniors on this year’s 15-member court Rose Festival Court—represents Madison High School. Her court includes Samantha Lonie, left, and Angelique Duckworth.
Abigail Reyes Santiago, 16—one of only three juniors on this year’s 15-member court—represents Madison High School. Born in Portland, Reyes Santiago is on the school’s soccer and wrestling teams and is involved in the school’s Latino Network and Escalera, a year-round college-prep program. In addition, she is a teaching assistant at the school and a member of Senator Scholars. Reyes Santiago said she plans to attend Portland State University to pursue her career goal of being an attorney, then a judge. “I am most proud of being able to know and meet new people, as well as be involved in school clubs and sports,” she said in her essay to judges. She is the daughter of Julian Reyes and Silvia Santiago. She has two siblings, Ruben and Sara Reyes.
