“Your 2022 Rose Festival queen is — Senya Scott!” The intelligent beauty represented Ida B. Wells High School. This is a milestone for the festival. Senya is the 100th Rose Festival queen to wear the Crown of Rosaria. The crown is incredible and is made of 14-carat gold with a blue zircon at its tip. It also has seven pigeon-blood rubies and 650 white sapphires. The first to wear the crown was Harriett Griffith in 1922.
Fifteen princesses were named to the 2022 Rose Festival Court. Each member of the court received a $3,500 scholarship and a one-on-one mentorship.
Scott plans to study political science at Howard University. She then plans to go to law school and become a civil rights attorney. Howard University is a historically Black university in Washington, DC and is considered one of the best institutions of learning in the world. Senya served as a No Place for Hate facilitator. She also did her work on the Ida B. Wells name change committee. She has a campus news podcast called “Hot Tea with Senya.”
Scott’s first Grand Floral Parade was in 2015. This created a goal to become the Queen. She said when she saw the princesses on their floats she had to do it.
It was all grand. A band began with the highly festive music Friday morning in the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Northeast Portland. The Portland Rose Festival gathered a crowd for the crowning of the 108th Queen of Rosaria.
The coronation was almost rained out. Good planning alleviated that. Peninsula Park Rose Garden was the original location of the event. It was moved to the DoubleTree.
Scott burst into tears when her name was called as the winner. The other 14 members of the 2022 Rose Festival Court formed a circle around Scott filled with hugs, tears, and congratulations.
In addition to Queen Senya, the other 14 members are as follows:
Junior Naima Smith, Grant High School
Adrienne C. Nelson High School junior Isabella Ellsworth, representing Metro East.
Jesuit High senior Jenny Duan, Metro West.
Junior Reba Booze, Benson Polytechnic High School.
Senior Megan Bathurst, Franklin High School.
Junior Draia Shelton, Parkrose High School.
Junior Bailey Armstrong, Lincoln High School.
Senior Rachelle Hanna, Central Catholic.
Senior Paige Kehrli, St. Mary’s Academy.
Senior Awek De Piok, David Douglas.
Senior Maria Mizee, Roosevelt.
Senior Jayilee Sloan, Jefferson.
Junior Stella Jackson, McDaniel.
Junior Zinnia Sirokman, Cleveland
