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10 compete for Pear Blossom Festival queen Kristian Bull Friday Mar 16, 2018 at 2:01 AM Ten Jackson County high school senior girls will compete for the honor of serving as queen of the 2018 Pear Blossom Festival in Medford. The 28th Annual Scholarship Competition will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at the North Medford High Auditorium, 1900 N. Keene Way Drive. Contestants are Madison Vann from Ashland High School, Margarita Duran-Espino from Crater High School, Madison Buck from Logos Public Charter School, Madison Dodd from Phoenix High School, Emma Gaut from South Medford High School, Kristian Bull from Cascade Christian High School, Rose McFarland from Eagle Point High School, Sarah Tang from North Medford High School, Jeaniah Thompson from Rogue River High School and Sara Klott from St. Mary’s School. The seniors will be judged on school leadership skills, academic achievement, community involvement, an interview with the judges, writing and presenting an essay and answering impromptu questions on stage. Applicants are sought by having school activities directors hand out applications to interested senior girls at Rogue Valley high schools. The Senior Royalty Committee chose the top five from each school, and then each school selected its princess. More than 50 applications are received each year from area schools. Each princess automatically earns a $750 college scholarship. The winner become queen, reigns over the Pear Blossom Parade on April 14 and receives a $2,500 college scholarship sponsored by Kogap Enterprises, Inc. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for students; those under 6 get in free. Over the past 28 years, the Pear Blossom Festival Association has given out more than $165,000 in scholarships to more than 200 young women in the community. The pageant was created in 1991 by the late Patti Bills, Darcey Mann-Self and Val James to add a new dimension to the Pear Blossom Festival and to add a scholarship opportunity. Entertainment includes the Dance Arts Center and the winners of the USA Dance Young Ballroom Dance Competition held in February. The Pear Blossom Junior Royalty Court, to be selected earlier that day, will present bouquets donated by Corinne’s Flowers to the princesses. For more information, call Pageant Director Darcey Mann-Self at 541-840-7209.