Quincy woman representing Illinois in Cherry Blossom Princess Program in Washington, D.C. – Muddy River News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sophia Marcolla of Quincy is representing Illinois as a part of the Cherry Blossom Princess Program, which takes place yearly throughout the Nationwide Cherry Blossom Pageant in Washington, D.C.

Marcolla, a 2018 graduate of Quincy Notre Dame Excessive Faculty, now’s a pupil on the College of Missouri Faculty of Regulation. She is one in every of a number of ladies acknowledged by the Cherry Blossom Princess Program, a week-long program began in 1948 to have fun the present of the Cherry Blossom timber from Japan to the US.  This system affords cultural, academic {and professional} improvement alternatives for younger ladies leaders, ages 19 to 24, from throughout the US and around the globe. 

The Washington Submit stories there have been greater than 3,000 princesses since 1948. Every state society selects a princess from a pool of candidates to characterize its state or territory — 55 in whole. There will also be worldwide princesses, however they will’t be topped queen. The princesses are chosen based mostly on issues like management and tutorial {and professional} achievements. 

Apart from the age restrict, candidates should be single (and by no means married with no youngsters) and have a high-school diploma. 

The evening earlier than the Cherry Blossom Pageant, a queen is chosen from the group at a gala, the place all of them put on white clothes with pink sashes. This 12 months’s gala takes place on Friday, April 14 on the Capital Hilton lodge. 

The queen is chosen by spinning a large pink wheel. The Washington Submit reported the Board of Commerce, which was initially accountable for this system, determined that as a result of this system takes place in D.C., there was an excessive amount of threat that politics would become involved. The wheel first is spun to pick out a runner-up, after which a second time to call the Cherry Blossom Queen. 

The crown is adorned with pearls and is so heavy that queens can solely put on it for 5 minutes.

Every Cherry Blossom Queen can go to Japan on a “goodwill tour,” hosted by the Japan Sakura Basis. She’s going to go to with native dignitaries and the prime minister.