2018 Rhody Festival candidates announced

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Royalty candidates for the 2018 Rhododendron Festival have been announced.

Coronation is set for 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17 at the Chimacum High School auditorium. This year’s theme is “Off to Rhodyland.”

Here’s a look at the four candidates, provided by a press release from Rhody Festival organizers.

Ashley Rosser

Ashley Rosser, the daughter of Michael Rosser and Teri Schumacher, is a 16-year-old junior at Port Townsend High School. She has two older brothers, Daniel and Joshua, and has lived in Jefferson County for the past 10 years.

Rosser is a lifeguard and swim instructor at the Mountain View Commons swimming pool, and is also an active member of the Port Townsend High School swim team, student government, orchestra and is president of the Students for Sustainability group. She recently interned at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center and has volunteered with the Jefferson Land Trust, North Olympic Salmon Coalition and Northwest Watershed Institute.

Her hobbies include playing viola, swimming, working with kids and doing her part to help the environment. Her favorite food is sushi, and her favorite color is yellow. Rosser said her future plans are to get a degree in environmental policy and to become a state senator or representative, so that she could be the voice for nature and those who are not heard.

Desirae Kudronowicz

Desirae Kudronowicz is a 17-year-old junior at Chimacum High School. She is the daughter of Danielle Kudronowicz and the granddaughter of Robert and Maureen Johnson, and has a younger brother, Dustin. Kudronowicz has lived in Jefferson County for her entire life.

She is a member of Chimacum High School’s cheer team and is currently enrolled in a professional medical careers class at West Sound Tech in Bremerton. She has been active in many community service organizations in the county, including Relay for Life, the Jefferson County Fair, Chimacum Choice and the Fall Carnival. Kudronowicz has competed and placed in many demolition derbies and has won a best-looking car award. She loves hip-hop music and watching Netflix with friends in her free time. Her future plans are to attend college to become a pediatric cardiac surgeon.

Lacey Bishop

Lacey Bishop is a 16-year-old junior attending Chimacum High School. She is the daughter of Ron and Shannon Bishop, and has a younger sister, Haley. Bishop has lived in Jefferson County for her entire life.

Last year, even though she had never touched a golf club in her life, she decided to try out for the Chimacum High School golf team. By the end of the season, she was swinging as well as the top second and third girls on other teams in the Olympic League. Bishop is also very active in 4-H, the WeAct Club, Interact Club, FFA, Nation Honor Society, marching band and jazz band. As a member of the marching band, she has traveled to Victoria, British Columbia, for the Victoria Day Parade, and to Seattle for the christening of the ferry Chimacum. Her hobbies include riding horses, band and tennis, and she takes pride in showing her dairy cows. She said she loves blueberries, and her favorite color is royal blue. Bishop plans to attend James Madison University, majoring in forensic science and minoring in forensic anthropology.

Skyanna Iardella

Skyanna Iardella is a 17-year-old junior at Port Townsend High School. She is the granddaughter of Michael Armstrong and Monika Marriott, and is the oldest sibling, with one brother, Elias, and two sisters, Heather and Aaliyah. Iardella has lived in Jefferson County all her life.

Iardella is a member of the Port Townsend High School volleyball team and softball team, Port Townsend High School band, vice president of the ASL Club. She also works at her school’s Java House.

She actively plays in the pep band at home football and basketball games. Iardella’s favorite class is her American Sign Language class – she wanted to get involved in ASL because she loves the culture and is learning ASL so she can communicate better with her best friend. Iardella said her favorite food is fruit and her favorite color is teal, and she loves to spend time with her family on weekends. After high school, Iardella plans to join the Navy and work in the medical field.