PORT TOWNSEND — The selection of the royalty court for the 80th annual Rhododendron Festival will take place Saturday when a queen and two princesses are crowned.

The coronation will begin at 5 p.m. at the Chimacum High School auditorium at 91 West Valley Road. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m.

Admission is $5. All proceeds will support the Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival, a weeklong celebration in May.

Pat Ruel, Seattle Seahawks assistant offensive line coach, will serve as master of ceremonies.

Aside from Deidra Morris, who attends Chimacum High, all attend Port Townsend High School.

Competing for the three crowns and for scholarships are Morgan Chaffee, 17; Lillian Kelly, 17; Sam Smith, 17; and Deidra, 16.

The queen will be awarded a $1,500 scholarship. Each of the two princesses will receive $1,000 toward college.

The coronation also will include the installation of the junior royalty and senior royalty.

A reception will follow the ceremony.

Judging

Judging will be four segments: presentation, a speech, response to a spontaneous question and performance of a talent.

These combined make up 25 percent of the final score.

Judge interviews and public speaking each constitute 30 percent, and weekly evaluations decide 15 percent.

Since January, candidates have addressed six civic groups, ending with an appearance at the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce on Monday.

Each appearance found the candidates answering a different set of questions, and the process demonstrated their growth, according to Christy Spencer, the event’s co-chair.

“When I was watching them in front of the chamber, my jaw dropped,” Spencer said.

“They have grown since the initial interviews and are totally committed to this.”

Spencer said a positive aspect about this year’s royalty is they are all juniors and will remain in the area until the 2016 parade, allowing them to participate in activities leading up to that event.

Candidates

Here are more details about the candidates.

■ Morgan is involved in football and basketball cheering, is Associated Student Body class secretary and was involved in an anti-bullying campaign in 2012.

Her community activities include coaching at Twisters Gymnastics, Relay For Life and serving as a page at the Capitol in Olympia in 2012.

■ Deidra is a member of varsity cheering, National Honor Society, WE Act Club and the National FFA Organization, and is student body president and a Cispus Learning Center counselor.

She plans to attend Washington State University as a communications major in the hopes of becoming a sports broadcaster.

■ Lillian is a member of varsity cheering for both football and basketball, plays golf and serves at Senior Presentation nights.

Her community activities include Centrum Gala, Cake Walk, Port Townsend Food Bank Senior Day and Superintendent Dinner.

She plans to become a physician’s assistant in pediatric oncology.

■ Sam is involved in Knowledge Bowl as well as many community activities, including 4-H Cat, local 4-H Leadership and Know Your Government. She is a member of the 4-H State Advisory Board.

Krissy Schmucker and Paula Sexton were selected as contestants but are no longer part of the competition.

The Rhody Grand Parade will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 16.

Other Rhody Week events are the Dude Looks Like a Lady fundraiser May 9, a pet parade, a kiddie parade, bed races and the Cake Picnic.

A new event this year is a kickoff dinner at 6 p.m. March 28 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 4907 Landes St., Port Townsend.

For more information, see www.rhodyfestival.org or phone 360-774-0882.

________

Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.