It's an Evening of Speeches and Sparkle as 2012 Daffodil Queen is Crowned

There were future doctors, nurses, lawyers, a wedding planner – and an aspiring President of the United States. Each decked out in a formal yellow dress; a bouquet of daffodils clutched in her hand and a tiara in her hair.

And, on an overcast March night, they all had a single goal in mind: To become the queen.

Sarah Karamoko of Henry Foss High School bested 23 other senior girls from high schools in Pierce County to be named 2012 Daffodil Queen on Friday night at Life Center in Tacoma. Among the candidates were Madison Newberry of Lakes and Cinthia Vazquez of Clover Park.

The Daffodil Princesses were judged on academic standing, personality, attitude, speaking ability, appearance, sociability, content of their minute-long prepared speech, festival awareness and impromptu speaking.

In her winning speech, Karamoko, who moved to Washington from the Ivory Coast of Africa five years ago, said that she was ridiculed by her peers for her inability to speak English. From then on, it was her top priority to learn the language, and within a year of taking on the challenge, she passed an English proficiency test.

She never stopped believing, she said emotionally, touching on the festival’s 2012 theme, “Don’t Stop Believing”.

But when her name was announced as winner, Karamoko’s eyes widened in shock. She could hardly believe it – even as the crown and robe were bestowed upon her and she took her place at the microphone to address the cheering crowd.

“Hi, Mom,” she said tearfully, waving at the beaming woman with whom she was reunited when she arrived in America in 2007. “I love you!”

First runner-up was Jasmine Heindel of Spanaway Lake, and second runner-up was Savannah Fry of Stadium. Carly Lange of Sumner was voted Miss Congeniality by the rest of the royal court.

In her speech, Vazquez said that she believes we were all put on the earth to make a difference. Moving to the U.S. from Mexico at age six influenced her decision to study pre-law at Whitworth University. She plans to become an immigration lawyer.

“Together, we can unite and change the world,” she said. “When you dream, you can believe, and when you believe, impossibilities mean nothing.”

Newberry, who plans to attend a four-year university and study pre-med, said that the world is full of hardship – the economy, natural disasters, war. Her own family dealt with two years of financial uncertainty with parents out of work.

But they never stopped believing, she said.

All 24 girls answered the same impromptu question: Throughout your time with the Daffodil Festival, what experience has influenced you the most and how has it changed you?

Both Newberry and Vazquez said that working with children through the Boys & Girls Club has had a major impact on them.

Vazquez said that she appreciates the outlook on life that children have.

“They just get up in the morning and go for it,” she said, adding that adults are far more likely to moan, groan and be reluctant to get out of bed and face the day. “I want to live by a child’s life motto: never grow old, and just have fun.”

Newberry said that the children’s excitement to meet the princesses was heartwarming.

“The way they look at me,” she said, “I can’t even describe in words what it feels like.”

Lakes was the recipient of the Daffodil Cup, which is awarded to the school with the best varsity-football record among the schools that participate in the Daffodil program. The winner is determined based on season statistics and team GPA. Newberry’s escort, Zach Banner, accepted the trophy on the school’s behalf.

“We study hard, and I think it goes with the whole ‘don’t stop believing,’ ” he said, adding that 20 football players will be attending Division I schools next year.

The event was emceed by Chris Egan of KING-5 TV and Brittney Henry, the reigning Miss Washington. Before the queen was crowned, 2011 Queen Claire Flemming, a Curtis graduate, gave her farewell speech and asked for whomever was to be her successor to live with “a servant’s heart.”

As winner, Karamoko received $6,000 in scholarships, and each member of her court will get a $1,000 scholarship through the Daffodil Foundation.

The Daffodil Festival started in 1933 as a tribute to the Puyallup Valley Flower industry and has grown to be one of the largest festivals and parades in the nation. Karamoko and her court are the festival’s official ambassadors. The Grand Floral Parade, which travels through Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner and Orting, is April 14.