Tamara Medal is new Fathoms O’ Fun Royal Court queen

PORT ORCHARD — Tamara Medal, a 20-year-old Tacoma Community College sophomore, was crowned the 2018 Fathoms O’ Fun Royalty Court queen at the conclusion of the festival’s scholarship pageant March 3.

The annual Royalty Court selection event took place at the Christian Life Center in Port Orchard, where audience members saw the usual display of nerves on stage — but plenty of smiles — from the 12 contestants. Those competing were vying to become part of the senior court comprising a queen, duchess and two senior princesses. The junior court includes three junior princesses.

The new queen campaigned as a contestant on a platform of “Empowerment through the Performing Arts.” After graduating from college, Medal plans to become a dance instructor. She won $1,000 for the honor.

She demonstrated her dance skills during the talent competition with a hip-hop routine that earned her top place in that category. Medal also won the Congeniality and Formal Wear/Modeling awards in the pageant.

Veronica Mihai, a 2017 Royalty Court princess, was named this year’s royalty court duchess. Contestants Paige Hoffsommer and Maria Hoyt were chosen princesses for the 2018 festival season. All three earned $500 each for their accomplishments.

Hoyt, a newly crowned senior princess, was named the Debbie Macomber Best Senior Written Essay winner. Thanks to her selection, she was awarded $250. Hoyt also won $100 by taking the Best Oral Essay Award. The 15-year-old South Kitsap High sophomore also won $50 for winning the Buttons & Pins Sales Award and $50 for taking the Spirit Award, chosen by the outgoing 2017 Royal Court.

The new queen also won $100 by winning the Impromptu Question Award.

Hoyt campaigned on a platform of “Educating Teens on Financial Stability.” She plans to attend a university and eventually earn a Ph.D. in neurology and serve in the Army as a neurologist.

Hoffsommer, the second new senior princess, won the $250 Soroptimist International of Port Orchard Award. The 18-year-old South Kitsap High senior and Running Start Olympic College student campaigned on a platform of “Education on Eating Disorders and Self-Image.” She hopes to continue her college studies at either Central Washington University or the University of Washington and earn a bachelor’s degree.

Jaimeson Folden, a 2017 royalty court member, was awarded $150 by winning the Tim & Donna Matthes Community Service Award. It is given to the court member who puts in the most hours at Fathoms O’ Fun festivals and assigned events.

Senior court runners-up were Cory Miller, who won $100 for his efforts; Hannah Haynes ($50); and Christina Bonham ($50). Miller also won $150 by winning the Top Sponsor Sales Award.

Kate Thompson, Ellie Travis and Danyelle Wilcox were crowned junior princesses for 2018. The three won $250 each. Zoe Hauenstein ($100) and Savannah Horsley ($50) were junior court runners-up. Hauenstein won $50 by winning the Top Ticket Sales Award.

Thompson won $250 along with the Memorial Community Service Award and Travis took home $75 by winning the Board of Directors Award.

The Royalty Court contestants began the pageant campaign in January with presentations given to local community organizations based on each contestant’s platform in judged events.

Final scores were determined from those events, as well as from private interviews, impromptu questions, modeling and artistic impression, and talent performances at the pageant by pageant judges Tim Matthes, Port Orchard’s former mayor; Kathy Garcia, Port of Bremerton’s marinas operations manager; professional musician and theatrical producer Glenn Hawkins; former Fathoms O’ Fun princess Kaila Lay; and South Kitsap Fire and Rescue Fire Chief Steve Wright.

Robert Contreras was the stage host for the event.

2018 FATHOMS O’ FUN FESTIVAL PAGEANT AWARDS WINNERS

Tim & Donna Matthes Community Service Award Jaimeson Folden $150

Soroptimist International of Port Orchard Paige Hoffsommer $250

Memorial Community Service Award Kate Thompson $250

Debbie Macomber Best Written Essay – Senior Maria Hoyt $250

Debbie Macomber Best Written Essay – Junior Danyelle Wilcox $250

Top Sponsor Sales Award (sponsored by Visiting Angels) Cory Miller $150

Impromptu Question Award (C. Stansbery) Tamara Medal $100

Best Oral Essay Award (Karen Aquino & 2011 Princess Joanna) Maria Hoyt $100

Top Ticket Sales Award (CHI Franciscan) Zoe Hauenstein $50

Buttons & Pins Sales Award (Larry Lewis) Maria Hoyt $50

Formal Wear/Modeling Award (Al & Meg Mahaney) Tamara Medal $50

Talent Award (Sharron King) Tamara Medal $50

Spirit Award (SKF&R Volunteer Assn.) Maria Hoyt $50 (Chosen by the outgoing 2017 Royal Court)

Board of Directors Award (Helene Jensen) Ellie Travis $75

Congeniality Award (Stokes Auction) Tamara Medal $150

SENIOR COURT

Queen (Port Orchard Lions Club) Tamara Medal $1,000

Duchess (Port Orchard Lions) Veronica Mihai $500

Princess (Air Masters) Paige Hoffsommer $500

Princess (Air Masters) Maria Hoyt $500

1st Runner-Up (Leslie Reynolds) Cory Miller $100

2nd Runner-Up (Lewis Funeral Chapel) Hannah Haynes $50

3rd Runner-Up (Sami & Alli Newhouse) Christina Bonham $50

JUNIOR COURT

Princess (Rill’s Life Tribute Center) Kate Thompson $250

Princess (Port Orchard Ford) Danyelle Wilcox $250

Princess (Westbay Napa Auto Parts) Ellie Travis $250

1st Runner-Up (Les Schwab) Zoe Hauenstein $100

2nd Runner-Up (Cookies Pet Corner & Wash) Savannah Horsley $50

Senior contestants Christina Bohem (far left), Hannah Haynes and Cory Miller (partially hidden) applaud as Tamara Medal reacts emotionally as she learns of her selection as 2018 Fathoms O’ Fun Royalty Court Queen March 3. (Bob Smith | Kitsap Daily News)

Tamara Medal is new Fathoms O’ Fun Royal Court queen

Shirley DeFord of Shirley DeFord Photography The 2018 Fathoms O’ Fun Royalty Court poses for its first official portrait: Left to right, Senior Princess Paige Hoffsommer, Senior Princess Maria Hoyt, Queen Tamara Medal, Princess Ellie Travis, Duchess Veronica Mihai, Princess Danyelle Wilcox and Junior Princess Kate Thompson.