Charlotte Whitten was crowned as queen during the 2015 Fathoms o’ Fun Royalty Scholarship Program March 7 at Christian Life Center.
More than 325 people watched as outgoing Queen Devenn Miller crowned Whitten, who won six of the 10 awards during the night under the theme the “Superhero in You.”
The 18-year-old South Kitsap High School senior won the Congeniality Award (chosen by contestants), Spirit Award (chosen by outgoing royalty), Impromptu Question Award, Best Oral Essay Award, Formal Wear/Modeling Award and Top Ticket Sales Award.
“I am overwhelmed right now, I am so happy,” Whitten said shortly after she was crowned queen. “Thanks so much to the judges and fellow contestants that voted me for Miss Congeniality. I am so thankful and so humbled.”
During her year of reign, Whitten plans to get more familiar with the community.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know Port Orchard better and getting to know my community, and making stronger bonds with my court,” said Whitten, the daughter of John and Anna Whitten.
Her platform was “The Power of Music” and she played a vibraphone during the talent competition.
Cheyenne Werbelo, a 17-year-old SKHS senior, and Tamara Medal, a 17-year-old SKHS senior, were selected as princesses for the senior court.
Werbelo, the daughter of Pete and Mandy Werbelo, won the Talent Award playing the harp, while Medal’s performed a sword fight demonstration. Medal is the daughter of Robert and Darlene Medal.
Werbelo’s platform was “Creating Angelic Noise and Medal’s was “America for the Arts.”
First runner-up was Caylain Dandridge, a 17-year-old senior at SKHS.
Karla Lewis, the second runner-up for the senior court, won two awards for top button/pin sales and top sponsor sales. Lewis is an 18-year-old senior at SKHS.
The Mayor’s Award, presented by Mayor Tim Matthes, went to 2014 Fathoms Princess Soriandy Sutman. She received the award for putting in the most hours at community event.
Sutman also was crowned as duchess for this year’s court.
Aaron Thomas, the 2013 Fathoms King, ended his time serving as the 2014 Ambassador.
Gary Linstrom, store director for the Sedgewick Albertson’s; Kristine Ramsdell, 2010 ambassador; Alan Johnson, 2007 Fathoms o’ Fun prince; Shelia Cline, development manager for the Arthritis Foundation in Washington state; and Matt Murphy, executive director of the Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce; served as senior court judges.
First-ever junior court
For the first-ever Junior Royal Court, Madilynn Mackie, Maria Hoyt and Alli Newhouse were chosen as princesses, while Abbey Hicks was the first runner-up and Neko McKay was second runner-up.
Mackie, a 15-year-old ninth-grader at Marcus Whitman Junior High, won the Debbie Macomber Best Written Essay Award for her essay on teaching.
Hoyt, 12, was the youngest contestant and is a seventh-grader at Cedar Height Junior High School. Newhouse, the younger sister of outgoing senior princess Sami Newhouse, is a 14-year-old eighth-grader at John Sedgwick Junior High School.
Hoyts’s platform was “Creating Chang” and Newhouse’s platform was “Born Deaf, But Born to Dance.”
Helene Jensen said the junior court will be mentored by the senior members to help prepare them for future senior court participation. Each contestant read a 500-word essay, “What Brings Out the Superhero in You,” before a panel of judges — Stephanie Clark, Don Ryan and Brianna Martin, along with Miller, Thomas and Sutman.
