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Queen of character
5/16/2012 9:45:52 AM
By Craig Howard
Splash Editor
Profiles:
Sydnee Scofield
Sydnee Scofield's favorite color was red before she was crowned queen of the Lilac Festival back in January. These days, the preponderance of purple makes the topic a tough call.
The signature hue of Spokane's historic Torchlight Parade and surrounding events has been part of the Central Valley High School senior's transition to royalty, a journey that began last October when Scofield emerged among five contestants at CV. The Liberty Lake area resident would go on to represent her school as one of 33 finalists for the royal court, then advance to the round of 14 in November.
On Jan. 29, Scofield was officially named queen while a half-dozen of the remaining 14 were ushered in as princesses.
Despite all the pomp and pageantry surrounding the coronation, Scofield said has kept the title in perspective. Advertisement
"It gives me extra responsibility, but I want to stay humble about it," she said.
Scofield's courage and character go beyond words in a prepared speech. Her family has dealt with numerous health challenges over the years, including her mother, Tracei receiving a kidney transplant, her dad, Jack, coping with congestive heart failure and a brother who underwent a heart transplant.
"It's been difficult, but it's brought our family closer together," Sydnee said. "I've learned so much from what my family has been through and how they've handled things."
Clare Patton, the Lilac Festival's vice president of Royalty, said Scofield has already been "great representative" of the festival in the early part of her reign. She will remain queen until January of 2013.
"She brings to the court an amazing level of leadership, strength and responsibility," Patton said.
While her duties as Spokane's newest monarch represent a major time commitment, Scofield has effectively juggled the task with an academic agenda that includes participation with the CV drama department, Green Club and a role as the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper. She was also founder of the Government Club and has taught Vacation Bible School for the past four years.
Ben Small, superintendent of the Central Valley School District, said Scofield and Princess Hannah Allen from University High School will represent the district well.
"It's great to see the talent and scholarship of Central Valley School District students recognized on a regional level," said superintendent Ben Small. "We're excited that Sydnee and Hannah will be representing our district and the greater Spokane Valley in the rich tradition of the Lilac Festival."
A native of the Liberty Lake area, Scofield has plans to attend college at Arizona State University where she will study broadcast journalism. She is quick to add that she would like to return to the Inland Northwest and someday work for a local station like KHQ.
"Liberty Lake is a wonderful place to grow up," Scofield said. "I really enjoyed being able to spend time with the same group of friends all through high school."
From speeches to community service, banquets to barbecues, Scofield's schedule will be hectic until she departs for college in August. The agenda will also include a 12-day visit to July where she and the court will volunteer time at a local orphanage in Spokane's sister city of Jilin City.
At CV, Scofield said her new standing as a sovereign empress has been met with a few questions and some good-natured humor.
"If I'm five minutes late to class, I've hear students say, ‘We can start now, the queen is here,'" Scofield said. "I tell people it's not a popularity contest, though. If it was, I probably wouldn't have won at my school. I'm just another student at CV."
Profiles:
Sydnee Scofield
Age
18
Lived in Liberty Lake
My entire life
How do you spend free time
Dance; when I'm not with friends, I'm usually studying for an AP test
Recent volunteer contributions
Rally in the Valley, I Remember Mama
Unique accomplishment
Founded Government Club at CVHS
College plans
Arizona State University (broadcast journalism)
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