Narya Naillon selected as 2016 May Festival Queen

By Gary DeVon • February 15, 2016 11:53 am
Queen Narya is congratulated by last year’s queen, Ellamae Burnell. The queen and princesses will represent Oroville both during the May Festival activities, the second Saturday in May, as well as events up and down the valley.
This year’s 2016 May Festival Royalty are l-r Princess Zoe Whittaker-Jameson, Queen Narya Naillon and Princess Lena Fuchs. The girls were chosen from a field of five would-be royalty at the May Festival Selection Night held last Monday evening at the Oroville High School Commons. The selection was made both by a panel of judges from Oroville, Tonasket and Osoyoos as well as from voting by the audience. The girls were interviewed by the judges in private, as well as being judged on modeling and poise, an impromptu question and their speeches.
This year’s 2016 May Festival Royalty are l-r Princess Zoe Whittaker-Jameson, Queen Narya Naillon and Princess Lena Fuchs. The girls were chosen from a field of five would-be royalty at the May Festival Selection Night held last Monday evening at the Oroville High School Commons. The selection was made both by a panel of judges from Oroville, Tonasket and Osoyoos as well as from voting by the audience. The girls were interviewed by the judges in private, as well as being judged on modeling and poise, an impromptu question and their speeches. Gary DeVon/staff photos

Lena Fuchs and Zoe Whittaker-Jameson are this year’s princesses

Queen Narya is congratulated by last year’s queen, Ellamae Burnell. The queen and princesses will represent Oroville both during the May Festival activities, the second Saturday in May, as well as events up and down the valley.
Queen Narya is congratulated by last year’s queen, Ellamae Burnell.
The queen and princesses will represent Oroville both during the May Festival activities, the second Saturday in May, as well as events up and down the valley.

OROVILLE – “I am so grateful to get the chance to get the chance to represent the town as queen. It is a truly and amazing place to grow up and I am proud to have this opportunity. I’m so excited,” said Narya Naillon, about being selected this year’s 2016 May Festival Queen.

Naillon, the daughter of Ed and Marsha Naillon, is a junior at Oroville High School and was one of five girls competing to be this years queen. Her court will be made up of Lena Fuchs, daughter of Robert and Steffi Fuchs and Zoe Wittaker-Jameson, the daughter of Paul and Denise Jameson. Also competing were Pie Todd and Bonnie Roley.

Each girl was asked to give a speech on Selection Night last Monday evening. They also had to show poise and modeling while walking on a lighted runway and answer and impromptu question. They were interviewed by the five judges, Stacey Carlton, Doreen Clemens and Joyce Ward, all of Oroville; Carol Youngberg of Osoyoos and Patrick Plumb of Tonasket. These judges votes counted as 65 percent and audience votes counted as 35 percent toward choosing this year’s royalty.

Brad Scott was this year’s emcee and Aya Cruspero and Michael Oaks were the entertainment. There were also several visiting royalty in attendance including Tonasket Rodeo Queen Trinity Dejong, as well as last year’s May Festival Royalty Queen Ellame Burnell and Princesses Mikayla Scott and Faith Martin.

Marcia and Ed Naillon with their daughter Narya at this year’s selection night. Her dad is a teacher at Oroville High School and her mom is a nurse at North Valley Hospital

Narya models her gown on the runway on selection night.

The 2016 May Fest Royalty Candidates Zoe Whittaker-Jameson, Lena Fuchs, Pie Todd, Bonnie Roley and Narya Naillon await the outcome of the voting.