Welcome to the sisterhood, Jordan Blaker.
Crowned the 2011-2012 National Cherry Queen on Friday night during the Coronation Ball, Blaker is the 85th woman to earn the honor.
And the second in her family.
Her mom, then Angel Dunn, served as the 1983 National Cherry Queen. The family tradition is rooted in inspiration.
"My mom is my queen," said Blaker, a 2008 graduate of Gaylord High School. "I learned everything good I know from my mom." Blaker is a student at The Young Americans College and is a performer with the Young Americans, as well as a business administration student at North Central Michigan University. Her parents, Bill and Angel Blaker, live in Gaylord; Blaker Realty was her festival sponsor.
"I am very proud, I cannot believe that we can have this experience in common," said Angel Blaker. "It was a year of a lifetime and to have that in common is really special."
Evelynne Mende was named First Runner Up at the event held in the City Opera House. Stephanie Neville and Laura Patmore were finalists. The National Cherry Queen receives $8,250 in scholarships while the first runner-up receives a $1,750 scholarship. The remaining two finalists each receive a $1,000 scholarship. All scholarships are awarded to the recipients' school of choice.
The coronation process began during a selection weekend in May, which featured three days of preliminary events. After candidate interviews and each candidates' industry speech, judges narrowed the field from 20 applicants to four finalists vying for the crown.
The final competition, held during the National Cherry Festival, included secret judges watching and evaluating finalists. Poise, confidence, public-speaking ability and enthusiasm for the cherry industry are key qualities that define a successful candidate — and future queen.
All week, the four candidates participated in interviews as well as events, in which they assisted Maria LaCross, the 2010-2011 National Cherry Queen.
"I honestly have never had a court this amazing," Kay Relyea, the queens' activities director. "I think the strength of the court this year is due to the amazing leadership of Maria." A very special week concluded with the special crowning.
"This is the first time in 85 years we've had a mother-daughter team," Relyea said.
LaCross, who traveled around the state and to Washington, D.C., during her reign, has some advice for the new cherry monarch.
"Please do your best to savor every moment and try, if you can, to be as open and available as you can to every little thing," she said.
