By Sara Miller
Kitsap News Group
Port Orchard’s Fathoms O’ Fun season, themed “I’ve Got the Magic in Me,” is now underway.
The venerable community festival kicked off its season by hosting a spaghetti feed fundraiser and staging its royal tea, where this year’s contestants were introduced.
The Fathoms O’ Fun pageant is set for 4 p.m. on March 4.
“The biggest changes this year is that Gig Harbor students can also participate,” coordinator Helene Johnson said. “They don’t have any program like this, and it’s great they now have the opportunity to serve and be a part of what we have here.
“The other change is we have adjusted the age bracket with the grade reconfiguration. So students from grades 6-8 will compete in the junior category. Contestants from grade 9 on through 20 years of age compete in the senior category.”
After the spaghetti dinner fundraising event Jan. 26, Fathoms hosted its annual royalty tea to introduce the 2017 royal contestants to the community.
Contestant 1: Jaycee Baumer
Parents: Lisa and Jeffrey Baumer
Age: 14
School: South Kitsap High School
Platform: Human Trafficking
College Goals: “Attend Olympic College and later transfer to a four-year university.”
Contestant 2: Mackenzie Wright
Parents: Joe and Jennifer Wright
Age: 15
School: South Kitsap High School
Platform: Veterans with PTSD
College goals: “To go to a four-year college and major in sociology and minor in criminology with hopes to become a detective.”
Contestant 3: Hannah Hawkins
Parents: Iris and Brian Fagerland
Age: 17
School: South Kitsap High School
Platform: Funding of Band vs. Athletics
College goals: “I hope to get into honors college and/or graduate with honors and study neuroscience and/or chemistry.”
Contestant 4: Cory Miller
Parents: Joel and Kerry Miller
Age: 15
School: South Kitsap High School
Platform: Rescue Every Dog (R.E.D)
College goals: “My college goal is to attend Washington State University and obtain a master’s degree in zoology.”
Contestant 5: Madison Saling
Parents: Meredith and Loren Saling
Age: 15
School: South Kitsap High School
Platform: Having a Positive Mind Improves Peoples Lives
College goals: “The Art Institute of Seattle.”
Contestant 6: Anastasiya Siliverstova
Parents: Nataliya Siliverstova &Leonid Siliverstov
Age: 16
School: South Kitsap High School
Platform: Animals in Captivity
College goals: “To go to Washington State University, become a neonatal nurse and travel around the world.”
Contestant 7: Jamison Folden
Parents: Jeremy and Kasey Folden
Age: 14
School: Gig Harbor High School
Platform: Washington’s education
College goals: “Go to Stanford or Western Washington University to obtain a master’s degree and join the military.”
Contestant 8: Alainna Widdifield
Parents: Nancy and Mike Widdifield
Age: 16
School: Olympic College for Running Start
Platform: Coral Reefs and How We Affect the Ocean
College goals: “Attend Stanford and major in marine biology.”
Contestant 9: Veronica Mihai
Parents: Viorel and Jennifer Mihai
Age:12
School: Cedar Heights Middle School
Platform: Inspiring girls to be confident, bold and strong.
College goals: “I would like to study to be an author.”
Contestant 10: Hailey Chambard
Parent: Jennifer Chambard
Age: 12
School: Marcus Whitman Junior High
Platform: Homelessness
College goals: “Get a degree as a marine biologist.”
Contestant 11: J’Elaine Wall
Parents: JaRon and Lynn Wall
Age: 13
School: Marcus Whitman Junior High
Platform: Bullying
College goals: Unknown at this time.
Contestant 12: Danyelle Wilcox
Parents: Cheryl and David Wilcox
Age: 13 years
School: Cedar Heights Middle School
Platform: Autism Spectrum Disorder
College goals: “I would love to major in the performing arts.”
