7 in the running for Fathoms Royalty

Six girls and one boy are in the running for the Fathoms O Fun Festival Scholarship program that will take place at 4 p.m. March 23 at Harper Church in Port Orchard.

Four are vying for Senior Contestant: Nic Clay, Zach Ogden, Miah Strombach and Elizabeth White.

Nic Clay

Clay, 17, attends South Kitsap High School. Her favorite thing about Port Orchard is nature because she finds it calming and relaxing. Port Orchard has so many parks. She especially loves places with water like Manchester State Park. When she graduates she hopes to attend a four-year university to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She eventually wants to obtain a master’s and doctorate in psychology and work as a forensic psychologist for the FBI. She will perform a monologue from the movie Barbie. Her platform is “The Encouragement of Love and Acceptance for All.”

Zach Ogden

Ogden, 15, also attends SKHS. His favorite thing about Port Orchard is the waterfront because he loves the view and thinks it’s an enjoyable spot to hang out. He also loves the great events that happen downtown. When he graduates he plans on receiving an ROTC scholarship at the University of Washington or Virginia Military Institute and enlist in the Navy as an officer. He plans to show off his sense of humor performing a witty comedy show in the talent portion of the event. His platform is “Teenage Health and Fitness.”

Miah Stromach

Miah, 17, attends SKHS. Her favorite thing about Port Orchard is the downtown Bay Street area because she loves the small businesses and great people. She says there is so much to do, you can’t get bored. When she graduates she hopes to go to college to pursue music and/or the arts. For her talent, she plans to sing and play the piano. Her platform is “Microtia Awareness.”

Elizabeth White

White, 16, also goes to SKHS. Her favorite thing about Port Orchard is the downtown shops because she loves how everyone gathers together; it feels like family. When she graduates she hopes to join the fire academy and become a firefighter. She will play the saxophone for her talent. Her platform is “Different Types of Service Animals and Why They are Important.”

Vying for Junior Contestant are Imogen Gardner, Dakota Schmith and Aubrey White.

Imogen Gardner

Imogen, 13, attends John Sedgewick Middle School. Her favorite thing about Port Orchard is the coffee shop in the mall because she can hang out with friends; she also feels it helps her learn to stick to her budget when buying food. When Imogen graduates from high school she plans on moving to the United Kingdom and attend Cambridge College, making new friends and finding a job. For her talent, she will demonstrate origami. Her platform is “Teenage Mental Health Awareness.”

Dakota Schmith

Dakota, 12, attends Marcus Whitman Middle School. Dakota’s favorite thing about Port Orchard is community events because they are fun. She especially enjoys live singing events. When Dakota graduates from high school she hopes to become a singer or go to school to be a veterinarian. Her talent will be singing. Her platform is “Music.”

Aubrey White

Aubrey, 12, also attends John Sedgewick Middle School. Her favorite things about Port Orchard are the Puget Sound and her house. She loves to be around large bodies of water, and that includes swimming in extremely cold water. Aubrey says her house is amazing because her family is inside, and it keeps her warm and dry. When Aubery graduates from high school she hopes to become a military mechanic. She plans on being an apprentice in the mechanics, plumbing or electrical foundation, then enlist in the Navy, Air Force, Army or other branch of the military. Her platform is “How experiences shape you.”

Royalty court

A Fathoms news release says the Scholarship program is all about community service, gaining confidence and creating lifelong friendships. The path to becoming a royalty member begins with writing a 500-word essay on a platform the contestant chooses.

Once the platform is written it is then memorized and critiqued by the Port Orchard Toastmasters Club. In the last weekend in January the Port Orchard Soroptimist Club holds its first judged event called the Royalty Tea, where contestants say their speeches for the first time and answer an impromptu question.

Judging continues in February as contestants visit service groups such as Rotary, Lions, Eagles, etc., and they again deliver speeches and answer an impromptu question.

On the Thursday before the competition, they are judged on a private interview before a panel of five judges where they are asked questions based on their applications. On the night of the competition, they are asked to answer an impromptu question, perform a talent and model formal wear.

Once the crowning takes place, for one year, the royalty is required to travel around the state representing the city on the only traveling float in Kitsap County and assist with many community service projects around South Kitsap and beyond. The goal is to teach the youth dedication and responsibility. It also provides valuable connections with the community that is beneficial when applying for jobs, colleges, etc., a Fathoms news release says.

If you are interested in applying for the program, recruiting starts in August; go to www.fathomsofun.org