Senior Helen Rossi was named a 2019 Royal Court member at the Tournament House on Monday, October 1, being the only member to represent Flintridge Preparatory School out of the seven lucky locals. She was the seventh and final name to be called up by Tournament of Roses President Gerald Freeny, recalling the whole experience being a “whirlwind.”

Rossi and the rest of the Royal Court will represent the community as ambassadors of Pasadena, attending over 100 different events before their float ride during the 130th Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.

The process leading up to selecting the Royal Court included five rounds of interviews, each round having fewer girls, but the added bonus of more time. Rossi explained that she learned more about herself with each interview and challenged herself as she progressed.

Interview questions ranged from strengths and weaknesses to what this year’s theme, “The Melody of Life,” meant to each girl. When asked specifically what the theme means to her, Rossi said, “I think music is so important to life itself. It’s fascinating to see the change in attitude it can produce.”

Rossi relayed that the interview process was “nothing too intense,” especially since she focused on community service, something she holds close to her heart. This allowed her to speak with comfort and ease when asked about her extracurriculars and how she spends her free time.

The Tournament of Roses’ Queen and Court Committee chose the Royal Court members based off of several criteria: public speaking ability, campus and community involvement, academic achievement, and leadership. The 2019 Rose Court Announcements–the final round–included 44 young ladies hailing from various high schools such as John Muir, Maranatha, and Westridge.

Throughout the next three months, the Royal Court will receive etiquette, media, and speech training. Rossi and her fellow Royal Court members recently went on a trip to Solvang and Santa Barbara, and even had the opportunity of meeting the Mayor of Solvang. The ladies spent time together on a ranch, participating in activities such as archery, and ultimately got to know one another better.

The coronation ceremony will be held on October 23, when one of the seven girls will be crowned the 2019 Rose Queen.