Janna Wandzilak, a senior at Weddington High School, has been named Christmas Parade Princess for the Union County Christmas Parade. Wandzilak was crowned Thursday evening at an open house and reception hosted by Shops at Nottingham.
Each year, the princess is selected from candidates representing Union County High Schools to lead the parade. The parade, set for Nov. 22, is presented by Union Smart Start and sponsored by The Enquirer-Journal.
This year, 11 candidates were interviewed by a panel of judges that included
- Mark Watson, Union County personnel director and member of the Union Smart Start board of directors.
- John Ashcraft, Monroe City Councilman
- Hayne White, executive director for South Piedmont Community College Foundation
- Deb Coates Bledsoe, Union County Public Schools communications coordinator.
- Suzanne Walters, Alex Kahle Memorial Scholarship board member.
The judges agreed that each candidate exhibited impressive academics, leadership and community service.
“It was a very difficult decision to choose just one of these young ladies,”
said Ashcraft. “Any one of them would be an impressive parade princess for Union County.”
Wandzilak, daughter of Mark and Deborah Wandzilak, is a competitive horseback rider who volunteers at Misty Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center. She is the state’s Southwest Regional FFA president and president of the Weddington FFA chapter. In addition, she is a student council representative and a member of the National Honor Society and French Honor Society, French Club, Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta and Biology Club.
She received the Academic Excellence Award as a junior, is a Rotary Scholar and FFA community service chair and student council committee chair.
This year, the princess will receive a scholarship in memory of Alex Kahle, a 2007 parade princess nominee who died in a car accident just days before the judging. Pat Kahle crowned the beaming Wandzilak amidst a crowd of cheers, and Jim Brewer of Citizens South Bank presented the scholarship award.
Other princess candidates and their high schools were: Allie Barbera from Central Academy of Technology and Arts; Ashley Lewis of Union County Early College; Nicholle Romero of Cuthbertson; Jadda Kelly of Forest Hills,; Kate Johnston of Marvin Ridge; Emily Andrews of Monroe; Monica Papworth of Parkwood; Megan Thomas of Piedmont; Taylor Hewitt of Porter Ridge and Brittany Kiser of Sun Valley high schools. These candidates will participate in the Christmas parade with their individual schools.
The deadline for entering the Nov. 22 parade has been extended until Nov. 13. For more information, contact Union Smart Start at (704) 226-1407 or visit www.UnionSmartStart.org.
