Twenty-two girls will compete Saturday, Jan. 21, to be the next reigning royals as the 2017 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen and Court. Five girls will be chosen to serve as the 2017 Queen, First Maid and court members.
The scholarship pageant is sponsored annually by the Plant City Lions Club. The 2017 Florida Strawberry Festival will run from Thursday, March 2, through Sunday, March 12.
Photos by Stephanie Humphrey.
The Contestants
Marlee Arn
Senior, Plant City High School; dual enrolled at Hillsborough Community College
Parents: Ed and Michelle Arn
Future plans: To attend Samford University to pursue interior architecture
Hanna Barrett
Junior, Strawberry Crest High School
Parents: David Barrett and Tanya Limas
Future plans: To attend Clemson University to major in education with a minor in mathematics
Caroline Brummer
Junior, Plant City High School
Parents: Jeff and Laura Brummer
Future plans: To attend Florida State University and major in public relations
Taylor Carlough
Junior, Plant City High School
Parents: Keith Carlough and Brandi and Oscar Barnes
Future plans: To attend the University of Florida to pursue a degree in journalism
Courtney Coton
Senior, Plant City High School
Parents: Danny and Danna Coton
Future plans: To attend a major university to pursue journalism and later, fashion journalism
Zharia Griffin
Junior, Durant High School
Parents: Charles and Debra Griffin
Future plans: To attend Florida A&M University and major in pre-med
Sabrina Hangen
Junior, Plant City High School; dual enrolled at Hillsborough Community College
Parents: Sheri Hangen
Future plans: To attend Duke University to double major in international business and law with minors in criminology and psychology
Ashley Hamel
Senior, Strawberry Crest High School; International Baccalaureate program
Parents: Shane and Tiffany Hamel
Future plans: To attend Nova Southeastern University on a merit scholarship, and pursue pharmacy after earning a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences
Allison Lane
Junior, Plant City High School
Parents: Emmett and Stephenie Lane
Future plans: To graduate from PCHS with a cosmetology license and purse a degree in psychology
Drew Knotts
Senior, Plant City High School; dual enrolled at Hillsborough Community College
Parents: Andy and Jeanne Knotts
Future plans: To attend Georgia Southern University to play soccer and major in journalism
Skylar Mitchell
Senior, Durant High School
Parents: Melissa and David Mitchell
Future plans: To attend the University of Tampa and major in pre-law
Toi Morrison
Freshman, Hillsborough Community College
Parents: Jeannie Morrison
Future plans: To transfer to the University of South Florida and eventually become a neonatal nurse or midwife
Ariel Navarrete
Senior, Plant City High School
Parents: Juan and Lucy Navarrete
Future plans: To attend Southeastern University and pursue a degree in education
Zoe Rasmussen
Sophomore, Newsome High School
Parents: Shawn and Renee Rasmussen
Future plans: To attend the University of Florida to pursue a degree in the medical field
Bentley Roberts
Senior, homeschooled
Parents: Robbie and Cindy Roberts
Future plans: To attend Southeastern University to pursue communications and public relations with the hopes of working for a nonprofit organization
Meghan Sorg
Junior, Strawberry Crest High School; International Baccalaureate program
Parents: Candace and Dave Sorg
Future plans: To attend the Culinary Institute of America in New York and major in baking and pastry arts
Marybeth Stewart
Senior, Strawberry Crest High School; dual enrolled at Hillsborough Community College
Parents: Preston and Julie Stewart
Future plans: To attend the University of Florida to major in dentistry with specialties in orthodontics and pediatrics
Julia Strickland
Freshman, Hillsborough Community College
Parents: Donnie and Tina Strickland
Future plans: To attend the University of Florida and major in veterinary medicine and minor in animal science
Taylor Tew
Junior, Durant High School; dual enrolled at Hillsborough Community College
Parents: David and Traci Tew
Future plans: To attend a Florida university and major in nursing with a minor in photography
Megan Todd
Senior, Plant City High School
Parents: Bobby and Diane Todd
Future plans: To attend the University of Florida and major in physical therapy
Shelby Wilson
Junior/Senior, Strawberry Crest High School; three-year graduate program
Parents: Everett and Tammy Wilson
Future plans: To attend the University of Tampa and pursue medical and pre-law degrees
Tiffany Wilson
Junior, Durant High School
Parents: Mark Wilson and Crystal Delones-Wilson
Future plans: To attend the University of Florida to study animal science and to attend the University of Miami in the summer to study psychiatry