LAKEFAIR
 SCHOLARSHIP
The Capital Lakefair Royalty Scholarship Program is one of the most prestigious and longest running scholarship programs in the local area.  The Program began in 1958 and has provided more than 240 participants with over $250,000 in scholarship funding.  Over the years, funding of this program has come from local businesses such as Olympia Federal Savings Bank, Red Wind Casino and American Pump & Electric.

Each scholarship recipient has five years in which to use their scholarship monies and it may be used towards any type of higher education - traditional degree, trade schools or vocational training programs.

What does it take to be a participant in this program?  The requirements of the program initiated by Lakefair are:

  1. a fully enrolled junior
  2. a 3.3 cumulative GPA
  3. submit a completed application
  4. submit two letters of recommendation and
  5. prepare a 500 word essay on a specific subject.

Each participating school may submit a maximum of three qualified candidates.

On the first Saturday in February the candidates participate in an interview format process, with a panel of five independent judges.  On the third Saturday in February, the top ten candidates will participate in a second interview process with three different independent judges.  During this process the applicants also present a three minute speech on a predetermined topic. From these final ten candidates the top six become the Capital Lakefair Royalty Court.  Six different high schools are represented. These six girls will then compete for Capital Lakefair Queen who is crowned during Lakefair week. Each member of the Royalty Court receives a $3,000 scholarship.  The newly crowed Queen will receive an additional $2000 scholarship.

The judging process used in the selection of the Capital Lakefair Queen starts with five new independent judges selected by the Lakefair Royalty Committee Chairperson.  These judges cannot be family or friends of any of the candidates, a member of Capital Lakefair, or an employee of any of the participating school districts.

These judges, while keeping their identity secret, attend community events and service club meetings at which the Lakefair Royal Court members participate or speak. The final phase of judging is a panel interview held the morning of Coronation. In addition to these judging activities the Court participates in many other community projects such as:

  • Assisting with Opening Day of Legislature
  • Olympia Arts Walk – face painting
  • Judging the entries for the Opening Day of boating season
  • Lacey Park’s Children’s Entertainment Series
  • Lacy Fun Fair

The Scholarship Program provides an educational opportunity for the participants to learn about themselves, issues in our communities and gives them an opportunity to meet local community leaders.  It enhances their public speaking skills and helps prepare them for college and their adult life.