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Capital Lakefair
2007Capital Lakefair
2007

 

The Capital Lakefair Royalty Scholarship Program is one of the most prestigious and longest running scholarship Programs in the local area.  The Program began 50 years ago and has provided more than 220 participants with over $180,000 in scholarship funding.  Over the years funding of this program has come from local companies such as Venture Bank, Red Wind Casino, area Lions Clubs, as well as other generous sponsors. 

Each scholarship recipient has 5 years to use their scholarship and may use it towards any type of higher education - traditional degree programs, trade schools or vocational training opportunities.

What does it take to be a participant in this program?  The requirements of the program generated by Lakefair are: (1) a fully enrolled junior, (2) the student must have a 3.3 cumulative GPA, (3) submit a completed application, and (4) two letters of recommendation.

Each participating school may submit a maximum of three qualified applicants. Applications must be postmarked by the second Monday in February. On the first Saturday in March applicants are required to participate in a job interview format process, with a panel of five independent judges.  On the third Saturday in March the top ten (10) participate in another job interview with three (3) independent judges, during this interview the applicants will also give a three minute speech. Once the judges tabulate the results the top five will become the Capital Lakefair Royal Court and are now eligible to become Lakefair Queen. Each have now gained $1,500 in scholarship funds. 

The selection process used in selection of the Lakefair Queen; starts with five independent judges selected by the Lakefair Royalty Committee Chair.  These judges cannot be family friends of any of the candidates, nor can they be members of the Capitalarians, nor can they be employees of any of the participating school districts.

The judges, while keeping their identity secret, attend community events and meetings at which the Lakefair Court members participate or speak. Both the community events and speaking engagements each make up 50 percent of the final score.   The final phase of judging is a panel interview held the morning of Coronation.  A ten-minute interview is followed by a luncheon with the judges. The scores are totaled and the participant receiving the most points is determined to be queen. The queen receives an additional $1,500 in scholarship funds, for a total of $3,000.

In addition to these judging activities the Court participates in many other community events such as:

  • Assisting with Opening Day of Legislature
  • Olympia’s Art Walk
  • Judging the entries for the Opening Day of Boating Season
  • Lacey Park’s Children’s Entertainment Series

The Program provides an educational opportunity for the participants to learn about issues in their community and to meet local community leaders.  It enhances their public speaking skills and better prepares them for their adult life.