New Royalty Reigns in Pasadena; Seven Members of the 1999 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Royal Court Chosen From More Than 800 Pasadena-Area Young Women

Business Wire, Oct 12, 1998

PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 12, 1998--The seven members of the 1999 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Royal Court were announced Monday at Tournament House from a group of 29 finalists.

As ambassadors of the Tournament of Roses, the Royal Court members will attend more than 100 community and media functions during their reign over the 110th Rose Parade, themed "Echoes of the Century," and the 85th Rose Bowl Game.

The seven members of the 1999 Tournament of Roses Royal Court are: Yvonne Bisgaard (No. 724), 18, La Canada High School; Christina Farrell (No. 556), 17, Arcadia High School; Dana Ford (No. 34), 18, Maranatha High School; Chaitali Gala (No. 162), 17, Arcadia High School; Sophie Soong (No. 398), 17, South Pasadena High School; Olivia Wilson (No. 62), 17, Arcadia High School; and Cristina Wucetich (No. 480), 17, San Marino High School.

The announcement follows a month-long process in which more than 800 Pasadena-area young women participated. Selections were based on an array of qualities ranging from public speaking ability, poise, academic achievement, community involvement and personality.

"We were impressed by the exceptional young women we met throughout the tryout process and are grateful for their participation and enthusiasm," said Larry Gray, chairman of the Queen and Court Committee.

Yvonne Bisgaard, 18, is an active member of the National Assistance League, whose special project is Union Station, a local homeless shelter. She has been a member of SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving), played on the varsity softball and varsity basketball teams at La Canada and acted as a coach for ninth graders. She is a teacher's aide for a third-grade class at La Canada Elementary School. Born in Mexico, she plans to attend Brigham Young University, where she will study elementary education and hopes to teach elementary school after graduation.

Christina Farrell is a member of the California Scholarship Federation, the National Honor Society, the National Youth Leadership Conference and a percussion section leader of the Arcadia High School Apache Marching Band. She serves as the project chairman for the Assisteens of Arcadia and is a member of the Famous Fone Friends, a charity organization sponsoring phone calls to hospitalized children by actors and other celebrities. She plans to attend the College of William and Mary, UCLA or USC and to study history in preparation for a career in law or education.

Dana Ford is an 18-year-old senior at Maranatha High School and is active in the Key club, French club and the California Scholarship Federation. Both an athlete and an artist, she divides her time between varsity track and cheerleading teams, as well as Advanced Placement Studio Art. She spends her summers leading Bible study, and during the school year, she volunteers at Huntington Memorial Hospital while holding a part-time job. Next fall, she plans to attend either Xavier University or USC, with a long-term goal to practice pediatrics after medical school.

Chaitali Gala is a member of Arcadia High School's Constitution team, the women's varsity waterpolo team and serves as the statistician for the men's waterpolo team. The 17-year-old senior volunteers at the National Childhood Cancer Foundation, the Altadena Public Library and the office of Kirit V. Gala, M.D. She has lived in the Pasadena area since birth, and enjoys sports, reading, cooking, music and spending time with her family and friends. She would like to attend UCSD and major in biology and hopes to pursue a career as an orthopedic surgeon or a pediatrician.

Sophie Soong is a senior at South Pasadena High School where she is the commissioner of activities, co-president of the Eco-Logic club and a member of the WASC student committee. She has been active in the SACC committee, achieved a completed Girl Scout Gold Award and volunteered at the South Pasadena Public Library. A member of the women's varsity tennis team, she also enjoys ice skating, skiing and snowboarding. She hopes to attend either UCLA or a private California university to pursue a career in the field of science.

Olivia Wilson is active in the Arcadia High School Senior Men and Women, an elite service club whose members also serve as school ambassadors. An avid dancer, she is the president of the Orchesis Dance Company at Arcadia High School and has been on the junior varsity cheerleading team. She currently volunteers at Arcadia Methodist Hospital and enjoys dancing, reading, swimming and spending time with her family. Next fall, she plans to attend either UCLA or UCSD and major in elementary education and hopes to teach primary grades after graduation.

Cristina Wucetich is a 17-year-old senior at San Marino High School. She plays on the varsity soccer and track teams, serves as a CARE counselor and has starred in plays and musicals with the drama department. She has been a candystriper at Huntington Memorial Hospital for four years and traveled to France this past summer as an exchange student. Her numerous hobbies include reading, singing, gardening, poetry, hiking and spending time with her family. She hopes to attend Claremont McKenna College where she plans to study government, law and international relations.