La Cañada Flintridge Teens Join Tournament of Roses Royal Court

PASADENA, CA — It's officially Rose Bowl season! The finalists of the 2019 Tournament of Roses Royal Court was announced Monday, marking the official start of the season leaded up to the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1. Rucha S. Kadam a senior at La Canada High School and Helen Susan Rossi, a Flintridge Preparatory School senior were chosen from among dozens of finalists.

Seven young women, high school students from around the San Gabriel, were chosen from among 44 finalists and hundreds of applicants. The Rose Queen will be chosen later this month and crowned on Oct. 23 at the Pasadena Playhouse. The Roses Royal Court will represent the community at nearly 100 events leading up to the parade on Jan. 1

Kadam is a member of the her school's varsity soccer team, Assistance League of Flintridge, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Space Academy, the 2018 Miss La Cañada Flintridge Royal Court, and member ofthe Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), California Scholarship Federation (CSF), and treasurer of LCHS Associated Student Body (ASB), Hackademia director, and an LCUSD Technology and Computer Science Intern. She plans to study computer science or medical science.

Rossi is a member of her school's Cooking Club, Diversity Club, Flint Leadership Club, and a Flintridge Prep Senior Leader. Her community activities include National Charity League of Glendale, Senior Girl Scout, Troop 7331, Hathaway Sycamores tutor, Arthritis Foundation intern and Arthritis Foundation 2018 Youth honoree. She likes cooking, photography, creative writing, and drawing and plans to study business and psychology.

Each of the young ladies were chosen for the court based on criteria such as public speaking ability, academic achievement, youth leadership and community and school involvement.

The members of the Royal Court are:

Lauren Michele Baydaline, a senior at Westridge School and resident of South Pasadena;

Ashley Symone Hackett, a senior at John Muir High School and a Pasadena resident;

Rucha S. Kadam, a senior at La Canada High School and a La Canada Flintridge resident;

Sherry Xiaorui Ma, a Temple City resident and a senior at San Marino High School;

Micaela Sue McElrath, a senior at Westridge School and a Pasadena resident;

Helen Susan Rossi, a Flintridge Preparatory School senior and La Canada Flintridge resident; and

Louise Deser Siskel, a senior at Sequoyah High School and a San Marino resident.

The Announcement and Coronation of the 101th Rose Queen® and Presentation of the 2019 Royal Court is on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at the Pasadena Playhouse; the event is sponsored by Citizens Business Bank. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase from Sharp Seating Company.

Photo courtesy of the Tournament of Roses; City News Service contributed to this report.