Middletown Woman Named Cherry Blossom Princess

The Rhode Island Cherry Blossom Festival Committee has announced a 23-year Middletown woman has been named the 2013 Rhode Island's Cherry Blossom Princess.

Stacie Waleyko will represent the state at the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. this April.

The Cherry Blossom Princess Educational and Cultural Exchange Program is a weeklong cultural and educational opportunity for young women from across the U.S. and around the world. Cherry Blossom Princesses participate in educational, leadership and cultural activities as they serve their nation and respective state, in a “Washington Classroom,” by introducing the princesses to many government, cultural, military, business leaders and female role models who work in the nation’s capitol.

In the past decade, the princesses have met with First Lady Laura Bush; former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi; Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson; Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton; Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; Naval Commander Yvette Brownwhaller; Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught; Red Cross President and CEO Dr. Bernadine Healey, among others.

Waleyko will also participate in the local cherry blossom activities in Pawtucket, Central Falls and Woonsocket this May. The Middletown native graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in computer science and mathematics. She currently works as a software engineer in East Greenwich.

Congratulations to Princess Waleyko!