Rose Festival

As Portland's Official Festival, The Rose Festival is a time to celebrate our wonderful city and community through volunteerism, environmentalism and fun events. As a non-profit organization, the Rose Festival Foundation, with the help of hundreds of volunteers each year, organize dozens of events around the city. From the three amazing parades to the annual rose show, marathons to fleet week, there are activities that everyone can enjoy, and 1.2 million people do just that every year. The Grand Floral Parade is a major highlight of the whole festival, and since the first one in 1907, it has grown to became the second-largest all-floral parade in the nation with over hall a million people in attendance. The Grand Floral Parade is a culmination of beautiful floats, marching bands, rodeo queens, llamas, and many more entries including the Rose Festival Court.
The Rose Festival has not been without royalty. Beginning in 1908, there has a been a selected monarch to be the face of the Festival for the course of the year and then in 1930 the Rose Festival Court was introduced. One woman from each of the local high schools is chosen to represent their school and community as well as the Festival in general. Out of all the women, one is chosen who best embodies what the festival stands for as the Queen of the Festival. Today the court consists of 15 women for the PPS high schools as well as a Metro East and Metro West high school. It is an honor to be chosen to represent your school, community and city as a Rose Festival Princess. Starting in May the court travels around Oregon full-time for five weeks visiting senior living centers, hospitals, youth organizations, community events and much more all while spreading Rose Festival cheer and happiness.
~Shani Plunkett, 2013 Princess

Roosevelt High School's
2025 Rose Festival Princess

Gloria Zawadi

Gloria Zawadi is a senior and member of the Class of 2025. She was crowned Roosevelt High School’s Rose Festival Princess this spring and plans to pursue a degree in psychology after graduation, with the goal of becoming a clinical psychologist.

At Roosevelt, Gloria is a dedicated leader and active member of the school community. She serves as President of the Black Student Union, participates in the African Club and Unity Fest planning committee, and is a member of the Upstander Circle through the Bystander Intervention Committee. Gloria also competes on the girls’ tennis team, where she earned her varsity letter and a leadership award, and has taken part in Student Leadership throughout high school.

In addition to her many roles at school, Gloria is proud of placing second in the statewide Japanese Speech Contest. That experience gave her the opportunity to serve as the main speaker for her group while traveling to Osaka, Japan. She describes the trip as unforgettable and deeply meaningful.

Outside of school, Gloria enjoys dancing, listening to music, reading, and writing poetry. One of her favorite places in Portland is Columbia Park, where she has fond memories from childhood, including learning to swim at Columbia Pool and spending time on the playground during elementary school field trips.

Her favorite Rose Festival event is the CityFair, where she loves the combination of waterfront scenery, live music, rides, and carnival food. “It’s the perfect mix of fun, food, and art,” she says, “and reminds me of all the reasons I love Portland.”