WENATCHEE — The 94th annual Washington State Apple Blossom Festival is just around the corner, and the Top 10 pageant candidates are in the final stages of preparation for the Royal Selection Pageant on Feb. 9.

On Jan. 9, the group was narrowed down from the original group of 32 girls. The Top 10 is comprised of five seniors from Wenatchee High School and five seniors from Eastmont High School. The finalists are Emily Abbott, Maggie Chvilicek, Scarlet Graham, Cassidy Halle, Jenaesha Iwaasa, Laurel Jones, Maria Medina, Carli Robins, Madi Still and Lauren Williamson.

Judges will crown one queen and two princesses to represent the community at festivals throughout the Northwest. The girls will be judged on contest appearance, personality, poise, speaking ability and presentation. Additionally, awards will be handed out in the categories of achievement, community service, most original speech, congeniality, and most photogenic.

The opening number will include a dance choreographed by Lindsey Martin and Brittany Drescher of Dance Creations and performed by 17 Dance Creations dancers and the contestants’ male escorts. The male escorts are Jacob Carlson, Conner Christensen, Rhett Cline, Kevin Fagg, Drew Holmberg, Gabe Jimenez, Hayden McCall, Mitch Meyers, Nick Sells and Cole Sexton.

Following the opening number, each girl will deliver a speech on the topic “My Time Travel App.” After a quick costume change into evening gowns, each contestant will answer a question.

Judges this year will come from Spokane, Bothell, Omak and Puyallup. Judges will base their vote on preliminary interviews on the day of the pageant and the pageant itself. Five percent of the vote will come from online voting at wenatcheeworld.com.

“Every year the judges are absolutely amazed by the talent, the pageant contestants and community spirit,” said festival administrator Darci Waterman.

This year’s pageant theme is “iPageant.” The festival starts April 25 and runs through May 5.

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IF YOU GO

• What: 2013 Apple Blossom Royalty Selection Pageant

• When: 7 p.m., Feb. 9

• Where: Wenatchee High School Auditorium, 1101 Millerdale Ave.

• Cost: Lower-level seating is sold out; upper-level seats cost $15

• Tickets and information: appleblossom.org or 662-3616

CHECK OUT THESE FESTIVAL EVENTS:

• Funtastic Shows Carnival — April 26-May 5. Open weekdays at 5 p.m. and weekends at noon.

• Apple Pie and Dessert Bake Off — May 5

• Youth Parade — April 27 at 11 a.m.

• Arts & Crafts Fair — May 3-5

• Apple Blossom Run — May 4

• Grand Parade — May 4 at 11 a.m.

• For more details and full list of events, visit appleblossom.org.

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2013 APPLE BLOSSOM CANDIDATES

Madi Still

Parents: Michelle and Craig Still

School: Wenatchee High School

Activities: Honor Society, Drama Club, dance and volunteering

Post-graduation plans: Four-year university and then medical school

Me, in one word: Humble

Website you visit most often: Twitter

Song that gets you going in the morning: “Boondocks” by Little Big Town

Favorite TV show: “Grey’s Anatomy”

Trade place for a day: A cancer patient

Biggest inspiration: Mary Zontek

Place I want to visit: Europe

Favorite thing to do in the Wenatchee Valley: Hike

Finish this sentence: I can’t live without ... coffee!

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Emily Abbott

Parents: Jon and Tara Abbott

School: Eastmont High School

Activities: Theater, choir and church

Post-graduation plans: Attend a four-year university

Me, in one word: Caring

Website you visit most often: Facebook

Song that gets you going in the morning: “Goodmorning Beautiful” by Brad Paisley

Favorite TV show: “Sherlock,” “Supernatural”

Trade place for a day: Julie Andrews

Biggest inspiration: Mom and Dad

Place I want to visit: Europe-England

Favorite thing to do in the Wenatchee Valley: Go to the community and theater events

Finish this sentence: I can’t live without ... my family.

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Maggie Chvilicek

Parents: Brigid and Jeff Chvilicek

School: Wenatchee High School

Activities: Cross country, ASB and piano

Post-graduation plans: Attend a four-year university

Me, in one word: Independent

Website you visit most often: Pandora

Song that gets you going in the morning: “Revolution” by the Beatles

Favorite TV show: “Criminal Minds”

Trade place for a day: Michelle Obama

Biggest inspiration: Brent Grothe

Place I want to visit: Ireland

Favorite thing to do in the Wenatchee Valley: Bike or run on the Loop Trail

Finish this sentence: I can’t live without ... my dog, Darby.

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Scarlet Graham

Parents: Robert Graham and Shana Kai

School: Eastmont High School

Activities: Reading, wakeboarding, singing, crossword puzzles

Post-graduation plans: Attend Wenatchee Valley College and then pursue a law degree

Me, in one word: Compassionate

Website you visit most often: Pinterest

Song that gets you going in the morning: “Beautiful” by Mercy Me

Favorite TV show: “Extreme Home Makeover” and “Shipping Wars”

Trade place for a day: Oprah Winfrey

Biggest inspiration: My mother

Place I want to visit: Italy, France and New York

Favorite thing to do in the Wenatchee Valley: Walk the Loop Trail

Finish this sentence: I can’t live without ... a good book to read.

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Lauren Williamson

Parents: Lee and Kim Williamson

School: Wenatchee High School

Activities: Church, worship team, church youth group, student leadership team, Hyland and Hytones

Post-graduation plans: Attend Wenatchee Valley College, transfer to four-year school to pursue a teaching degree

Me, in one word: Loyal

Website you visit most often: Facebook

Song that gets you going in the morning: “Good Morning” by Mandisa and TobyMac

Favorite TV show: “Good Luck Charlie”

Trade place for a day: Carrie Underwood

Biggest inspiration: My papa, Grandpa Sanders

Place I want to visit: England

Favorite thing to do in the Wenatchee Valley: Float the river with friends

Finish this sentence: I can’t live without ... my Bible.

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Jenaesha Iwaasa

Parents: Juel and Tanya Iwaasa

School: Eastmont High School, Wenatchee Valley College (Running Start)

Activities: Music-related activities (practicing, coaching/teaching, performing), church activities, sewing, sculpting and cooking

Post-graduation plans: Study cello performance on the East Coast

Me, in one word: Pragmatic

Website you visit most often: iwastesomuchtime.com

Song that gets you going in the morning: Brahms Symphony No. 4 Mut1 ( I love the recapitulation!)

Favorite TV show: “Firefly”

Trade place for a day: No thanks. I am very happy being me.

Biggest inspiration: Russian cellist Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich

Place I want to visit: Japan

Favorite thing to do in the Wenatchee Valley: Outdoor activities like hiking, biking and walking

Finish this sentence: I can’t live without ... my cello.

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Maria Medina

Parents: Jose Luis and Adelaida Medina

School: Wenatchee High School

Activities: Sports, exercise, spending time with family

Post-graduation plans: Attend four-year university to earn an engineering degree

Me, in one word: Caring

Website you visit most often: Google

Song that gets you going in the morning: “Diamond” by Rihanna

Favorite TV show: “CSI” and the Food Channel

Trade place for a day: Comedian Gabriel Iglesias

Biggest inspiration: Parents

Place I want to visit: Paris, France

Favorite thing to do in the Wenatchee Valley: Anything outdoors, Saddle Rock, Walla Walla Point Park or Loop Trail

Finish this sentence: I can’t live without ... cell phone.

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Carli Robins

Parents: Danny and Vicki Robins

School: Eastmont High School

Activities: Sports Med

Post-graduation plans: Attend Eastern Washington University

Me, in one word: Happy

Website you visit most often: Pinterest

Song that gets you going in the morning: “In My City” by Ellie Goulding

Favorite TV show: “The Big Bang Theory”

Trade place for a day: Minnie Mouse

Biggest inspiration: My great grandma Grace

Place I want to visit: Australia

Favorite thing to do in the Wenatchee Valley: Hiking Saddle Rock

Finish this sentence: I can’t live without ... peanut butter.

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Laurel Jones

Parents: Maureen Jones

School: Wenatchee High School

Activities: DECA, ASB, Earth Club, Math Club

Post-graduation plans: Attend a four-year university

Me, in one word: Energetic

Website you visit most often: Tumblr.com

Song that gets you going in the morning: “You Make My Dreams Come True” by Hall and Oates

Favorite TV show: “How I Met Your Mother”

Trade place for a day: Laura Bell Bundy

Biggest inspiration: My grandfather, Jack Jones

Place I want to visit: Ireland, well mostly just everywhere in Europe

Favorite thing to do in the Wenatchee Valley: Spend time outside riding the Loop Trail

Finish this sentence: I can’t live without ... good books and good friends.

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Cassidy Halle

Parents: Buddy and Dena Halle

School: Eastmont High School

Activities: Varsity volleyball, ASB vice president, Knowledge Bowl, Youth United, FBLA and Key Club

Post-graduation plans: Attend a four-year university to minor in Spanish, considering nursing or broadcast journalism as a major

Me, in one word: Devoted

Website you visit most often: Instagram

Song that gets you going in the morning: “Keep your head up” by Andy Grammer

Favorite TV show: “Celebrity Apprentice”

Trade place for a day: Kate Middleton

Biggest inspiration: My two older sisters, Amanda and McKenzie

Place I want to visit: Spain

Favorite thing to do in the Wenatchee Valley: Spending time at the river, parks and trails

Finish this sentence: I can’t live without ... my family, friends and God.