Meet Princess Sophie, Sir Caldwell
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
[March 17, 2026]
This year’s Ida B. Wells Rose Festival Princess was announced this afternoon in the high school’s drama classroom. In an added surprise, Rose Festival officials also announced that band teacher Nick Caldwell will be “knighted” by the Royal Rosarians.
Senior Sophie Lafrenz was selected as Ida B. Wells’ representative to this year’s Rose Court.
The Royal Rosarians are the official greeters and goodwill ambassadors for the City of Portland. Since 1920, they have conferred the honorary title of Sir Knight or Dame upon dignitaries and friends from around the world. Past honorees include drag queens, U.S. Navy admirals, brewmasters and winemakers, elected officials, and others—a distinguished, if eclectic, group. Of particular note, in 1926 the Royal Rosarians knighted famed American bandleader and composer John Philip Sousa, the “March King”—placing this year’s honoree, band teacher Nick Caldwell, in appropriately musical company.
Lafrenz is captain of the varsity women’s lacrosse and swim teams, a member of the school band, and active in several clubs, including Model UN, Birdwatching Club, Athletic Leadership Council, National Honor Society, and the Rising Educators Club. She volunteers twice a week as an intern at Stephenson Elementary School through the IBW Education Pathway. As co-president of the Positive Charge Club, she helps organize fundraisers, projects, and events that make a direct impact on the lives of teens in the community. Outside of school, she works part-time as a swim instructor, lifeguard, and youth lacrosse coach.
Next year, she will attend Whitman College, where she plans to play lacrosse and pursue her goal of becoming a teacher.
This year’s Rose Festival will culminate on May 5th with the selection of the 112th Rose Festival Queen—the same ceremony at which Caldwell will be knighted.
The crown has been claimed by a Wells (or Wilson, as the school was called until 2021) princess nine times. The most recent Wells princess to be crowned was Senya Scott in 2022. The 2010's saw a drought, with no queen from Wilson High School, but the 2000's saw three crowns for Wilson: Tara Beatty (2004), Leela Joshi (2002), and Amy Seely (2000). Malia Yoshida wore the crown for Wilson in 1992, and Jennifer Deas in 1991. The 80's and 70's had just one queen each: Kelly Manning (1988) and Laurie King (1970). The first queen from Wilson, which opened in 1956, was Cherie Lynne Viggers in 1962.
The Rose Festival Court is comprised of up to 15 students chosen from Portland Metro-area high schools. The program provides scholarships for higher education, promotes community outreach and volunteerism, and offers networking and mentoring opportunities to young women in a program that perpetuates an appreciation for Rose Festival history and tradition.
Court Members attend after-school and weekend training sessions covering topics including media training, networking, public speaking and more. Once travel begins, the Court travels to visit visit community events, business leaders, hospitals, senior living centers, youth organizations, civic groups and participating in the Rose Festival's parades and events.
Court Members receive a $5,000 educational scholarship, a complete travel wardrobe including shoes and accessories, and, say the organizers, "a lifetime of enduring friendships with their Rose Festival Court sisters."
—Valeurie Friedman
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