High school students will be adding their royal touch to the culmination of the Neptune Festival at the Oceanfront.
Several students from Virginia Beach City Public Schools are prince and princesses on King Neptune’s Court. During Boardwalk Weekend, you can see them Sept. 28 in the Grand Parade, which begins at 11:30 a.m. on 16th Street and moves north on Atlantic Avenue to end at 32nd Street by 1:10 p.m.
Catch a glimpse of these students on the prince/princess float is toward the front of the parade:
- Rylee Brooks-Booth – First Colonial High
- Bradley Foster – Cox High School
- Berkley Houston – Kempsville High
- Avery Hunn – Ocean Lakes High
- Urvi Jain – Ocean Lakes High
- Andy Jakubowski – Bayside High
- Maya Katherman – Cox High
- Piper Richardson – Princess Anne High
- Paige Rooney – Kellam High
- Torrence Spreder – Kellam High
- Imari Bond – First Colonial High
Princesses and princes are selected for demonstrating active participation in school, community and/or civic organizations and endeavors. They participated in a Special Olympics event in May and more recently were recognized at a City Council meeting.
Cox High School student Maya Katherman said there’s comradery among the princesses.
“I am enjoying being around like-minded girls from all over the city,” said Maya, whose mother, Mary Grace Davis, was a Neptune princess 25 years ago. “We are all very motivated and it creates a strong group.”
She learned some dance moves during the festival’s Senior Gala event.
“Many of us learned to slow dance and tango with people we had never met before,” she said.
Kellam High School student Torrence Spreder said she applied to be on the court because she wanted to get involved in the community. She is looking forward to the parade.
“I have enjoyed seeing all of the court members at every event, meeting people who love the festival as much as I do, and attending all the amazing events,” Torrence said. When asked what her least princess-like quality is, she said she participates in the Virginia Beach 4-H Livestock Club.
“I have raised and shown hogs for 10 years as a member of 4-H,” she said.
In addition to the parade, look for Torrence, Maya and the other students walking the Boardwalk with King Neptune this weekend.
