Lilac queen offers hand to community
When Megan Paternoster, 17, received a phone call in November informing her she’d been chosen as part of the Spokane Lilac Festival Fab 14, she said her first reaction was extreme relief.
“Then I was so excited!” she said. “But that was just the beginning.”
Indeed, from etiquette classes, to public speaking lessons, to tea parties, her life has been a whirlwind of activity culminating in her coronation as the 2016 Lilac queen on Jan. 31.
But it’s activity this Freeman High School senior relishes – in fact, the opportunity to engage more with her community is what spurred her to get involved with the Lilac Festival.
“I’ve done a lot of community service,” Paternoster said. “I’ve volunteered with Camp Spalding, Bloomsday, Hoopfest and Blessings Under the Bridge.”
Being part of the Fab 14 offered her new and meaningful ways to connect and give back. She said her favorite activity thus far has been Clothe a Child.
J.C. Penney and the Salvation Army partner in this project that helps children in need get adequate clothing for the winter months. The Fab 14 shops with the kids.
“I was paired with a 6-year-old boy from Logan Elementary,” Paternoster said. “We get a list of their needs and $100. I learned how far $100 will go.”
She said her student was shy and sweet, but when she found a “Star Wars” hoodie with Chewbacca on it, his shyness melted.
“He was so excited; I definitely made a connection with him.”
In addition to learning how to stretch a dollar, Paternoster said the etiquette lessons were eye-opening. Facing her first formal table setting flummoxed her.
“I didn’t know which fork to use,” she admitted.
But she quickly learned.
“I also learned about the bread plate, passing to the right and to keep the salt and pepper together when passing them – they’re married.”
She then got to share her knowledge with little girls during the Royal Tea Party.
“It was so fun,” she said. “It was the first time wearing our big, poofy princess dresses.”
Each Lilac court member gets her own wardrobe of professional wear, as well as an evening gown.
Beautiful clothes aside, Paternoster is quick to point out that this is a scholarship program, not a beauty pageant. She plans to major in biology at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego.
“I’m not super athletic,” she said. “My strengths are more academic, especially science and math.”
Throughout the hectic months, each of the 14 girls honed the two-minute speech they would give on coronation night. This year’s topic, “Who Are You?” proved challenging – especially for the formerly shy Paternoster.
“When I was growing up, I was the shyest kid, ever,” she said. “My little brother would do all the talking. I had really low confidence.”
She credits her high school leadership activities and her involvement with Camp Spalding for helping her come out of her shell and giving her the courage to be part of the Lilac Festival.
While the Fab 14 received a lot of training, one class in particular really spoke to Paternoster. It was taught by Leadership Spokane Executive Director Brian Newberry.
“It was about how to deal with the fact that while you’ve been 14 for so long, soon you will be seven (Lilac queen and six princesses).”
She said Newberry encouraged them not to focus solely on coronation night, but to think about all they’ve learned and what they’ve accomplished along the way.
At the beginning of her time with the Fab 14, Paternoster listed her goals for being part of the Lilac Festival. She wrote that she wanted to make new friends, make new connections, learn new things and grow in confidence.
“I felt like I’d accomplished all those things even before they announced my name as queen,” she said. “I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to be part of this organization. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”