The
Kiwanis family has a long tradition of participation in the
Tournament of Roses Parade. The first Kiwanis float appeared
on Pasadena, California's streets in 1965, and then consecutively
for the past 21 years. This year, however, the Kiwanis float,
"Together We Can" won the National Trophy for the best depiction
of life in the United States, past, present, or future, and
a Kiwanis-family member reigns as the 2007 Rose Queen.
Mary
McCluggage, president of the Key Club of Flintridge Preparatory
School, was selected as the 89th Rose Queen from more than 1,100
Pasadena-area young women based on public speaking ability,
poise, academic achievement, and community involvement.
"The
Tournament of Roses is delighted to name Queen Mary as the 2007
Rose Queen," says Tournament of Roses president Paul Holman.
"We are honored to have Queen Mary and the six Rose Princesses
join our Tournament of Roses family. We couldn't ask for more
talented and graceful ambassadors for Pasadena, the Rose Parade,
and Rose Bowl Game."
In
addition to her service through Key Club, Mary is also a member
of the San Marino Area Chapter of the National Charity League
and is actively involved in her church.
The
Kiwanis float, which featured
a horse-drawn wagon, full of hay and crossing a bridge, was
constructed of ground coffee beans, strawflower, pampas grass,
black seaweed, silverleaf, clover seed, ground rice, roses,
carnations, gourds, pumpkins, corn, carrots, bell peppers, wheat,
grass sod, daisies, and sunflowers. The Phoenix Decorating Company
designed the float and used Kiwanis-family members to help build
this and many other Rose Parade floats.
