One of the most important traditions in our small town is the Camellia Parade and Festival. Every year the town picks two lucky first graders to represent the city as the camellia King and Queen, and during their first grade year, Seniors Dantin Duhamel and Kayla Gan were awarded this honor.
Senior Kayla Gan was named the queen of the Camellia Parade in first grade and the whole experience has inspired her to become involved in her community, being a part of Dragonflicks, Choreo, and ASB.
“I’ve been able to be in the parade through Oak and TCHS Auxiliaries, bringing even more memories to be nostalgic about,” said Gan. “I have a greater appreciation for our small community filled with the many volunteers that work so hard to keep up TC’s traditions.”
Gan is grateful that she has been able to participate in community traditions since such a young age, and as a Miss Temple City princess, she will be able to appreciate this wonderful tradition before she graduates and goes to college.
Senior Dantin Duhamel was the king of the Camellia court in first grade and this adventure exposed him to all the hard work that goes into the parade and festival each year.
“Taking part in the Camellia court was an great adventure for me, one where I was able to meet lots of people and have opportunites that I usually wouldn’t have had,” said Duhammel. “I feel very nostalgic when I watch the parade because my oldest brother was actually one of the princes, and its crazy knowing that my family has been a part of the excperiece multiple times.”
Duhamel’s love of photography began to blossom while he was in the court, and taking photos has since become one of his favortie hobbies. He has been a photographer for the past seven years, and has been a part of the yearbook since seventh grade. In fact, he is the head photographer for the yearbook.
Since this is their senior year, Gan and Duhamel feel especially nostalgic towards the parade and are happy that they were able to be apart of our community’s largest tradition. This experience has shown them all of the preperation that goes into the parade and festival. Their participation in the Camellia court has led to them to finding hobbies and activites that they enjoy, and there is no doubt it will continue to insipre young minds.