Weiser High School student selected as member of Ontario parade royalty

Weiser High School senior Bentley Weldon was chosen to participate as a member of the parade royalty in the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s Winter Wonderland Parade in Ontario on Dec. 7.
 Bentley and Hailee Hill, a Harper, Ore., high school student, were selected as princesses, and this year’s parade queen was Ontario High School’s Kyla Larson.
 “I’m excited. It will be a little chilly, but it will be fun,” Weldon said.
 The theme for this year’s parade was “Santa’s Workshop.” Chamber officials choose the annual parade theme from essays submitted by local students. The winner was chosen as the parade’s junior grand marshal.
 The applications for parade royalty were open to high school homecoming queens at area schools. The selection process involved submitting an essay that addressed the candidate’s involvement in school and activities in the community.
 The next step for royalty candidates was a luncheon with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, where the girls were interviewed. The top three finalists based on the essay and interview were named members of the parade royalty.
 Weldon is active both at school and in the community. In addition to winning the student vote to be homecoming queen this year, she is a cheer coach and has been in cheerleading all four years at WHS.
 She is the student body vice president this year and a member of FFA, the Lions Club Leos and other clubs. She also has played tennis on the WHS tennis team.
 Prior to parade day, Weldon and the two other members of the royalty assisted with serving breakfast at the Elks lodge in Ontario. It was part of their required service as royalty.
 An Ontario tradition for many years, the parade started at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7. The lineup started next to Albertson’s. The parade royalty were featured on one of the floats.
 Bentley is the daughter of Bernie and Jennifer Weldon. She didn’t have to look any further than her mom for inspiration to try out for parade royalty.
 Jennifer was the Winter Wonderland queen a few years ago when she was homecoming queen at Vale High School.