Lauren Fountain named Apple Blossom Queen

Lauren Fountain was named queen of the 2012 Apple Blossom Cotillion Saturday night, maintaining a community tradition in Springfield that dates back to the 1950s.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20120507/NEWS02/705079950

Apple Blossom Queen Lauren Fountain is congratulated by her father, Mark Fountain, left. Photo: Susan Smallheer PhotoPublished May 7, 2012 in the Rutland Herald Lauren Fountain named Apple Blossom Cotillion Queen By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — Lauren Fountain was named queen of the 2012 Apple Blossom Cotillion Saturday night, maintaining a community tradition in Springfield that dates back to the 1950s. Many of the traditions of the cotillion — a kind of coming out or debut — have changed, but one thing has not: The event, believed to be the last of its kind in Vermont, still attracts thousands of people over the two nights of the cotillion. The crowning of the queen caps a night of competition. Earlier in the day, senior girls are interviewed by a panel of judges that include two prior Apple Blossom queens. During the event, the large crowd watches 17 high school couples and 20 elementary school couples, dressed in deep purple chiffon gowns and black tuxedos, dance and sing to songs about love, delighting their families, friends and community. The theme this year was “Struck by Love,” and the songs, selected from favorites over the last 50 years, told the story of girl meets boy, girl and boy fall in love, they spat, and eventually marry. The contestants danced to favorites such as “I Saw Him Standing There,” “Pretty Woman,” “Be My Baby,” “Lucky,” and “Bye Bye Bye.” The show ended with “Happy Together,” after a mass mock wedding among the senior couples, complete with 17 small white veils and giant bauble rings. The escorts almost stole the show with their rendition of “Keep Your Hands to Yourself,” after they shed their jackets and donned cowboy hats. Joining Fountain, a senior at Springfield High School, in the center of Dressel Gym at the end of the evening, were members of her court: Kristin Cook, Holly Hooke, Alexandra Johnstone and Olivia Thayer. All are seniors at Springfield High School. Winning Miss Congeniality, an honor elected by the cotillion participants, was Cook. And winning Mr. Congeniality was Tim Robinson, who escorted Hooke. Winners of the Directors’ Choice were Tara LaPlante and escort Aaron Wallace. Escort for the queen was Ian Martel, with Derrick Grailich escorting Cook, Robinson escorting Hooke, Maurice Patoine escorting Johnstone, and Michael Whittemore escorting Thayer. Fountain, the daughter of Tammy and Mark Fountain of Springfield, plans to attend Stonehill College in Massachusetts and study pre-law. Her older sister Ashley Fountain was Apple Blossom queen in 2009. Fountain was crowned by 2011 Queen Chelsea Howland, who herself had joined her older sister Elizabeth, who was queen in 2007. The 17 couples practiced every Sunday afternoon since January. The cotillion is a fundraiser for the Springfield Hospital Foundation and helps fund its annual scholarships as well as healthy-eating programs in area schools. Saturday’s performance marked the end of a nine-year run as cotillion directors for Carrie Jewell and Pam Church, who are stepping down. Master of ceremonies Larry Kraft presented the two directors with bouquets of flowers as well as engraved Simon Pearce bowls as a thanks for all their dedication to the young people of the Springfield area. The senior girls are judged for poise and appearance, coordination and performance, as well as their conversational ability and personality during the judges’ interview.