Life

Apple Festival names 2017 Apple Ambassador

Miranda Burleson

By Bill Moss, Published: June 21, 2017

A North Henderson High School student has been named Apple Ambassador for this year's North Carolina Apple Festival.

The Apple Ambassador, Miranda Rachel Burleson, is the daugher of Andrea Staton-Jacklin and Chris Burleson.

The runner-up is Alexandra “Lexi” M. Iurato, who attends West Henderson High School. Her parents are Bob Iurato and the late Tracy Iurato.

The other participants and their high school this year were:

— Lauren Alecia Maybin (East Henderson)
— Sydney Noel Allison (East Henderson)
— Virginia Frances Teel (Hendersonville)
— Emma Coston Laughter (Hendersonville)
— Annie Grace Plott (North Henderson)
— Shannon Elizabeth Sellers (West Henderson).

Students are required to submit transcripts and list of activities, provide letters of recommendation and write an essay on the Apple Festival and the importance of the apple industry to this area. The Apple Ambassador is selected based on this information and through an interview process.

The Apple Ambassador and runner-up are awarded the Evelyn Lutz Hill Memorial Scholarship, named for the longtime  secretary of the North Carolina Apple Growers. Hill was serving as the president of the North Carolina Apple Festival, when she passed away in 2004.