Rose Festival Court Scholarship Increases to $7,000
Portland high schoolers face new district-based selection rules for the 2027 court and increased award amounts.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Scholarships
Live Poll
Do you support moving youth program recruitment from individual schools to regional districts?
The Portland Rose Festival Foundation is transitioning its selection process for the Rose Festival Court from individual high schools to a geographic district-based model starting in 2027. This change aims to expand access for eligible high school students across the Portland metro area.
Why it matters
By moving to a district-based model, the foundation seeks to increase equity and broaden opportunities for participation among students who may not have had access through the previous school-specific system. The scholarship award for each court member has also increased to $7,000, up from $5,000.
The new court will consist of six members rather than the former 15 princesses, with each receiving a $7,000 scholarship. Applicants must be juniors or seniors residing in Multnomah, Clackamas, or Washington counties with a 2.75 GPA and 20 hours of community service.
The players
Portland Rose Festival Foundation
The organization that manages the Rose Festival and the annual selection process for the student court.
The Randall Group
The presenting sponsor of the Rose Festival Court that funds the increased $7,000 scholarship awards.
The details
Candidates are now evaluated based on leadership, community involvement, and their connection to the festival rather than school nomination. A students home address will determine their eligible geographic district for a court position. The foundation manages the application process, which requires verification of service hours and academic performance to ensure all participants meet the minimum 2.75 GPA requirement.
Timeline
1930: The Rose Festival Court program began.
December 2, 2026: Applications open for the 2027 court.
2027: The new district-based selection process begins.
Week of March 15, 2027: Court members are scheduled to be announced.
Education Landscape
This transition marks a departure from the 1930 launch of the Rose Festival Court program, which relied on individual high school nominations for decades. The move reflects broader trends in local scholarship programs seeking to standardize selection processes for greater regional equity.
High school juniors and seniors living in Multnomah, Clackamas, or Washington counties can apply beginning December 2, 2026. Interested students should review the eligibility requirements and prepare to document 20 hours of community service and their current 2.75 GPA.
The takeaway
The transition to a district-based model simplifies the path to participation while increasing the financial support available to court members. Students should begin tracking their community service hours now to ensure they meet the 20-hour requirement before applications open in December.
Further reading
Learn more about local funding opportunities in our Scholarships guide.
More information
For full details on eligibility and the upcoming application launch, visit the Rose Festival eligibility and application portal.
Live Poll
Do you support moving youth program recruitment from individual schools to regional districts?
