The North Carolina Apple Festival, Inc. is pleased to announce its Apple Ambassador for 2019. The Apple Ambassador represents the Festival and at other events across the State. Each year, the Festival selects its Ambassador from local rising high school seniors.
Students are required to submit their transcripts, 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. This scholarship honors Ms. Hill, who served as the Secretary of the North Carolina Apple Growers for many years. She was serving as the President of the North Carolina Apple Festival, when she passed away in 2004.
The 2019 Apple Ambassador is Kaitylyn Hart Ledbetter. Ms. Ledbetter is homeschooled and is currently enrolled at Blue Ridge Community College in their American Sign Language Program. She will receive a $2,000 college scholarship. Her parents are Scott and Heather Ledbetter.
The Runner-up is Sienna Rose Padilla, who is a rising senior at West Henderson High School. Her parents are Dismas and Angela Padilla. She will receive a $1,000 college scholarship.
Our appreciation goes out to all of our wonderful applicants. Their names and schools are as follows.
School Representatives
Erin Rose Blankenship-North Henderson High School
Carolyn Elizabeth Walker - North Henderson High School
Lauren Elizabeth Wilkie -East Henderson High School
Sydney Lynn Lowder - East Henderson High School
Autumn Desiree Freeman - Hendersonville High School
Sofia A. Escobar - Hendersonville High School
