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N.C. Apple Festival announces 2020 ambassador

Emma Elizabeth Gilliam was named NC Apple Festival Ambassador for 2020.

By Lightning Reports, Published: July 2, 2020

Emma Elizabeth Gilliam, a rising senior at East Henderson High School and the daughter of Maggie and Bruce Gilliam, has been named the Apple Ambassador for 2020, the North Carolina Apple Festival announced.

 The Apple Ambassador represents the Festival and at other events across the state and receives a $2,000 scholarship. Each year, the Festival selects the ambassador from local rising high school seniors.

Students are required to submit academic 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 runner-up is Haley Nicole Hargus, who is also a rising senior at East Henderson High School. Her parents are Beverly and Greg Hargus. She will receive a $1,000 college scholarship.

The Apple Ambassador and runner-up receive the Evelyn Lutz Hill Memorial Scholarship, which honors the longtime 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.

Other applicants were:

• Samantha Ruth Matteson - Hendersonville High School
• Hannah Rebecca King - West Henderson High School
• Laurel Ashlyn Welch - West Henderson High School
• Halli Brynna Laughter - North Henderson High School
• Kimberly Chen Holden - North Henderson High School

Although the festival board announced last week that it had called off the N.C. Apple Festival street fair and parade because of the pandemic, it said promotions of apple sales, apple standa and U-pick orchards would go on.