Barnum Festival Completes Royal Family,

Naming King & Queen and Prince & Princess

April 4, 2005 ? The Barnum Festival completed its Royal Family, Naming the 2005 King and Queen and Prince and Princess Sunday at the Holiday Inn in Bridgeport.

Ana Rosa of Bridge Academy in Bridgeport and John Harry of Bunnell, Stratford were crowned the 57^th Queen and King respectively. Alicia Condon of Bunnell and Matt VosBurgh of Fairfield-Warde were named the Princess and Prince respectively.

The winners were selected from a talented group of 34 area high school juniors who must rank in the top 20 percent of their class and be involved in community and school extra curricula activities. A panel of judges interviewed the candidates to make a final decision. Bridgeport Hospital was the title sponsor of the event.

The four high school juniors finish the Royal Family, joining Ringmaster Jim Carbone and Matthew Riina of Trumbull representing Tom Thumb and Shanice Maxwell of Bridgeport representing Lavinia Warren.

Rosa, a New Haven resident, made up her mind to be herself and hope that was enough to impress the judges. Rosa, 18, attended a high school in the Bronx, NY last year before moving to New Haven to live with her aunt. ?I?m excited to get started,? Rosa said. ?It?s such an honor. I was confident in myself to just be me.?

Harry, 16, thought his chances were slim to be named king after Condon from the same school was first crowned. Captain of the Bulldogs football team, Harry was looking forward to taking part in the more than 30 Festival events during 2005.

?I was overjoyed to be named the King, but never thought it would happen after Alicia was crowned the Princess,? Harry said. ?I didn?t think they would choose two people from the same school. I can?t believe it.?

Condon, 16, has an impressive list of accomplishments that caught the judges? eyes. She runs track and cross country, co-president of the Volunteer Club and a member of the National Honor Society.

?All the candidates are amazing people,? Condon said. ?I guess I said the right things in my interview. I tried to be outgoing and positive.?

VosBurgh, 16, is a computer whiz, who designed a software program with his friend that allows students to access their grades online, which they donated to Fairfield-Warde. ?I came here hoping I had a chance,? VosBurgh said. ?I?ve met some great people from all these schools. It?s already been a great experience.?

Elaine Ficarra, chair of the event, said it was a difficult decision as it is every year to choose four candidates from a talented field.

?It?s a difficult choice since the kids are all so talented,? Ficarra said. ?They are all great representatives of their schools. Our judges really have a tough job and think though their decision.?

The Barnum Festival began in 1949 and remains one of the longest running festivals in the country. The Festival celebrates the family, fun and tradition of the Greater Bridgeport area. For more details, call the Festival at 203-367-8495 or visit www.barnumfestival.com.