By Debbie Adams
The 2025 Vinton Dogwood Festival Queen will be crowned by Mayor Brad Grose at noon on April 26.
The Dogwood Court is traditionally made up of 10 seniors from William Byrd High School who
are nominated by the faculty. They are interviewed during the morning of the Dogwood Festival
by a panel of judges, who then select the queen. The new queen receives a $750 scholarship from
the Dogwood Festival Committee. After she is crowned, the new queen and her court ride
through the streets of downtown Vinton in horse-drawn carriages.
The young women vying for this year’s title of Vinton Dogwood Festival Queen are Ava
Ashworth, Brooke Brant, Camryn Dullaghan, Emily Anne Fisher, Hannah Janney, Jada Johnson,
Raelyn Lancaster, Kaylee Makuch, Meera Raichura, and Emma Rupe.
Ava Ashworth is the president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a member of the Beta
Club, DECA Club, Leo Club, and Young Life. She has served as captain of the William Byrd
volleyball team, was named to First Team All-District her senior year and received Regional
Honorable Mention.
Her future plans include attending Virginia Tech to major in Elementary Education. Her hobbies
include baking, spending time with friends and family, working out, and playing pickleball. She
works at the Bonsack Baptist Church preschool and Green Ridge Recreation Center. She also
helps coach volleyball camps for children in the Roanoke Valley. Her parents are Andrew and
Emilie Ashworth.
Brooke Brant is a member of the Terrier TV Club whose staff members meet each Thursday to
film announcements for Friday’s “News Broadcast.” As a junior, she joined the Art Club. She is
an A/B Honor Roll student.
Her future plans are to attend a university to obtain a Bachelors’ in Biology and work with
science and animals “for the rest of my life.” Her hobbies include drawing, cooking, working
out, gaming, and listening to music.
As for other facts about herself, Brant says she is “kind of shy at first. I am an animal lover; I’m
nice but slightly introverted, social when I get to know people, and am shocked, yet totally
blessed to be a part of this event.” Her parents are Andy and Crystal Brant.
Camryn Dullaghan has been a member of the Yearbook staff for all four years of high school,
this year serving as Editor in Chief. She is also a member of the FCA (grades 9-12), Byrd
Buddies (9-12, president this year), a member of the SCA (grades 9-12), Habitat for Humanity
(10-12), and Announcements (9-12). She was a Junior Marshal last year. Now in her senior year,
she is a member of the Reindeer Club, Teachers for Tomorrow, the Beta Club, DECA, and
Morgan’s Message (secretary).
She plans to attend Virginia Tech and double major in Business and Psychology. She then hopes
to attend seminary. Her ultimate goal is to be the lead pastor of a church.
Her hobbies include playing piano, cooking and baking, and hanging out with friends and family.
Dullaghan is actively involved with her church group and currently in her fifth semester as an
intern for her church– Journey Church Roanoke.
She is the daughter of Mike and Lisa Dullaghan and has three older sisters.
Emily Anne Fisher has participated in indoor and outdoor track in grades 9-12. She has also
been a member of the DECA Club for all four years, the SCA in 10th grade, the Leo Club as a
sophomore and junior, Beta Club and NSHSS this year as a senior.
She plans to attend Virginia Tech and major in Elementary Education.
She has danced for 12 years at Studio 45 and competed for nine of those years.
“I love working with children,” Fisher said. “I have worked at the Orchard Hills Day School for
two years and I am also working at the YMCA’s Stay and Play.”
She is the daughter of David Fisher.
Hannah Janney has been a member of the volleyball team at Byrd from 9 th to 11 th grade and the
basketball from 9 th to 12 th grade (captain her junior and senior year). She has also been a member
of the lacrosse team and track team. She is a member of a variety of different clubs including the
Beta Club, FCA, Leo, and International Clubs. She has participated in FCA, Leo, and SCA for
all four years of high school.
Janney plans to attend a four-year university and study animal science.
“Growing up, I have always had a deep love for animals, so my dream job is to work with and
help animals and their owners who are in need.”
Her hobbies include “anything outdoors, especially with my dogs” and being with family and
friends. She also enjoys singing and is active in her church and youth group.
“Through my involvement in church, school clubs, and volunteering at the animal shelter, I have
been able to participate in food drives, donations, community clean-ups, and other activities. I
have also served at the Rescue Mission and that has allowed me to interact with the surrounding
community, which has taught me many things including the significance of giving back to my
community.”
Her parents are Chris and Tina Janney.
Jada Johnson has played William Byrd varsity basketball, 2021-2025. She played varsity
lacrosse in 2021 and 2023. She is a member of FCA, Younglife, Student Voices, DECA, the Leo
Club, and Byrd Buddies. She also gives underclassmen tours and Central Office tours.
She plans to attend a four-year university and major in Biology in order to become an
orthodontist.
Her hobbies include working out, being outdoors, organizing/cleaning, and reading.
Some other facts Jade has shared include: “I am a believer in Jesus! I am also left-handed and
was born in North Carolina. I am the youngest of three (who are two boys). I am extremely
motivated and persevere through challenges. I have maintained a 4.0+ GPA and have been
nominated all four years to be on the Homecoming Court!” Last fall she was crowned as
Homecoming Queen 2024.
Her parents are Tony Johnson and Coleen Johnson.
Raelyn Lancaster is captain of the volleyball team, where she has played all four years of high
school, and was named twice to Second Team All-District, and also plays girls soccer (grades 9-
12). She was selected for Junior Marshal last year and is on track to becoming a valedictorian in
the Class of 2025 and to taking the biliteracy test in Spanish.
She is a member of the Leo Club (grades 9-12, currently secretary), an officer in the Fellowship
of Christian Athletes (grades 9-12), and a member of the International Club (grades 10-12), the
SCA (grades 9-12), the Beta Club, New Life Christian Ministries and a Class Representative as a
junior and senior. She has played for four years on the Roanoke United Volleyball Club (all high
level).
She plans to study finance to become a financial advisor. In addition, she would like to open a
drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.
Her hobbies include hiking, reading the Bible, going to the gym, fishing, and paddleboarding.
Raelyn is a Lead Guide at Tree-top Quest.
Her parents are Chad Lancaster and Lori Lancaster.
Kaylee Makuch has played both girls varsity volleyball and basketball since 2021, serving as
captain for two seasons. She was named 2 nd Team in All-District Volleyball as a senior. She has
also played lacrosse since 2023. She is a member of the International Club, the Deca Club, the
Leo Club, the FCA, and the Reindeer Club. She is a member of Senior Council and was
elected/inducted last fall into the National Beta Club. She spent three summers as a student intern
at Universal Health Corporation.
She plans to attend a four-year university to major in biological sciences. She is on track to
graduate as a valedictorian and take her biliteracy test.
She enjoys traveling, shopping, playing sports, and spending time with friends.
Her parents are Jamie Hawse (Ron) and Bryan Makuch.
Meera Raichura attends both William Byrd and the Roanoke Valley Governor’s School and is
an independent researcher at Virginia Tech’s Plant Science Department. She has been a member
of the SCA since 2023 and is currently vice president. She is currently president of the Pre-Med
Club, and vice president of the RCPS Student Advisory Council. She also belongs to the Leo
Club, Student Voice, and the Beta Club. She is a volunteer with the Vinton First Aid Crew and
LewisGale Medical Center. She was a Universal Health Corporation intern in the summer of
2023, a podcast founder, a member of the Prom Committee, and part of the Gifted Program.
Meera played volleyball for WBHS for all four years and participated in track for two years
(2022-2023).
She plans to attend the University of Virginia as an Echols Scholar and double major in
sociology and chemistry on the pre-med track. She is on track to graduate as a valedictorian.
She enjoys playing pickleball, hiking, art, traveling, and spending time with family and friends,
and is in the process of planning a “mock accident” for prom.
Her mother is Mital Datani; her father is Madhav Raichura.
Emma Rupe was recently named the DAR Good Citizen of the Year. She is president of the Leo
Club, where she has been a member for three years. She has served on the SCA for four years,
the Yearbook staff for three years (design editor this year), the Reindeer Club, and the Beta Club,
and played lacrosse for two years.
She plans to attend James Madison University to major in Media Arts and Design and minor in
Environmental Sciences.
She enjoys reading, volunteering, hiking, and photography. She attends Vinton Baptist Church,
along with the youth group. She volunteers at the Rescue Mission and works at Chris’s Coffee
and Custard as support staff.
Her parents are Amanda and Christopher Rupe.
