Princesses: 1953-2009/ Youth Ambassadors: 2010-future

2010 Youth Ambassador of the Year
Alper Camur – Turkey

2010 Youth Ambassador Team Award
Led by Lindsay Shook
Andrei Vlasie - Romania
Miriam Novotna – Slovakia
Marina Arroyo - Spain
Alper Camur - Turkey
Callum Thomson – United Kingdom
Janelle Wilson – United States

While the Most Honored Nation serves as a focal point for Festival programs and activities, the goal of the Festival is to recognize all NATO member nations, and the hundreds of international families who call Hampton Roads home while working in service to the Alliance. 

Beginning in the 1950s, the Festival honored and recognized the 12 original NATO member nations by hosting a Court of young ladies, in addition to Queen Azalea.  Each member of the court was selected by a senior NATO officer, to serve as the representative from her country to the Festival. Over the years, the Festival has hosted the Court for a number of programs, activities and events, as a way to introduce and welcome them to the Norfolk community. 

In 2009, the Festival introduced a new program to benefit the children of NATO officers living in Hampton Roads, far from home, school, and friends.  The Youth Ambassador program is open to high school students, ages 14-19, both male and female.  The Youth Ambassador to the Festival is selected by the National Liaison Representative from each NATO member nation.  Where no age appropriate student is available from within the nation’s delegation to NATO, the Festival will identify a Youth Ambassador on behalf of that nation.

The Youth Ambassador Program is a community-service based opportunity for students to engage with their local community here in the United States.  Community-service opportunities for Youth Ambassadors include:

• Reading with NPS elementary school students
• Volunteering with the Southside Boys & Girls Club
• Volunteering with Nauticus
• Submitting your own public service project

The Festival will continue to host special activities and events for the Youth Ambassadors throughout the school year as a way to welcome them to their new home in Virginia.