In Roselle, children don’t need to turn to television or movies to find a role model, they have one right in town.

Recent Lake Park High School graduate Stephanie Reninger, the 2008 Rose Queen, has spent much of her summer representing the village at many local events.

“I’m asked to attend the Fourth of July parade and fireworks, National Night Out and Taste of Roselle,”  Reninger said.

Another part of her duties involves interacting with children.

“The role of the Rose Queen has evolved over the years,” Roselle Village Clerk Linda McDermott said. “Now we ask her to take on the part of a role model as well.”

McDermott helps organize the pageant, which is sponsored by the village and the Roselle Chamber of Commerce in May.

Reninger attends graduations for DARE, an anti-drug program for students, and was the headliner at Tea with the Queen, where she met with kids at the library, she said.

“Getting to work with the kids is very rewarding,” stated Reninger. “They see the Rose Queen and see that if they work hard, they can aspire to be something.”

Reninger graduated from Lake Park High School in June and is attending classes at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., this fall, she said.

She plans on majoring in business with an English minor, she added.

Reninger also is interested in cycling and drama and plans to continue these interests in college.

While at Lake Park High School, Reninger was the captain of the speech team and was part of a competitive drama team that advanced to the state level in March 2008, she stated.

Reninger entered the Rose Queen Pageant after hearing about friends’ experiences in it the previous year, she said.

“And I talked with the (2007) Rose Queen Elizabeth Necka and she told me about the people she met and how good it felt to get involved with the community,” Reninger said.

She was chosen in part because she, “interviewed well, was quick on her feet during the question and answer part and she gave an excellent monologue as her talent,” McDermott explained.

Besides becoming the Rose Queen, Reninger also received a $2,000 scholarship.

Reninger said she has found her experience as the Rose Queen to be very rewarding and has connected with the community in a different way.

One of her best memories so far was arriving at Roselle’s National Night Out this month via helicopter, she said.

“It was astounding getting to see Roselle from a different vantage point, coming to greet the people in that way,” she added.