By Erik Hidle, Peninsula Daily News
PORT TOWNSEND — A computer glitch is being blamed for a yearlong error in which the wrong young woman reigned as Rhododendron Festival queen last year.
Dana Perkins spent the year as Rhody queen, representing Port Townsend and Jefferson County at numerous parades and events until she crowned the 2008 queen earlier this month.
But the 2007 queen should have been Chelsea Benner, a Chimacum High School classmate of Perkins, according to computer data discovered while preparing for this month's coronation.
Both will go into the books as 2007 co-queens, and Benner will receive the $1,500 scholarship money that accompanies the Rhody title, plus the queen's regalia.
Perkins will keep her scholarship money, too.
"It was the matrix we used," said Stacy Richards, festival president.
"Unfortunately, an error in the way the formula was entered into the [computer] program dropped a score."
While preparing for the 2008 coronation, members of the festival re-examined the 2007 scoring system, which was stored in an Excel computer document.
To their shock, they found an error: The scoring algorithm failed to add in one of Benner's four judged categories at the March 3, 2007, coronation.
It calculated Benner finishing in fourth place — behind Queen Perkins and Princesses Brianna Rondeau and Katreena Minnihan.
When the correct score added back in, Benner moved to first place, with the other three contestants moving down in the results.
Richards said that after discovering the error, a meeting was held with the festival association board.
"We met, discussed what we needed to do and decided she would be known as co-queen and also given the scholarship and the crown," Richards said.
No changes are being made to the scholarships or status of the 2007 royalty other than Benner's elevation to co-queen.
Other opportunities
Benner said Wednesday was shocked to hear the news, then added: "I'm not upset about it at all.
"Things happen for a reason. By not winning the first time and by not doing the parades, I had opportunities open up for me over the summer."
In some of her speeches, Benner talked about her involvement in Future Farmers of America and 4-H.
After last year's coronation, a local farmer gave her the opportunity of showing cattle and goats.
"It all worked out," she said.
Told before coronation
Benner was informed about the mistake on March 13, two days before the 2008 coronation.
The members of the festival board and Benner both decided it would be best to wait and reveal the news after the 2008 coronation, at which Rachael Wiles was named queen.
Wiles was crowned by Perkins at ceremonies at Chimacum High School.
"I didn't want to take away from the royalty who got it this year," Benner said.
Perkins is on a family vacation and unavailable for comment.
Richards said she has been impressed with Benner's response.
"Her first concern was for Dana," Richards said.
"She handled this exceptionally well.
"I have lots of admiration and respect for her, for the way she handled this kind of news.
"I don't know how I would handle that. It shows what kind of person she is."
Benner said she talked to Perkins on Tuesday evening — just before Perkins and her family left on the vacation.
She gave Benner her congratulations and was dealing with the situation well, Benner said.
Richards said the problem with the scoring system was fixed before this year's coronation — certifying that Wiles is, indeed, the 2008 queen.
"We are not holding one person accountable for this," Richards said.
"It's a very sensitive subject, but it was a mistake."
Richards said from now on, the board will have two people add scores separately to make sure a mathematical error doesn't occur again.
"We feel we have done what we can to make this right," Richards said.
"But she did miss out on a full year of being queen."
Benner has been invited to take part in some parades this year, but she said she's not yet sure if she will.
"I don't really want to take anything away from this court," Benner said.
"It's their year, and I am not upset.
"This was definitely a positive experience after all."
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.