SUBMITTED PHOTO Arizona Cherry Blossom Princess and UA alumna Sunita Krishna and Congressman Jim Kolbe pose for the camera before meeting the Japanese foreign ambassador last week.

Wearing her sash and crown at all times, UA grad Sunita Krishna spent last week representing the state of Arizona at the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C.

As the reigning 2003 Arizona Cherry Blossom Princess, Krishna, along with 55 other state and territory representatives, spent the week participating in festival celebrations. The almost century-old celebration commemorates Japan's gift of 3,000 trees to the people of Washington, D.C.

Krishna, who works as a staff assistant for Sen. John Kyl in Washington, graduated from UA in 2002 with her bachelor's degree in political science. Prior to attending UA, Krishna attended elementary school and high school in Yuma.

"They really wanted to pick someone with strong ties to the state," said Krishna, who said she was coaxed into submitting an application by a co-worker in the district.

A resume, essay and two photographs later, Krishna surpassed her competition and landed the Arizona Cherry Blossom Princess title. She said she considered herself lucky because she already lived in the Washington, D.C. area and therefore didn't have to travel far for the competition.

Among the festivities of the weeklong celebration, which ran March 29 ÷ April 5, Krishna met First Lady Laura Bush on a White House tour, had dinner at the home of the Japanese ambassador and attended a congressional reception with her personal escort, Arizona Congressman Jim Kolbe.

"I got to hobnob with interesting people I wouldn't regularly be able to," said Krishna, who added that the best part of the weeklong event was that the princesses were chauffeured to every event in a large bus escorted by police officers.

"We were treated like royalty," Krishna said.

The weeklong celebration closed with a black-tie gala in which the National Cherry Blossom Festival Queen was chosen simply by the spinning of a wheel.

"The odds were about 1 in 50, so I honestly didn't think I would win," Krishna said.

Despite the uncompetitive nature of the queen selection process, many contestants treated it like a competition, but not Krishna, according to New Mexico's Cherry Blossom Princess, Chrissy Davidson.

"She was very down to earth and really just there to have a good time," said Davidson, who befriended Krishna at the festival.

"She's just an overall great girl. She's poised, positive and was very energetic about being there," Davidson said.

Although Krishna experienced many things throughout the week, luck was not one of them, in the end, when Virginia's Cherry Blossom Princess won the nation spin.

As the reigning 2003 National Cherry Blossom Princess, the winner will travel to Japan for two weeks to partake a series of celebrations and conferences.

Krishna said that although a trip to Japan would have been nice, it would have complicated her already busy work schedule.

"I had a great time, so I' not disappointed I didn't win," Krishna said.

Besides mingling with the elite crowd in Washington, Krishna said she was just really proud to represent the state of Arizona.

"I was raised in Arizona, so it was great to be a part of such an event where I could represent our great state," Krishna said.

"It was something I will remember for the rest of my life," she said.