Queen Contest

2025 Candidates

From left to right:
Bethany Gamino - Kiwanis Club of Guadalupe
Samantha McDonald - Children's Resource and Referral
Brianna Hill - Saints Football Boosters
Rylee McGinley - St. Joseph High School

2025 Elks Queen Candidate, Bethany Gamino

My name is Bethany Gamino, and I am honored to be representing the Kiwanis Club of Guadalupe as their 2025 Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Queen Candidate.

I am 16 years old, and I am a Junior at Pioneer Valley High School where I’ve maintained a 3.9 GPA. I have been involved in Track and Field and various Christian clubs on campus that teach me to love God and love others. I love to sing and play the guitar and piano. I am currently one of the youth worship leaders at my church and involved with their children’s ministry. I plan to attend Allan Hancock College and then transfer to Cal State Long Beach to obtain my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. My mother works in the medical field, and I plan to follow in her footsteps to care for and support others in their time of need.

I am grateful for this opportunity to represent a wonderful organization that shares my love and passion for serving the community and especially the youth. It is the mission of Kiwanis Club of Guadalupe to support various clubs, sports, schools, youth, churches, and community senior center and I long to have that same dedication of improving the world one child and one community at a time.

I want to thank my family and my grandfather, David Rodriguez, for his dedication as a longtime member of Kiwanis of Guadalupe, and for leaving a legacy of service and teaching me the honor of putting others above myself.

For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/GuadalupeKiwanisElksRodeo...

2025 Elks Queen Candidate, Brianna Hill

Hi my name is Brianna Hill, and I am extremely honored to represent the Saints Football Boosters organization as their Queen Candidate for this year’s Santa Maria Elks Rodeo. I am 18 years old and a senior at Santa Maria High School. Throughout high school, I have played and competed at the varsity level for softball and basketball, two sports I am passionate about. After graduation, my goal is to further my education by attending a four-year university where I can continue playing sports and obtain a degree in pediatric medicine. Any scholarships I win from this competition will be used towards my education to become a pediatrician, so that I can come back and support the community that supported me throughout my life.

Both of my parents served in the armed forces, and I grew up seeing the sacrifices both of them have made for our country and my life. As I embark on this journey, I want to share the values my parents have instilled in me, which is to always stand up for what I believe in. This year, I will represent the Santa Maria Saints Football Boosters and the American GI Forum Education Foundation. Both organizations value the importance of helping those in our community and supporting the families that make this city so wonderful. I am excited to share my journey with each person in our community, and I would love to be named your 2025 Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Queen!

2025 Elks Queen Candidate, Samantha McDonald

Hi, my name is Samantha McDonald and I am honored to be the 2025 Elks Rodeo Queen Candidate representing Children's Resource and Referral. I have the privilege of sharing with our community the resources that CRR provides by helping develop strong and healthy families.

I am a 17-year-old senior at Righetti High School and have a 4.7 GPA. I currently serve as President for the Righetti FFA chapter and Vineyard 4-H club. I am an active member of the National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation, Early Academic Outreach Program, Key Club, and ASTRA. In addition, I'm a student athlete and play for Righetti's varsity tennis team, and compete competitively in English horse riding.

Giving back to my community and being able to help make a difference in the lives of others is a part of who I am. Since the age of 13, I have raised puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Each year throughout high school I've been the girl with the dog, always having a puppy by my side. I've successfully raised three dogs and am currently raising my 4th puppy in training.

This spring, I plan to graduate from Allan Hancock College with three associate degrees, one month prior to receiving my high school diploma. After high school, I plan to attend a 4-year university and major in nursing. I am blessed to have the continual support of my family, friends, and community. Thank you!

2025 Elks Queen Candidate, Rylee McGinley

I am excited to introduce myself as your 2025 Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Queen Candidate! My name is Rylee McGinley, and I am 18 years old, currently a senior at St. Joseph High School. I am actively involved in a variety of activities that showcase my leadership, creativity, and passion for our school and community.

As the Vice President of the California Scholarship Federation and the Treasurer of the National Honor Society, I have had the opportunity to organize many events over the past three years, including pickleball tournaments and an International Food Fair. Alongside my academic dedication, I serve as the Captain of the Varsity Cheer and the Stunt team.

Looking ahead, I plan to attend a four-year university to pursue a career in pediatric nursing. My deepest goal in life is to spread love and kindness and to ensure that all children have equal opportunities for a bright future. I am incredibly honored to be chosen as the Rodeo Queen Candidate and am eager to continue my Aunt Roxy Leppo's legacy, who was crowned the Elks

Rodeo Queen in 1972. I am excited about this campaign, which will support children in obtaining a quality education just like I received at St. Joseph High School. It is important to me that financial barriers do not prevent any child from receiving a quality education.

By fundraising for tuition assistance, we can create a more inclusive and equitable educational environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive.

For more information, visit: https://sjhsrodeoqueen.com/

2024 Elks Queen, Tori Ortiz

Hi, my name is Tori Ortiz and I am 18 years old. I was born with optic nerve hypoplasia which caused blindness from birth. Even though I have no vision, it has never stopped me from seeing the world. Currently, I am a senior at Righetti High School. I take pride in being involved in my school including the Warrior Goat program. The program allows students with disabilities to be paired up with a mentor and learn the skills necessary to raise and show goats at the Santa Barbara County Fair, at no cost to them. In July 2023, I won grand champion goat and was top of my class in intermediate showmanship with my breeding doe, who was named Pearl.

After high school I plan to go to community college, transferring afterward to California Polytechnic State University where I will study animal science. My goal in life is to show that people who are blind can achieve their dreams, no matter how big they are. VTC Enterprises is an organization that helps enrich the lives of adults with disabilities by teaching them vocational skills. . I am honored that VTC Enterprises chose me as their Rodeo Queen Candidate for 2024.

Never in my life did I think that my dream of being a Rodeo Queen Candidate for VTC Enterprises would come true. It will be a fun campaign and a very educational experience for me, my family, and my community. Through my campaign I hope to spread awareness about blindness and about adults with developmental disabilities. I also hope to raise a lot of money for VTC and of course, my ultimate dream is to be crowned Rodeo Queen.

For more information, visit: https://vtcrodeoqueen.com/

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