SPRINGVILLE — Members of the Springville Museum of Art Royalty hold a position of prestige, honor and opportunity in Springville and carry on a Springville tradition.

Students at the high school first chose art royalty in 1907. The junior high and high school grades were combined then, and the students were raising money to purchase paintings or sculpture for the museum's permanent collection.

A girl was nominated from each class, and the class that raised the most money would get to have their representative be art queen.

Mary Jane Palfreyman was in the seventh grade at Springville High in 1957 when she won. "I remember it being very exciting! I was so flattered. I got a new formal to wear, and they took my picture along with the other five Art Queen representatives. It was a big deal, and it was such an honor being with the older girls."

"The art was a big deal," Palfreyman said. "Being the art queen gave a great exposure to art. I love the museum still. As Art Queen, I gained a connection to the museum. My favorite artist was Marguerite S. Pearson. I wrote my English theme on her art every year."

Although selecting the Art Royalty is a tradition in Springville's history, the procedure has changed throughout the years.

When Christi C. Babbitt was crowned in 1983, she had competed for the position with other sophomores and juniors from Springville High. Babbitt, a former Deseret Morning News writer, credits her win to her parents who often took her to the museum and acquainted her with Springville's artistic heritage.

"When the judges asked me what my favorite painting was in the museum, I was able to answer because I had been to the museum so often while growing up," Babbitt said. "As art queen, I got to perform musical numbers at many civic events and volunteer time at the museum. I still love going there, and I'm proud to have served as Art Queen."

Today, girls competing for Art Royalty fill out applications where they list their school and extracurricular activities, service, involvement in arts-related activities and describe how they would promote the museum.

Finalists are chosen on the basis of the applications and are invited to a brunch, where the girls demonstrate a talent in front of a panel of judges and meet the judges in a private interview. The Art Royalty is then announced at the Art Ball.

The art queen serves as an officer at the Junior Art Guild and receives a $200 scholarship. The other royalty members receive a $100 scholarship.

Camille Harlan, a junior at Springville High School, who played a violin solo for the judges, is the current queen. She ran for art queen because of the scholarship and so she could add to her resume. "It sounded really interesting and I wanted to be more involved with the museum. I love the experience I am getting and I enjoy meeting new people and artists."