When Princess Emily Gerig thinks of the 1980s, she thinks about the television show “Saved By The Bell.”
“This show didn’t come out till the end of the ’80s but all of the style screams the ’80s to me,” she said. “Vibrant colors, cropped shirts, ’80s-style jeans, all of it was amazing to me and I loved growing up watching the show.”
Gerig, 17, a senior at Lebanon High School, is a member of the chamber and a cappella choirs, both of which are competition choirs through LHS. She is slated as one of this year’s valedictorians, and works as a quality assurance administrative assistant at National Frozen Foods.
Her parents are Tim and Susan Gerig, and she has four younger sisters: Natalie, Caitlin, Alivia and Kylie.
Her summertime pleasure is combining, a job she’s been doing since she was a freshman.
“Jamming out to the radio in my combine is always fun, even if I keep hearing the same songs on repeat for weeks straight,” she said.
She plans on dual enrolling at Linn-Benton Community College and Oregon State University, majoring in elementary education so she can become a K-2 teacher.
Gerig likes to spend her “me time” every day by reading. She chooses fantasy stories and other “amazing adventures” that can’t be found in the real world.
“My favorite way to unwind after a hectic day is to cuddle up in my bed with a good book and some milk chocolate,” she said. “I always make sure that all of my pillows are in just the right spot for optimum comfort while I binge on books and chocolate.”
She also enjoys cooking and baking – and often makes dinner for the family – and likes fabric arts (knitting, sewing, crocheting). She learned how to knit/sew/crochet at an early age while participating in 4-H under her grandmother’s leadership.
“I got to a point that I was competing against myself, since no one else was in my division,” she said. “I then started to put any items that I made into the open category at the Linn County Fair.”
During her time in 4-H from age 5 to fifth grade, she won multiple placements for her entries, including medallions for the Fab Five Award and Fair Board Choice.
But aside from these momentary diversions, Gerig’s rooted passion lies in her faith. She grew up going to church, but really started realizing her need for God as she got older.
“I always knew that he was important to me, but I didn’t understand how important he is to me until life started to get harder,” she said.
She enjoys sharing about the impact Jesus has made on her life, and stays involved in church activities by leading Sunday and Vacation Bible School worship times.
When she’s free on weekends, Gerig appreciates being able to spend time with her family – which often involves playing board and card games. And she’ll always have fond memories of visiting her grandma’s house on Sunday nights to play games with her cousins.
Family is also where she finds her heroes, including her dad who, she said, has the ability to think things through before he acts.
“I have always been inspired to be like him and I honestly don’t know how he survived being in a house with five daughters and my mom, but he takes it all in stride,” Gerig said.
“He might not understand us all the time, but I know he loves us all very much and I honestly don’t know what I would do without him. Life wouldn’t be right if my dad wasn’t in my life, and I am so thankful that he is always there to support me and help me think things through when I don’t know what to do.”
But now, as a royal member of the Strawberry Festival Princess Court, Gerig has her own responsibility to be an inspiration to others. The honor and privilege has shown her many new ways she can be more involved in the community, but it also showed her how loving and caring people are to each other.
“What I love about Lebanon is how involved so many people are with their communities,” she said. “Everyone I have met really wants to do what’s best for Lebanon and the people who live here. They care about making lasting relationships with people who they truly want to have in their lives.”