Both Patrice and Naliesha immersed themselves in the life of Gonzaga Prep in ways that reflect the school’s commitment to forming the whole person. Naliesha has been actively involved in service and justice immersions, campus ministry, and track and field—experiences that have shaped both her leadership and her sense of purpose. Patrice brought that same energy to her time at Prep, participating in Ancilla, ASB, debate, fashion board, pep club, and National Honor Society. Through these commitments, each found opportunities to grow in confidence, build community, and discover how their gifts could be placed in service of others.

Patrice still remembers the uncertainty surrounding that first year of co-education. The closing of Holy Names brought sadness for many, and the transition to Prep was not something everyone initially welcomed.

“And yet,” she reflected, “that senior year was a wonderful year. The boys welcomed us. It became a very positive, supportive community.”

Naliesha, sitting in a very different era of Prep’s history, described something strikingly similar. “The community, absolutely,” she said. “The teachers and staff care for every student. Everyone is so welcoming.”

Fifty years apart, both encountered the same defining characteristic: a community that supports students as they grow and take on new challenges.

That same spirit carries into the Lilac Festival Royal Court—an experience rooted not in recognition alone, but in formation. The program’s emphasis on leadership, service, and representing Spokane mirrors Gonzaga Prep’s call to be persons for others. For Naliesha, that formation has been immediate and tangible. Through weeks of training, interviews, and public speaking, she has grown in confidence and awareness.
“We learned how to speak, how to interview, how to build a resume, and how to interact respectfully with members of the military,” she said. “Meeting people from Fairchild and seeing their dedication. All of it was really powerful.”

Those moments reflect one of Lilac’s central values: honoring military service. But they also point to something deeper: a growing understanding of responsibility, respect, and service beyond oneself. “The training gives you self-confidence,” she said. “And that stays with you.”

That confidence became a foundation for her life’s work. After Gonzaga Prep, Patrice entered nursing school, eventually spending 38 years in neonatal intensive care, including time as a perinatal flight nurse caring for critically ill infants and mothers.

“The ability to communicate—with patients, with families, with staff—I think a lot of that started there,” she said, reflecting on her Lilac experience.

In both stories, the throughline is clear: a foundation that extends far beyond high school.

There are moments, too, that transcend time.

For Patrice, one of the most vivid memories is standing on stage at coronation, looking out and seeing familiar faces from Prep gathered in support. “It was a pretty special feeling,” she said.

Naliesha described that same moment in nearly identical terms. “It just fills your heart,” she said. “Seeing teachers and staff there supporting you.”

These are not small details. They speak to a culture where students are known, encouraged, and accompanied—a hallmark of Jesuit education and a value echoed in the Lilac Court’s emphasis on character and integrity.

Both women also point to how the experience widened their world.

Patrice recalls meeting community leaders and forming connections that opened her eyes to the broader Spokane community. “It really opened up my world,” she said.

Naliesha is already sensing that same expansion. “Meeting people who are so dedicated to our city and making those connections has been really meaningful,” she said.

And then there are the quieter, more personal memories that linger.

For Patrice, many of those center on family. Her mother participated in Lilac events alongside her, creating memories that have endured for decades. And though her father had passed away before her time on the Court, she still felt his presence. “It was almost like his spirit was with me,” she said, recalling the hours he once spent helping her prepare for debate.

As their conversation came to a close, Patrice offered advice that bridges the fifty-year span between them: “Cherish what you have,” she said. “Things that may not seem important now—they will stay with you.”

Fifty years after Patrice helped usher in a new chapter at Gonzaga Prep, Naliesha carries that legacy forward—not as something inherited, but as something lived. The setting may be different. The program may have evolved. But the heart of the experience remains the same.

Young women, formed in community. Called to lead. Prepared to serve.

GONZAGA PREP ROYALTY THROUGH THE YEARS