2016 Fiesta Especial Royal Court Candidates

During the 2016 Fiesta season, the Fiesta Especial® Royal Court will represent Fiesta Especial® in the community demonstrating to others the abilities of all individuals to achieve their dreams...bringing visibility to the leadership and contributions individuals with disabilities make in our community each day.

The Fiesta Especial® Royal Court program is a leadership and life skills development program for individuals with all types of cognitive, physical and sensory disabilities.

2016 Queen, Lindsey Moharam
Age: 31
Raised: $5,813.00
Benefiting Charity: The Down Syndrome Association

HOW LINDSEY'S CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITY:
Lindsey has selected The Down Syndrome Association to benefit from her Fiesta Especial Royal Court campaign. The Down Syndrome Association provides services and support for children and adults with Down syndrome and their families in San Antonio and the surrounding areas. Lindsey enjoys volunteering with Holiday Meals-On-Wheels, as well as Stepper Community Outreach.
2016 King, Adam Vela
Age: 14
Raised: $2,572.55
Benefiting Charity: Angels Challenger Team, New Braunfels Little League

HOW ADAM'S CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITY:
Adam has selected the Angels Challenger Team, New Braunfels Little League  to benefit from his Fiesta Especial Royal Court campaign. The Challenger Division was established in 1989 as a separate division of Little League to enable boys and girls with physical and mental challenges, ages 4-18, or up to age 22 if still enrolled in high school, to enjoy the game of baseball along with the millions of other children who participate in this sport worldwide.
Adam is looking forward to being a part of the Fiesta Especial program because he "likes to go places and meet people."  This program is definitely one way to do that!  Adam is an extremely pleasant, kind and happy person who will bring a smile to everyone's face.  He loves trains and pretty much anything with wheels.
2016 Prince, David Fischer
Age: 28
Raised: $2,568.50
Benefiting Charity: Clark H.S. Friends Having Fun

HOW DAVID'S CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITY:
David has selected Clark High School Friends Having Fun to benefit from his campaign. Friends Having Fun (FHF) is an organization that was created to establish friendships between students with special needs and their non-disabled peers by facilitating appropriate social situations for all students while promoting awareness of various disabilities.
2016 Princess, Macauley Zaehringer
Age: 23
Raised: $2,045.00
Benefiting Charity: Clark H.S. Friends Having Fun

HOW MACAULEY'S CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITY:
Macauley has selected Clark High School Friends Having Fun to benefit from her campaign. Friends Having Fun (FHF) is an organization that was created to establish friendships between students with special needs and their non-disabled peers by facilitating appropriate social situations for all students while promoting awareness of various disabilities.
2016 Duchess, Gabriela Martinez
Age: 13
Raised: $1,676.23
Benefiting Charity: Santa Rosa Hospital's services for children with special needs

HOW GABBY'S CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITY:
Gabby has selected the Santa Rosa Hospital to benefit from her Fiesta Especial Royal Court campaign. 

Gabby served as Page on the 2013 Fiesta Especial Royal Court.  From there, she went on to serve on the Pinatas in Los Barrios court and then to represent her Dance School as a Miss Danzavida de San Antonio Princess.  Gabby wants to be an inspiration and role model for others. While down syndrome is a part of who she is, it does not define her. 
2016 Duke, Enrick Settles
Age: 15
Raised: $1,213
Benefiting Charity: Autism Treatment Center

HOW ENRICK'S CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITY:
Enrick has selected The Autism Treatment Center to benefit from his Fiesta Especial Royal Court campaign. The ATC assists people with autism and related disorders throughout their lives as they learn, play, work and live in the community. Enrick is well known in the community as he has helped his father raise money and participate at many charity and public events to include CureSEarch for Children's Cancer, Any Baby Can Autism Walk, Blue Santa Walk, AccessAbility fest and many others.  Enrick does not let autism slow him down in his pursuits and interests. 
2016 Count, Carlos Losoya
Age: 21
Raised: $828.00
Benefiting Charity: Job Adventures

HOW CARLOS' CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITY:
Carlos has selected Job Adventures to benefit from his Fiesta Especial Royal Court campaign. Job Adventures is dedicated to helping students and young adults with special needs find meaningful and gainful employment.

Carlos is very outgoing, dedicated, happy and hard working.  He loves people, and more importantly, helping people.  Carlos is a volunteer at the San Antonio Food Bank and a participant in th eAdult Years Vocational Program with SAISD.
2016 Count, Gabriel Maldonado
Age: 7
Raised: $684.05
Benefiting Charity: Challenger League @ McAllister Park

HOW GABRIEL'S CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITY:
Gabriel has selected Challenger League @ McAllister Park to benefit from his Fiesta Especial Royal Court campaign. The Challenger Division was established in 1989 as a separate division of Little League to enable boys and girls with physical and mental challenges, ages 4-18, or up to age 22 if still enrolled in high school, to enjoy the game of baseball along with the millions of other children who participate in this sport worldwide.

Follow Gabriel in his campaign on his Facebook Page!
2016 Countess, Lizzie Oveland
Age: 20
Raised: $455.00
Benefiting Charity: San Antonio Clubhouse

HOW LIZZIE'S CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITY:
Lizzie has selected TBD to benefit from her campaign. 

Lizzie is no stranger to the Fiesta Especial Royal Court experience having served on the 2012, 2013 and 2014 courts.  Lizzie sees serving on the court as a job with great purpose!  Lizzie enjoys participating in this leadership and life skills program because "Fiesta Especial is fund and being on the Royal Court has been one of my favorite things to do!"  Lizzie also likes to spend her time volunteering with San Antonio Clubhouse and the San Antonio Food Bank.
2016 Countess, Ariel Casell
Age: 21
Raised: $250.00
Benefiting Charity: Job Adventures

HOW ARIEL'S CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITY:
Ariel has selected Job Adventures to benefit from her Fiesta Especial Royal Court campaign. Job Adventures is dedicated to helping students and young adults with special needs find meaningful and gainful employment.

Ariel wants to show people the many faces of autism.  Ariel is looking to strengthen her social skills through the Royal Court experience.  Ariel volunteers at a local preschool and has volunteered at Camp CAMP for the past 3 summers.
2016 Page, Kevin Molina
Age: 22
Raised: $25.57
Benefiting Charity: Special Olympics Texas Area 20

HOW KEVIN'S CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITY:
Kevin has selected Special Olympics to benefit from his campaign for King. Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship.
Royal Supporters
Mr. and Mrs. Oran J. Tsakopulos, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Peter A. Binkley
Mr. and Mrs. George M. Williams, Jr.
Ability Pediatric Therapy
Ms. Paula Winkler
Ms. Pamela Kelly
Mrs. Linda L. Neal​

2015-2016 Events:

December 6th, 2016: Fiesta Especial Royal Court Candidate Reception - Fajita Kick-off! will take place at Viola Ventana's from 4:30pm - 8:30pm.  $25/person (children under 6 are free).  Live music, food and fun for the whole family.

February 17th, 2016: Fiesta Especial® Royal Court Coronation will take place at Texas A&M University-San Antonio from 6:30pm - 8:30pm.  $15 Admission includes admission and reception. Click here for more details.
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April 2nd, 2016: Fiesta Especial® Royal Court Meet & Greet will take place at Mi Casa Tamales from 4pm - 7pm.  Free and open to the public, this is a wonderful opportunity to  meet the 2016 Royal Court.  Activities for kids! Bake Sale!  Fiesta Fun!  Click here for more details.

April 19th, 2016: Fiesta Especial® Celebration Day will take place in Alamo Dome Lot C from 10am - 3pm.  Advanced Registrations Required.  Free to individuals with disabilities and their companions. 

April 23rd, 2016: Fiesta Especial® Royalty Run 5K & Parade will take place starting at the City Hall in Windcrest at 8am & 10am respectively.  Click here for 5K Registration or Parade Registration.  The parade is free to spectators.