Beginning this year, the names of the winners of Tarleton State University’s annual May Fete pageant have been changed from Lord Tarleton and the May Queen, to Lady and Lord Tarleton.

“To be more consistent and equal,” Susan Goodman, advisor for the Tarleton Ambassadors, said. “May Fete’s name has not changed. It continues to be May Fete. It has traditionally been celebrated on Tuesday of Founders Week and will continue to be scheduled during that week in the future.”

Each year during Founder’s Week, Tarleton hosts its annual May Fete pageant. May Fete was first held on May 5, 1921 and held every April from then on. The tradition faded away, but was brought back in 2009.

May Fete is hosted by the Tarleton Ambassadors. The band plays in Heritage park by the bandstand while women dress in bright colors.

“The event has always been open to all students and will continue to be open to all students. May Fete has always been held in Heritage Park at the Hunewell Bandstand. It will continue to be held there,” Goodman said.

The purpose of May Fete has been to honor John Tarleton and junior and senior students who personify Tarleton’s six core values: Tradition, Integrity, Civility, Leadership, Excellence and Service.

Students are able to be nominated for Lady and Lord Tarleton through TexanSync.

The applications will be reviewed and from those applications, five finalists for each title will be chosen and a competition will be held in front of a panel of judges during May Fete, and from there, Lord and Lady Tarleton will be selected.

May Fete is scheduled during Founder’s Week, along with the Grassburr Festival and Silver Taps Ceremony. Lord and Lady Tarleton will be crowned on Tuesday, April 18, at 5:00 p.m. in Heritage Park.