Impressive Student 2025 Torrance Rose Float Design By Writer and Contributor NJ Jaeger
The history of Torrance’s participation in the Rose Parade sustained by volunteer decorators aged 13-90+ is an enduring community celebration for California’s 8th largest city.
Multiple winner of some of the Rose Parade’s most prestigious awards, Torrance has established a record of winning student designs with this year’s entry designed by a Torrance High School student. The successful and inspired reimagining of the Torrance Rose Parade Float design process, based on high school talent, originated in 2017.
Student Float Design Contest
Torrance has held high school student design contest for the last seven years and the 2025 Float Design Contest Winner is West High Student, Sumisha Gottipaty, with her exceptional float design entitled “What a Beautiful Day”. Gottipaty’s vision depicts a seamless blissful world with colorful and engaging life above and below the sea.
Artistic Design Devices was chosen to build the armature and mechanics for the float. Torrance Mayor George Chen describes the feeling of happiness the float design conveys through its depiction of nature, “you can see the sunshine and birds above the ocean,” and Chen added, “and you can take a look below the ocean and see the fishes”. Asked what he wants parade spectators to think when they view the float, Mayor Chen reviewing said, “When you come to the City of Torrance it is a beautiful day every day.”
Necessary Steps
The Association’s all-volunteer Board of Directors consulted the Citizen Enrichment and Development Committee for design approval before seeking final approval from the City Council.
Last Year: Princess Trophy Winner
Last year Fiesta Parade Floats interpreted float design and community decorators made student contest winner’s Jodi Cheng’s float entry rendering, The Lyrical Call of Nature, come to life to win the Princess Trophy in the category: Most Outstanding Floral Presentation among Entries up-to 35 Feet in Length.
There are still special 2025 Rose Parade viewing and float riding package tickets available on the Torrance Float Association Website https://www.torrancerosefloat.org/a-proud-tradition.html
Torrance Float Association Mission Statement
The Mission of the Torrance Rose Float Association (a non-profit organization) is to preserve the tradition of delivering joy, beauty and pageantry from our hometown to people across the globe through participation in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on a day when the world is full of the hope of renewal.
The City of Torrance is proud of their 69 years of participation in the Rose Parade and these multiple awards:
First Prize - 13 times
Second Prize - 5 times
Merit Award - 1 time
Red Rose Award - 5 times
Grand Marshall's Trophy - 1 time
Governor's Trophy - 2 times
Princess Trophy - 5 times
National Trophy - 1 time
Lathrop K. Leishman Trophy - 3 times
Tournament Volunteer Trophy - 7 times
Theme Trophy - 1 time
Mayor's Trophy - 1 time
AES Design Services https://www.aescreative.com/california
Photos courtesy of https://www.torrancerosefloat.org/
NJ is a storyteller who has written in many voices for clients in health, education, entertainment, food, sport and politics. Her firm managed publicity for documentary films, book authors and the U.S. Championships. NJ received the Lynn Weaver Award from the Entertainment Professional Publicists Society for her lifelong commitment to philanthropy and community volunteerism.
