WASHINGTON- Cady Elizabeth Gokey, a native of Minot, will be North Dakota's 2008 Cherry Blossom Princess.

Gokey will represent North Dakota in the National Conference of State Societies' Annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington.

Gokey, 20, is the daughter of Langer Gokey and Dr. Susan Flickinger Gokey of Minot. She also is the great-granddaughter of the late William Langer, who served as North Dakota's governor in the 1930s and as U.S. senator from North Dakota from 1940 to 1959.

Gokey is a sophomore at Georgetown University in Washington, studying mathematics and art. After college, she hopes to attend business school.

Gokey was selected by Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates a gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the city of Tokyo to the people of Washington. The princess program culminates on Friday with a Cherry Blossom Ball where the queen is chosen - by the spin of a wheel.