MOSES LAKE - Last month we asked readers to submit a short essay and photo of an extraordinary woman in their life in celebration of National Women's Month.

We received three entries, and chose Melissa Pendleton's entry about her mother, Pamela Curnel, of Moses Lake, as the winner.

Pendleton said her mother has always been active in the Moses Lake community, and in many national organizations. She said when she saw the article in our paper, she sneakily cut out the article and wrote the essay at home without telling her mother she was doing it.

Curnel was surprised when we called her for an interview. Never mind this secret, the two are extremely close, Curnel said.

Like her daughter, Curnel said she was also inspired by her mother, who was a nurse and was active in community service projects. "There's people you meet along the way you'd like to emulate. The closest people I was around was my family," Curnel said.

When asked what she thought about this year's National Women's Month theme, "Women of Character, Courage and Commitment," Curnel said she felt like one of the pageant girls she works with as the executive state director of the Mrs. Washington Pageant.

She said to her, character is what you do in your everyday life, courage is faith and commitment is never giving up. "If you commit to something, you do it," Curnel said.

Pendleton won a $50 gift card to Miller's Fine Jeweler.

You can read Pendleton's essay below, and the other two submissions online on our Facebook 'notes' page. One essay submitted by Rebecca Hutsell honors Twyla Henderson who works at the Calico Cat Thrift Store, and one essay submitted by Annette Hanks honors her daughter Marque.

Be sure to look for our next Columbia Basin Herald contest coming soon.

Melissa Pendleton's essay

The extraordinary mother who shows commitment, character and courage to her community.

"My mother Pamela Curnel, is a woman of character, courage and commitment.

Pamela is the Executive State Director for the Mrs. Washington America Pageant. The past 20 years she has mentored hundreds of women on the importance of community service. To Pamela the Pageant is not just about a crown and sash, it's about "Making a Difference."

Pamela is always trying to make the world a better place. She recently produced a TV commercial about Tourette's Syndrome to bring awareness to the disease for parents and educators. She is working on another project to bring awareness to autism.

Pamela is the MLHS Musical Choreographer of 14 years. The students look up to her. She is patient, kind and can teach anyone to dance.

Pamela had courage when I had open heart surgery at age 4. Because of her support, I wrote a book called, "Overcoming Challenges."

Pamela is committed to giving back. She has donated and fundraised for the Moses Lake Food Bank, Grant County Animal Outreach, the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation, Children's Miracle Network and the Hope Heart Institute.

Lives are forever changed with her philosophy of "Making a Difference."

Pamela is an inspiration to us all."