Monday, July 28, 2025
59.0°F

Distinguished Young Woman program Saturday

CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 4 months AGO
by CHERYL SCHWEIZERStaff Writer
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | March 3, 2016 5:00 AM

OTHELLO — Eight girls will compete for the title of Othello Distinguished Young Woman at the annual pageant at 7 p.m. Saturday at McFarland Middle School, 790 South 10th Ave.

“We’re Going Country” is the title of the 2016 program.

Each girl is interviewed prior to the pageant, and the judges also review each girl’s academic record. The program also includes a group routine and questions for each contestant. Each girl also performs an individual talent routine.

Participants in the 2016 DYW program are Angelica “Jelly” Hernandez, Wendy Rivera, Natalie Provost, Gisselle Moreno, Daisy Alfaro, Claudia Nava, Elizabeth “Liz” Amador and Rael Guerrero.

All are students at Othello High School. All contestants must be high school juniors.

Angelica Hernandez said she hasn’t decided on a college yet, still looking at Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Brigham Young University-Idaho and schools for the performing arts. Her interests include singing and she plays volleyball and basketball. During the program she will sing “Oceans,” by Hillsong, a Christian music label.

Wendy Rivera plans to attend CWU, she said. Her interests include reading and babysitting. She's also a dancer, and will perform a hip-hop solo to a remix of “Flawless,” by pop megastar Beyonce.

Natalie Provost said she’s interested in music and acting and likes to cook. She plans to attend BYU-Idaho. She will be singing “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly,” from the classic Broadway musical “My Fair Lady.”

Gissell Moreno said she’s interested in dancing, and during competition she will perform a solo to “A Thousand Years” by pop singer Christina Perri. She also plays soccer, she said. She plans to attend Colorado State University.

Daisy Alfaro said she likes to cook, and plans to attend Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. She will perform a 1950s-style dance to Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock.” Along with baking and spending time with her family, her interests include bike riding.

Claudia Nava said she plans to attend Eastern Washington University. She’s interested in art, music and math, and she plans to perform a hip-hop dance solo to “Focus” by pop singer Ariana Grande.

Elizabeth Amador likes music and drawing and plays basketball. She will be playing the ukulele and singing “Three Little Birds” by the late musician Bob Marley. She plans to attend Eastern Washington University.

Rael Guerrero also is interested in music, and will perform her version of “Someone Like You” by pop superstar Adele. She also plays softball. She plans to attend the University of Washington.

The Othello Distinguished Young Woman will be among the contestants at the state program, scheduled for summer.

MORE ENTERTAINMENT STORIES

Distinguished Young Women show their stuff
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 9 years, 3 months ago
DYW orientation Feb. 21, 22
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 7 years, 5 months ago
Washington Distinguished Young Women program Saturday
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 7 years, 12 months ago

ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Four lanes to stay on E. Wheeler Road
July 28, 2025 3 a.m.

Four lanes to stay on E. Wheeler Road

MOSES LAKE — A section of East Wheeler Road won’t be reconfigured to one lane in each direction and a left-turn lane. Moses Lake City Council members voted 6-1 July 22 to agree to a request from businesses along Wheeler Road to keep the current lane configuration.

Two Moses Lake annexations under consideration
July 26, 2025 2:51 p.m.

Two Moses Lake annexations under consideration

MOSES LAKE — Two separate property owners have requested annexation into the city of Moses Lake, and Moses Lake City Council members have agreed to consider the requests. Vivian Ramsey, interim community development director, said considering the request does not mean the properties will be annexed.

ROAD REPORT: I-90, SR 282 projects under way
July 25, 2025 3 a.m.

ROAD REPORT: I-90, SR 282 projects under way

MOSES LAKE — It being the height of summer – long sunny days, long warm evenings, the swimming pool, barbecues – it's also the height of construction season. Drivers going to and from Ephrata and traveling certain sections of Interstate 90 through Grant County already know about the delays.