Washington Distinguished Young Women program Saturday
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 5 months AGO
File photo 2018 Moses Lake Distinguished Young Woman Jana Osborne performs a ballet number at the pageant last sprinng. Osborne will compete Saturday for Washington Distinguished Young Woman.
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. | August 2, 2017 3:00 AM
PULLMAN — High school seniors from Moses Lake, Othello, Warden, Ritzville-Lind and Mattawa will be among the competitors at the annual Washington Distinguished Young Women program Saturday.
The program is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at the Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum on the Washington State University campus.
Jana Osborne will represent Moses Lake; Kadien Quigley is the Distinguished Young Woman from Othello. Jandica Backell represents Warden. Tessa O’Brien is the Distinguished Young Woman representing Lind-Ritzville and Elizabeth Bravo represents Mattawa. Josie Pierce represents Almira/Coulee-Hartline. The program is open to high school juniors; all competitors will be starting their senior year of high school this fall.
The competitors are rounded out by Nicole Connor, Asotin; Claire Sorgen, Sultan; May Qiang, Pullman; Nicole Connor, Asotin; Ashlyn Cox, Ellensburg; Jantzen Larsen, Colfax; Ali Hennigar, Colton/Uniontown; Hannah Latella, Clarkston and Andrea Franks, Chewelah.
As part of the program contestants perform a routine highlighting their individual talents, answer an unscripted question and participate in a group fitness routine as well as a “self-expression” routine. All contestants are interviewed by the judges before the program.
This is the 60th year for Washington’s Distinguished Young Woman program, formerly known as Washington Junior Miss. “Its goal is to emphasize education by providing scholarship opportunities to outstanding college-bound high school girls, and to encourage personal development in all young people,” said program co-chair Danielle Kallaher.
More than $10,000 in college scholarships will be awarded to the contestants, Kallaher said.
Judges include Linda Felber, 1964 America Junior Miss, as well as Junior Miss Washington and Colfax Junior Miss. She is joined by Lenne Jo Best, 1976 America Junior Miss, 1976 Washington Junior Miss and 1975 Clarkson Junior Miss. Other judges are Babs Pfaff, former Junior Miss state board member, 1973 Washington Junior Miss and 1972 Oakesdale Junior Miss; Karen Meye, former Junior Miss state chair and Stacy Sharp, former Junior Miss state board member.
Participants began rehearsing the program Tuesday, and are staying with host families in the Pullman area.
Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased through TicketWest outlets. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.
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