Beauty, brains and talent
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 7 months AGO
Courtesy photo Jana Osborne (center), Moses Lake, won the Washington Distinguished Young Woman at the annual program Saturday night. May Qing (left), Pullman, was the first runner-up and Kaiden Quigley (right), Othello, was the second runner-up.
Courtesy photo Jana Osborne, Moses Lake, was selected as Washington Distinguished Young Woman 2018 Saturday. She’s pictured with her mom Jenni and dad Kevin Osborne.
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 8, 2017 3:00 AM
PULLMAN — Moses Lake’s Jana Osborne was selected as Washington Distinguished Young Woman 2018 at the annual program over the weekend in Pullman.
Jana won the title as well as awards in the fitness, talent, self-expression and interview categories. She will represent Washington at the Distinguished Young Women program in Birmingham, Ala., in summer 2018.
Kaiden Quigley, Othello, was the second runner-up.
Jana received a $3,000 cash scholarship as the DYW winner, and is eligible for a $2,000 scholarship from Washington State University. She received $200 scholarships in each of the four categories (talent, fitness, self-expression and interview). She’s the daughter of Jenni and Kevin Osborne.
May Qiang, Pullman, was the first runner-up.
Kaiden received an $800 scholarship as second runner-up and won two $200 scholarships, one in the self-expression category and the second in the interview. Kaiden is the daughter of Heather and Mark Quigley.
Taylor Yamane was the program emcee. Taylor, representing Warden, was Washington Distinguished Young Miss 2016. Taylor is entering her sophomore year at Santa Clara University, pursuing her education in mechanical engineering, music and aerospace engineering. Kendyl Druffel, 2017 Washington Distinguished Young Woman, helped distribute awards.
Jana and Kaiden were among 14 contestants from around the state. Contestants included Jandica Backell, Warden; Tessa O’Brien, Lind-Ritzville; Melissa Bravo, Mattawa and Josie Pierce, Almira-Coulee/Hartline.
Longtime program volunteer Shirley Sears was recognized as an honorary Distinguished Young Woman. Sears has been a volunteer with the Junior Miss-Distinguished Young Woman program for about 40 years, and has been the state program choreographer for many years. Sears received an Outstanding Choreographer award in 2003.
Contestants are judged on scholastics, the interview with the judges, the fitness routine, self-expression and talent. Contestants are interviewed prior to the program, perform a group fitness routine and individual talent routines and answer an unscripted question.
The judges included Linda Felber, 1964 Colfax Junior Miss, Washington Junior Miss and America’s Junior Miss; Lenne Jo Best, Clarkston Junior Miss, 1976 Washington Junior Miss and America’s Junior Miss; Karen Meye, former state chair for the Junior Miss program; Babs Pfaff, 1973 Washington Junior Miss and former state board member and Stacy Sharp, former Junior Miss state board member.
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