MOSES LAKE — Three girls will compete for the title of Moses Lake Distinguished Young Woman in the annual program April 7 at Moses Lake High School. And 2018 will be the last program for two of its longtime organizers.

Program chairs Bonnie Dorris and Jeni Chandler have volunteered for the DYW program each year for quite a while. “Twenty-plus years,” Dorris said.

“Twenty-one,” Chandler said.

Both learned about DYW, called the Junior Miss program at the time, “when our kids were in it, our daughters,” Chandler said.

“In fact, that’s how we met,” Dorris said.

What attracted them to the program in the first place, and what kept them involved, was “what it meant to our daughters,” Dorris said.

“I think what it stands for is what hit me. ‘Be your best self,’” Chandler said. The program isn’t about outward appearance, she said, but emphasizes scholarship and teaching the participants how to present themselves. The program also awards scholarships to contestants and those are a crucial part of the appeal also.

The goal is to help girls be “well-rounded,” Dorris said. “Well-rounded and looking toward the future.”

“It’s not a beauty pageant,” Chandler said.

“Once you get in you’re kind of hooked,” she said.

Over the 20 years there have been times when they considered giving up the job, Dorris said. “And then we meet the new group of girls and it’s like, ‘one more year.’

“We have such fun with the girls. We laugh a lot,” she said.

Sometimes the contestants have never been on stage in front a crowd before, Chandler said, or walked on stage in heels – or worn heels at all. A talent presentation is part of the program, and some of the girls have never performed before an audience. They’ve seen girls push themselves and take on the program’s challenges. By DYW program night “they’re just shining – even surprising themselves, I think,” Dorris said. “They gain self-confidence.”

“We believe in the process,” she said.

“We’ve seen it work,” Chandler said.

An interview with the pageant judges is part of the process too, and Chandler said former contestants have told her they used the skills they learned in other situations, like job interviews. “I did too,” Dorris said.

Tickets are $15 per person, and can be purchased by texting Dorris at 509-750-1781 or Chandler at 509-771-9162. Donations also are being accepted for scholarships; all money donated goes to the scholarships. Donations can be made by contacting Dorris or Chandler.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.