Martinez chosen at Mattawa pageant

MATTAWA - Wahluke High School junior Jessica Martinez is the Mattawa Distinguished Young Woman, chosen at the DYW Pageant at the Wahluke High School Auditorium on March 26.

Five WHS juniors competed for the crown. They were judged on a judges interview before the pageant, fitness, talent, self-expression and academic achievement.

Chosen to accompany Martinez on the court were Keitra Calaway and Mayra Rodriguez. Also in the competition were Sonia Sandoval and Alejandra Sanchez. They will represent the community around the state throughout the coming year.

Sandoval is the daughter of Raul and Rose Sandoval. She plans to attend Eastern Washington University. Sanchez is the daughter of Arnulfo and Alejandrina Sanchez. She plans to study at Perry Tech in Yakima or Washington State University.

Martinez, the daughter of Carlos and Maria Martinez, plans to study pediatrics at the University of Washington. She performed a flute solo of "All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera.

"I was really nervous," she said. "It was a lot of people. I've been in band for years and have performed at parades, but I had never done a solo in front of anyone. When I was done, I felt relieved."

In addition to the title of Mattawa DYW, Martinez won the Fitness, Scholastic and Spirit Awards. She was also recognized for selling the most pageant tickets. She was stunned by her selection as the DYW.

"I was in shock," she said. "I couldn't believe it. I got emotional and teared up. I was really, really excited."

Calaway is the daughter of Kip and Gigi Calaway. She plans to study at Brigham Young University in a medical/nutrition field.

Calaway won the Judges' Interview Award, the Talent Award and the Self-Expression Award. As her talent offering, she played a piano solo of "Phantom of the Opera."

Rodriguez shared the Spirit Award with Martinez. In the talent competition she recited the poem "Scale" by Shel Silverstein.

Rodriguez's parents are Miguel Rodriguez and Maria Ramirez. She plans to become a kindergarten or intermediate school teacher, launching her studies at Columbia Basin College or Yakima Valley Community College.

The pageant theme was "Welcome to the Jungle - The Hunt for Mattawa's 2011 Distinguished Young Woman." The masters of ceremony were 2010 Mattawa DYW Gladys Martinez and her court, Sandra Medrano and Sandra Sanchez.

The program opened with the five contestants in an opening musical/dance number titled "In the Jungle Room." A hairy gorilla appeared periodically throughout the evening, adding hilarity to the proceedings.

Special entertainment included "Deep In The Jungle" performed by three little monkeys Danielle Bird, Carmen Witters and Emma Witters, drummers Brennan and Sydney Zirker, crocodile Mason Calaway and the gorilla.

Additional entertainment was provided by Savannah and Mariah Shearer of the Turning Point Academy of Dance. They performed ballet numbers. Misty Christensen and Holly Spencer, Ellensburg 2010 DYW, performed vocal solos.