Mattawa Community Days lands appearance by Miss Washington 2011

MATTAWA - The new Mattawa Community Days, on Saturday, August 27, will start off with a bang. They will include a day-long appearance by the reigning Miss Washington.

The visit by Brittney Henry of Puyallup was arranged by a man who is known to get things done - Jay Scott. He is the Wahluke High School site director of the 21st Century Program.

Maggie Celaya, who's been on a mission to revive the Mattawa Community Days she loved as a child, called on Scott. But not about Miss Washington. She wanted him to help arrange participation by area businesses, and he was eager.

"I believe community events are very important, especially in small towns like Mattawa and Royal City," he said. "These events bring communities closer together. Mattawa Community Days is trying to make a comeback and, as a resident, I wanted to help."

 Scott was successful with a couple of businesses. Then he just sort of fell into the opportunity to get Miss Washington.

During a conversation with Barb Peterson of Northwest Learning Achievement Group, parent of the 21st Century Program, Scott mentioned Community Days. Peterson mentioned the possibility of a Henry visit. Scott couldn't believe his ears.

"Brittney used to work for our company, and she is an active affiliate with our non-profit organization," Scott said. "And she's willing to promote NLA Group's 21st Century grant programs."

Miss Washington's day in Mattawa will begin with the Mattawa Community Days Parade at 10 a.m. She will ride a special float that is being designed and built by Eckenberg Farms.

"How often can you say you met Miss Washington in Mattawa? And possibly the next Miss America?" Scott exclaimed.

After the parade, Miss Washington will be a host at the 21st Century booth at Hund Memorial Park. She will do small science experiments and projects as a way to highlight 21st Century.

"Miss Washington wants to promote the importance of education and after-school programs in our district," Scott said.

It wasn't easy to line up Miss Washington for Community Days. At times it seemed the visit might not happen. But Scott persisted with emails and phone calls until he broke through her entourage.

"I still have a lot of planning to do before her arrival on August 27," he said.

Why Mattawa was put on Miss Washington's calendar is a good question. It could be that Henry feels a kinship with many youngsters who reside here. Their lives mirror hers as a child.

This Miss Washington grew up in poverty, and her family relied on government assistance to get by.

"For 18 years I was completely and utterly ashamed of my background, my family and our reliance on welfare," she wrote on her blog.

Henry went to college determined to demonstrate to her baby sister, who was 5 then, that good things could be accomplished. She also wanted success that she could later share with as many poverty-stricken youths as possible.

"Many of my classmates and acquaintances from my childhood still have no idea about the challenges and struggles that my family and I faced on a daily basis as I grew up," she wrote.

"Now at the age of 24, after years harboring feelings of anguish and embarrassment, I am finally able to speak about my own personal experience growing up in the welfare system and my journey to break the cycle of poverty and to change the predisposed course for my life."

And Henry's story does not end there. She will compete for the title of Miss America in January.