Othello's Kadien Quigley second runner-up in Distinguished Young Women Program
Courtesy photo - Pictured in back row from left are Hannah Latella, Clarkston, Claire Sorgen, Sultan, and Nicole Connor from Asotin. Front row from left are Kaiden Quigley, Othello, Jana Osborn, Moses Lake and May Qiang from Pullman.
PULLMAN — Moses Lake’s Distinguished Young Woman is now Washington’s representative to the 2018 Distinguished Young Women national scholarship program.
Jana Osborne, the daughter of Jenni and Kevin Osborne, was selected Saturday , Aug. 5 during the annual state program held at Washington State University’s Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum.
Fourteen high school seniors from across Washington performed to an enthusiastic audience of families and friends at the program’s competition. More than $10,000 in college scholarships and awards were shared among the young women.
The Moses Lake High School senior received a $3,000 cash scholarship with her title. She also won $200 Fitness, Talent, Self-Expression and Interview judging category awards. WSU, too, offers the winner a $2,000 scholarship. Osborne will go on to compete at the annual program in Mobile, Ala., next summer.
The first runner-up, May Qiang, DYW of Pullman, received a $1,200 scholarship. The Pullman High School senior also earned a $200 award in Talent. In addition, she won the $300 Spirit Award, selected by the contestants themselves. Her parents are Xili Yao and You Qiang.
Othello’s DYW, Kaiden Quigley, was the second runner-up. She received an $800 scholarship, and $200 in the Self-Expression and Interview categories. The Othello High School senior’s parents are Heather and Mark Quigley.
Hannah Latella, Clarkston’s DYW, won $200 Fitness and Scholastic category awards. Her parents are Cindy and Moses Latella. Asotin’s DYW, Nicole Connor, received a $200 award in the Scholastic category. Her parents are Jodi and Greg Connor.
Claire Sorgen, Sultan’s DYW, won the $500 Overall Scholastic Award. Her parents are Gini and Dale Sorgen.
The participants were evaluated by a panel of judges in the following categories: Scholastics, Interview, Fitness, Self-Expression and Talent.
The judging panel were Stacy Sharp, of Olympia, a former Junior Miss state board member; Babs Pfaff, of Oakesdale, the 1972 Oakesdale Junior Miss, 1973 Washington Junior Miss and former state board member; Lenne Jo Best, of Eagle, Idaho, 1975 Clarkston’s Junior Miss, 1976 Washington Junior Miss and America’s Junior Miss Karen Meye, of Spokane, former Junior Miss State Chairman; Linda Felber, of Willamette Valley, Ore., 1964 Colfax’s Junior Miss and Washington Junior Miss and America’s Junior Miss.
Participants in the 2017-18 program include Josie Pierce, Almira-Coulee-Hartline (ACH); Nicole Connor, Asotin; Andrea Franks, Chewelah; Hannah Latella, Clarkston; Jantzen Larsen, Colfax; Ali Hennigar, Colton/Uniontown; Ashlyn Cox, Ellensburg; Tessa O’Brien, Lind-Ritzville; Elizabeth Bravo, Mattawa; Jana Osborne, Moses Lake; Kaiden Quigley, Othello; May Qiang, Pullman; Claire Sorgen, Sultan; and Jandica Backell, Warden.
Taylor Yamane, the 2016 Distinguished Young Woman of Washington, from Warden served as this year’s emcee. Yamane competed at the National Finals in Mobile, Ala. While in Mobile, she competed in the Raw Oyster eating contest and won by eating 50 raw oysters in 5 minutes. She will be entering her sophomore year at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, Calif. to continue her education in mechanical engineering, music and aerospace engineering. Distinguished Young Women of Washington 2017, Kendyl Druffel assisted Taylor and gave out the awards.
Shirley Sears was the choreographer and has been a very important volunteer with Junior Miss and now DYW for more than 40 years. She was honored with an Outstanding Choreographer award in 2003, and became an Honorary Distinguished Young Woman at this year’s event.
About Distinguished Young Women
Founded in 1958 in Mobile, Alabama, Distinguished Young Women is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls. During its 60 years of operation, the program has provided life-changing experiences for more than 750,000 young women. Last year, Distinguished Young Women provided almost $1.5 billion in cash and college scholarship opportunities to program participants at the local, state and national level.
The mission of Distinguished Young Women is to positively impact the lives of young women by providing a transformative experience that promotes and rewards scholarship, leadership and talent. National sponsors include Mobile County, City of Mobile, Wintzell’s Oyster House, Encore Rehabilitation, Alabama Power Foundation, Master Boat Builders, The Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Regions Financial Corporation, Evonik Industries, and The Alabama Media Group.