Moses Lake Distinguished Young Women program to be held at local venue

MOSES LAKE — Seven high school juniors will compete Tuesday for the title of Moses Lake Distinguished Young Woman.

The 7 p.m. program will be at Youth Dynamics, 106 East Third Ave., but co-chair Rianne Roylance said COVID-19 restrictions mean the audience only will be the participants, their families and the program judges. However, the program will be livestreamed on the MLHS channel, gomlchiefs.com/broadcasts.

Vying for the title are Ebubechi Abonyi, Taylor Garza, Esther Roeber, Lyra Castleton, Laurel Knox, Isabel Lam and Rebecca Shaporda. All contestants are interviewed by the judges prior to the program, and the judges review each girl’s scholastic record. Participants also perform a routine to showcase their talents, and they are evaluated on physical fitness and self-expression.

Isabel Lam, Esther Roeber and Lyra Castleton will perform vocal solos. Ebubechi Abonyi will perform a dance routine and Rebecca Shaporda a tumbling routine. Taylor Garza and Laurel Knox will perform dramatic readings.

The winner advances to the Washington State Distinguished Young Women program in August.

Contestants are eligible for college scholarships, and co-chair Jennifer Gaddis said all of the money raised by the participants goes back to them as scholarships.

Ebubechi Abonyi plans a career in fashion or interior design and will attend the University of Washington or UCLA. Taylor Garza is planning to be a trauma nurse and has not decided on a college. Esther Roeber plans a career in medicine, either as a physician assistant or nurse, and is planning to attend Whitworth University. Lyra Castleton plans to be a veterinarian and attend Washington State University. Rebecca Shaporda plans to become a physician and has not decided on a college. Laurel Knox wants to own her own bakery and plans to attend Northern State University. Isabel Lam plans to attend Gonzaga University or Seattle University, with the goal of becoming an attorney.