Moses Lake's Distinguished Young Women!!

It does not take much of an excuse for me to escape from school to Moses Lake for a weekend, and Moses Lake's Distinguished Young Women competition provided the perfect excuse this weekend!!


According to their website, "Distinguished Young Women is a national scholarship program that inspires high school girls to develop their full, individual potential through a fun, transformative experience that culminates in a celebratory showcase of their accomplishments."  The program (better known as Junior Miss) is intended for juniors in high school, and judges contestants based on scholastic achievement (via transcripts, etc. given prior to the competition night), a private judges' interview, talent, physical fitness (via an onstage dance/exercise routine), evening gown/cocktail attire, and an onstage question.


While I have friends who were previously successful in the program, I never before had the opportunity to attend the competition myself.  With the thought that Miss Moses Lake should be supportive of the other royalty in town, and supportive of a program that encourages incredibly important characteristics, and with goals similar to the Miss America Organization, I decided to attend Saturday's competition!  And what an amazing presentation of poise and talent it was!


I was incredibly impressed with how well the six young ladies represented themselves, and the love and support so evidently poured into them in preparation for the weekend.  In the end, Camielle Bruneel was named Moses Lake's Distinguished Young Woman of 2012, and Maddi Cloyd and Sarah Law were named 1st and 2nd runner up.  In the coming year, the three will serve Moses Lake together, and I look forward to hopefully working with them at a few events!

With Moses Lake's newly named Distinguished Young Woman, Camielle Bruneel, and Miss Columbia Basin's Outstanding Teen, McKenna Reis.

With First Finalist Maddi Cloyd.

Of special note to me personally was watching childhood friend Maddi Cloyd shine on stage, with her family proudly cheering her on.  At one point the emcee announced that Maddi had one sister and one brother, and I watched her two siblings high five in rightful pride; when she was announced as first runner up, the cheers from her family and friends were as if she had just been announced as Miss America!  It reminded me of the importance of support from family and friends, and made me even more thankful for my support network.  I love you guys!!!

With the Beautiful and Wonderful Rianne Jones!

I should have known that the talented and beautiful Washington's Distinguished Young Woman of 2010, my dear friend and chemistry lab co-worker Rianne Jones, would play a part in the program.  I was not anticipating, however, her emceeing the night's competition.  The entire time she was emceeing I wanted to run up and give her a hug, and when she announced my name as "visiting royalty," she gave off a giggle.  After the program I was able to get her attention, and I was literally swung around in the hug of a lifetime.  I absolutely LOVE Rianne, and am thankful for the role model she is to young women.  She has agreed to travel Moses Lake with me in a "Moses Lake themed" photoshoot, and you can look forward to seeing Rianne-Analiesse-Sydnee (another chemistry lab co-worker) madness via fun, professional-quality pictures soon!

With my partner in crime, Rianne.

The rest of the weekend has been filled with catching up with good friends, rest and studies, and tomorrow.....I get INVISALIGN!!!!!  YEA for a straight and beautiful smile soon to be in the making!!!