DYW candidates prep for Friday night’s program

The annual Distinguished Young Women program kicks off the weekend’s events when six junior girls take center stage to be named the Distinguished Young Woman of Ritzville and the Distinguished Young Woman of Lind. The six girls are candidates for the DYW program on Friday, March 15, in Gilson Gymnasium with the performance to begin at 7 p.m.

Vying for the title of Distinguished Young Woman of Lind is Maya Wahl, while the other five candidates contend for the Ritzville title. Sydney Nelson, Dalyn Killian, Caitlin Schoessler, Elizabeth Schofstoll and Lara Tice-York have the opportunity to fill the three positions open on the Ritzville court.

Wahl is the daughter of Rena and James Wahl, and plans to attend college to major in agribusiness or international business and language. She plans to attend Washington State University, University of Washington, University of Idaho or Oregon State University.

For Wahl, her favorite musician is Johnny Cash and her favorite novel is “The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.” Her favorite movie is the Harry Potter series and she enjoys the “Glee” TV series. Wahl’s favorite modern day personalities include Michelle Obama and Audrey Hepburn, while historical personalities are Martin Luther King, Jr., and Amelia Earhart.

Wahl is involved in a variety of activities including being the District 9 FFA President, president of the Lind-Ritzville FFA chapter, representative for the Drama Club, FBLA member, National Honor Society member and a member of the Kennel Club/Pep Club. She also participates in volleyball, basketball and track.

Wahl’s interests include anything FFA related, sports, going to the lake with family and friends, reading a good book, photography, and traveling and seeing new places.

For Wahl, she is most proud of her generation because “teens in our area make me proud by demonstrating responsibility and ambition,” but is least proud of “our lack of imagination and ability to function without social media.”

Wahl believes the most pressing problem young people are facing today is that “young people are struggling to find jobs no matter what their educational level.” The one thing Wahl would like to see improved in the school system is “students who excel in scholastics should be rewarded for their hard work.”

Schoessler is the daughter of Stacey and John Schoessler, and plans to attend Washington State University to major in elementary education.

Schoessler’s favorite musician is Josh Turner and her favorite novel is “Mistaken Identity” by Van Ryn and Cerak Families. Her favorite movie is “The Blind Side” and she likes the “I Love Lucy” TV series. Schoessler’s favorite modern day personalities include Kate Middleton and Lucille Ball, while historical personalities are Abraham Lincoln and the Wright Brothers.

Schoessler is involved in a variety of activities including being a member of the National FFA Organization, National Honor Society, Zion Philadelphia Christian Education Board, Relay For Life: Farmers Fighting Cancer team, Red R Club, Pep Club and FFA Ag Issues team. She also participates in volleyball, and track and field.

Schoessler’s other interests include farming, summer dance, running and jogging, Washington State University football and basketball, being organized and target shooting.

For Schoessler, she is most proud of her generation for the ability to “embrace technology in our ever-changing world.” She is least proud of her generation’s “lack of work ethic, the need to be at the top without earning the position.”

Schoessler thinks the most pressing problem facing young people is the “cost of higher education, lack of jobs to support the cost.” The one thing Schoessler would like to see improved in the school system is “make more electives available pertaining to career choices.”

Schofstoll is the daughter of Kim and Steven Schofstoll, and plans to attend a four-year university to major in sports medicine.

Schofstoll’s favorite musical group is Rascal Flatts and her favorite novel is “Mistaken Identity.” Her favorite movie is “The Notebook” and enjoys watching “The Amazing Race” on television. Schofstoll’s favorite modern day personalities are her mother and Tim Tebow, and historical personalities are Beethoven and Clara Barton.

Schofstoll is involved in multiple activities and is a member of FFA, National Honor Society, church youth group, Pep Club, Red R and We Lind-Ritzville. She also participates in volleyball, softball and tennis.

Her other interests include playing the piano, traveling, spending time with friends, scrapbooking and cooking.

For Schofstoll, she is most proud of her generation for “developing unlimited technological advancements for our world.” She is least proud of her generation because of “the immortality in our media, society, and general way of life.”

Schofstoll believes the most pressing problem facing young people is the cost of higher education. If she could improve one thing to improve the school system, “I would give teachers access to better resources to help improve their teaching.”

Killian is the daughter of Lisa and Gordon Killian, and plans to attend Brigham Young University in Hawaii to study photography.

Killian’s favorite musical group is Safetysuit and her favorite novel is “Children of the Promise.” Her favorite movie is “Pride and Prejudice” and enjoys the television series, “Downtown Abbey.” Killian’s favorite modern day personalities are Kerri Walsh and Michael Jordan, and historical personalities are Anne Sullivan and Dorothea Lange.

Killian is involved in a variety of activities including being church youth group president, practicing photography, reading novels, doing the Insanity Workout, and being team captain for the volleyball and basketball team. She is also a member of the National Honor Society, We Lind-Ritzville club, Stake Youth Council and the yearbook staff.

Her other interests include photography, sports, art, reading, science and travel.

For Killian, she is the most proud of her generation for being “advanced in technology and can teach the older generations.” She is least proud of her generation because “technology has replaced learning things for ourselves and we are lazy.”

Killian believes the most pressing problem facing young people is “peer pressure to drink, do drugs, or any other wrong activities.” If she could improve one thing about the school system is would be “more advanced classes to prepare us for college.”

Tice-York is the daughter of Venisa York and Ron Tice, and plans to attend Central Washington University, and her ultimate goal is to operate a zoo.

Tice-York’s favorite musician is Bruno Mars and her favorite novel is “The Burn Journals.” Her favorite movie is “The Vow” and her favorite television show is “Snooki and JWoww.” Her favorite modern day personalities are Kyle York and Donna Koch, and historical personalities are Harriet Tubman and Audrey Hepburn.

Tice-York’s activities include animal care, volleyball, basketball, track, business leadership, participating in a math contest, youth group and publications. She also participates in three different styles of dance: ballet, pointe and tap.

Her other interests include caring for animals, helping the economy, practicing dance, school and sports.

For Tice-York, she is most proud of her generation for “how quickly we adapt to new technologies and ideas.” She is least proud of her generation because “we’re killing the earth more than ever before.”

Tice-York believes the most pressing problem for young people is “there is no respect anymore and people are always looking for the easy way out.” The one thing she would like to improve about the school is implementing a better discipline system.

Nelson is the daughter of Camille and Richard Nelson, and plans to attend Washington State University to major in something in the agricultural field.

Nelson’s favorite musical artist is Josh Turner and her favorite novel is “The Nineteenth Wife.” Her favorite movie is “Gone With the Wind” and her favorite television series is “Person of Interest.” Nelson’s favorite modern day personalities are Kate Middleton and Ellen Degeneres, and historical personalities are Eleanor Roosevelt and Lucille Ball.

Nelson participates in a variety of activities including FFA, National Honor Society, 4-H, church youth group, Red R Club, Pep Club, FBLA, volleyball, basketball, and track and field.

Her other interests include raising sheep, playing sports, public speaking, livestock judging and potato judging.

For Nelson, she is most proud of her generation because “my generation has the ability to adapt to our fast paced world.” She is least proud of her generation because of “our egocentric nature.”

Nelson believes the most pressing problem facing young people is “our economy is failing and may not be able to sustain our career aspiration.” The one thing she would like to improve about the school system is to “restructure the standardized testing so that it was not a graduation requirement.”