Witt takes center stage Aug. 4 at DYW program

Lind-Ritzville’s Kierstin Witt is one of eleven Washington high school seniors will participate in the Saturday, Aug. 4, Distinguished Young Women Washington scholarship program at Pullman High School’s theater.

Those participating in the 2018-19 program include Mikayla Rushton, Almira-Coulee/Hartline (ACH); Ursula Bakken, Chewelah; Keely Burnes, Clarkston; Tayma Vanek, Colfax; Emily Schultheis, Colton/Uniontown; Annabel Parker, Ellensburg; Witt, Lind-Ritzville; Rachel Law, Moses Lake; Daphne Felsted, Pullman; Madelyne Cole, Vancouver; and Chloe Forsyth, Wenatchee Valley.

The teens arrived Tuesday, July 31, to begin practicing several stage routines that will highlight the 7 p.m. program Aug. 4 at the PHS theater.

Shirley Sears is choreographer for the opening number and self-expression category. Nicole Noto choreographed fitness from the National program with local finessing by Carissa Little.

Each participant will perform a talent number and participate in fitness and self-expression routines during the evening program.

The teens meet individually with a panel of judges earlier.

Thousands of dollars in awards and college scholarships will be announced at the state program.

Rose Jao, DYW of Pullman and Washington for 2015, and Kendyl Druffel, DYW of Colton-Uniontown and Washington for 2017 will serve as emcees.

The Washington representative will participate in the America’s Distinguished Young Woman program next summer in Mobile, Alabama.

DYW of Washington, Jana Osborne from Moses Lake, won a $1,000 scholarship at the National competition as part of the Be Your Best Self program.

The participants will stay with Pullman families for several days while rehearsing for the on-stage program.

Tickets are available online at http://tututix.com/dyww and at the door the evening of the program.

This is the state’s 61st annual scholarship program.

The goal is to emphasize education by providing scholarship opportunities to outstanding college-bound high school girls, and to encourage personal development in all young people, Kallaher said.