Distinguished Young Women: Five to participate in Friday's Program

There are five candidates for this year’s Ritzville Distinguished Young Women program that takes place on Mar. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Gilson Gymnasium.

The junior class women participating in this event are Emily Buriak, Amalia Perez, Brooke Pichette, Jordan Schultz and Taylor White.

The following is a biographical introduction of each of the five participants.

Emily Elaine Buriak, 16, is the daughter of Kiera and Ben Buriak. Buriak is active in FFA, tennis, Pep Club and National Honor Society, and her favorite subject is psychology. For community involvement, Buriak is involved with Helping Hands.

Buriak plans to attend Eastern Washington University and wants to start a career as a psychologist or a school counselor. Buriak’s long-term focus is to accomplish graduating from college.

A few of Buriak’s hobbies include reading, swimming and tennis. Her favorite musician is Relient K and her favorite actor is Daniel Radcliffe. Buriak’s favorite book is “Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins.

The person who Buriak admires the most is her mother, Kiera, because “she has done a lot with a little and she has to deal with her four kids.” Buriak’s favorite personality of today is author J.K. Rowling and personality of the past is President Abraham Lincoln.

The thing that Buriak enjoys the most about Ritzville is the simplicity and that it is not as intimidating as a big city can be. Buriak decided to participate in the Distinguished Young Women program for the overall experience.

Buriak’s talent for the program is speaking quickly, in a rhythmic way, to portray the problems of the first world.

Amalia Lissette Perez, 17, is the daughter of Maria Chavez and Raul Perez. Perez is active in Honor Band, cheerleading and National Honor Society, and has two favorite subjects, English and math.

Perez’s community involvement includes making candy wreathes for veterans, volunteering at the library, helping at the church and helping the math teacher inventory books.

Perez plans to attend either Central Washington University or University of Rochester, where she wants to start a career either as a teacher or working in psychology. The one thing Perez hopes to accomplish in her life is to make an impression on at least one person.

For hobbies, Perez enjoys reading, writing, doing calligraphy, painting, swimming, clay modeling and playing an instrument. Her favorite musician is Romeo Santos, favorite actress is Sandra Bullock and favorite author is Lurlene McDaniel.

The person who Perez admires most is her English teacher, Rosemarie Schultz, because “she’s strong, driven and focused.” Perez’s favorite personality of today is Oprah Winfrey and personality of the past is Susan B. Anthony.

The thing that Perez enjoys most about Ritzville is that there are not any distractions. She decided to participate in the Distinguished Young Women program for the overall experience and to learn more about herself. Perez is singing as her talent during the program.

Brooke Marie Pichette, 16, is the daughter of Shawn Pichette, and Aaron and Jodie Esser. Pichette’s school activities include basketball, softball, volleyball during freshman year, National Honor Society, Red R, FFA, junior class president and Pep Club. Pichette’s favorite subject is science.

Pichette’s community involvement includes Blues Fest breakfast, cleaning flower beds at fairgrounds, painting benches and flower pots at fairgrounds, setting up for Wampum, Wheat Land Communities’ Fair Princess, helped with Kindergarten through fourth grade basketball camp, helped at Relay For Life of Ritzville and served at Ritzville High School Alumni banquet.

After high school, Pichette plans to attend Gonzaga or Washington State University to receive a degree in nursing. The one thing Pichette would like to accomplish in her life is to attend a four-year college and graduate with a nursing degree in order to get a job in pediatrics as a nurse.

For hobbies, Pichette enjoys playing sports, swimming and photography. Her favorite musician is Tim McGraw and her favorite actor is Patrick Dempsey. Pichette’s favorite book is “A Child Called ‘It’” by Dave Pelzer.

The person that Pichette admires the most is her grandfather, because “he has always been a good example to me and he is always happy. He has taught me that winning isn’t everything but to always try my best and give it my all at whatever I may be doing in life.”

Pichette’s favorite personality of today is Brad Gering and personality of the past is Jimmie Snider. The thing that Pichette enjoys most about Ritzville is the small town atmosphere, that people are always helpful and she enjoys school because of the many friends that have been together since grade school.

Pichette decided to participate in the Distinguished Young Women program because it presented an opportunity to meet new people, is a great learning experience, she wants to represent the community of Ritzville and wants to be a good influence for younger and older kids. Pichette’s talent for the program is performing a humorous monologue.

Jordan Cecelia Schultz, 16, is the daughter of Brenda Hilzer and Gregory Schultz. For school activities, Schultz is involved in Pep Band, softball, National Honor Society, marching band and is the volleyball manager. Schultz’s favorite subject is reading.

Schultz is involved in many community activities, including helping the math teacher inventory books, helping put up Little League signs, running score clock for volleyball games, helping with bullying luncheon and helping during Honor Band practice.

After graduation, Schultz plans on attending Washington State University to earn a degree in veterinary sciences. The one thing that Schultz wants to accomplish in life is to become a successful equine veterinarian.

Schultz’s favorite musician is Frou Frou, favorite actor is Brendan Fraser and favorite book is “Runt” by Marion Dane Bauer. The person that Schultz admires the most is Spencer Moore because “he was always nice and always happy with life.”

Schultz’s favorite personality of today is her father, Gregory Shultz, and personality of the past is Spencer Moore. The one thing that Schultz enjoys most about Ritzville is her friends and the hospitality of the community.

The reason why Schultz wanted to participate in the Distinguished Young Women program is so she can become a more outgoing person. Schultz’s talent for the program is a flute solo.

Taylor Renae White, 17, is the daughter of Brandn and Stephanie White. White is involved with school activities like FFA, softball, volleyball, National Honor Society, Pep Club and Red R. White’s favorite subject is math.

White’s community involvement includes raising pigs for the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair, and various other projects through the FFA. White still is undecided on what college she plans to attend, but wants to major in graphic design.

The one thing she wants to accomplish in her life is to graduate college and have a well-paying job that she enjoys so she can support herself. White’s hobbies include softball, trapshooting, playing the fiddle, reading and drawing.

White’s favorite musician is Adele, favorite actress is Emma Stone and her favorite author is Jodi Picoult. The person who White admires the most is her father, because “he works really hard to do everything he can for our family and anyone else he can help.”

White’s favorite personality of today is Nancy Schell and personality of the past is Eleanor Roosevelt. The one thing that White enjoys most about Ritzville is that she has grown up with the same friends, not just peers, and is graduating high school with about 90 percent of the students she started with in Kindergarten.

The reason for White deciding that she wanted to participate in the Distinguished Young Women program is that both of her older sisters participated in the program and they enjoyed the experience so she would also like to have that opportunity. White’s talent for the program is playing the fiddle.