DYW program showcases three contestants

The annual Distinguished Young Women program kicks off the weekend’s events when three junior girls take center stage to be named the Distinguished Young Woman of Ritzville.

The three girls are candidates for the DYW program on Friday, March 21, in Gilson Gymnasium with the performance to begin at 7 p.m.

Vying for a position on the Ritzville court are Kymberlee Webb, Katie Manke and Cassie Ewing.

Katie Manke

Manke is the daughter of Janet and Ron Manke, and plans to attend college to pursue a career as a primary grade school teacher.

Manke plans to attend Washington State University or Eastern Washington University.

Manke’s favorite song is “Invisible” and her favorite poem is “Once We Played.” Luke Bryan is her favorite musician, while “The Notebook” is her favorite novel and movie.

She enjoys the TV show “Switched at Birth” and she likes the play Romeo and Juliet. Her favorite magazines are Woman’s World and First, and she relies on KHQ and The Journal for news.

Manke’s favorite modern personalities are Betty White and Shirley Temple, while historical personalities are Glenn Miller and Helen Keller.

Her activities include FFA, Bi-County Honor Choir, dance, FBLA, WE Lind-Ritzville, marching band majorette, Bible School assistant, 4-H senior leader, track and volleyball.

Manke’s list of achievements include high honor roll, selected to attend HOBY leadership seminar, FFA Star Greenhand, band/choir letter, Bi-County Honor Choir selection and track letter.

Manke volunteers with the Wheat Land Communities Fair, is an activity assistant at Kids’ Heart Camp, served at a community banquet, helped the Ritzville Festivals Association and assisting in the Lutheran Join Hands work day.

Her other interests include tap, pointe, ballet, jazz dance, photography, hunting, trapshooting, fishing, and raising and showing rabbits.

Manke is most proud of her generation for its “advancement of social media improving global communication,” but is least proud of the “lack of proper grammar, penmanship, and personal communication.”

She believes the most pressing problem facing young people today is “teen drug use, and peer pressure to participate.” The one thing Manke would improve about the school system is “reevaluate state testing guidelines and administration of tests.”

Cassie Ewing

Ewing is the daughter of Carol and David Ewing, and plans to attend a Christian university of her choice after graduation. She plans to pursue a career as a counseling psychologist or missionary.

Her favorite song is “Your Love” by Brandon Heath, while her favorite poem is “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou. Ewing’s favorite musician is Ellie Goulding and she enjoys reading “The Great Gatsby.”

Ewing enjoys watching Glee on television, and her favorite play is “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Her favorite movie is Breakfast at Tiffany’s and she enjoys reading Time and Lucky magazines. She uses the Internet and Fox News as her main sources for news.

Ewing’s favorite modern personalities are Jennifer Lawrence and LeAnne Ridgeway, while historical personalities are Pocahontas and Harriet Tubman.

Her activities include youth group, cheerleading, piano, theatre and track. Her public service activities include volunteering at the food bank, serving as a group leader for Vacation Bible School, attending a mission trip to Ecuador, serving Thanksgiving dinner for the community, and visiting Rose Garden and the Life Care Center of Ritzville.

Ewing’s other interests include teaching piano, running, cooking, baking and traveling.

Ewing is most proud of her generation “for challenging social norms of the past,” but is least proud “of my generations lack of commitment and dedication.”

She believes the most pressing problem facing young people today is “living in a society that favors instant gratification above hard work.” The one thing Ewing would do to improve the school system is “I would make education more personalized for each student.”

Kymberlee Webb

Webb is the daughter of Lisa Simonsen and plans to attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She intends to pursue a career as a social worker or an actress.

Her favorite song is “Dear X (You Don’t Own Me)” by Disciple, and she enjoys the poem “A Minor Bird” by Robert Frost. Her favorite musical group is Disciple, and she likes reading the novel “Wintergirls.”

Webb’s favorite TV show is The Big Bang Theory, while her favorite movie is The Little Mermaid. Her favorite play is “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” She enjoys reading Seventeen and Theatre Communications magazines, and uses The Journal and KXLY as her primary news sources.

Her favorite modern personalities are Jennifer Lawrence and Ben Underwood, while historical personalities are Maya Angelou and Charles Darwin.

Webb’s activities include cheerleading, National American Miss Competition of Washington, Rachel Thorton’s Ritzville 2015 representative, Ritzville Community Theatre, tennis, Missoula Children’s Theatre, WE Lind-Ritzville membership representative and Future Business Leaders of America member.

Her achievements include junior class president, Miss Actress of Washington and high honor roll recipient. Webb’s public service activities include assisting foster families, Relay For Life, raising awareness for homelessness, WE Lind-Ritzville, and donating blood.

Webb’s other interests include acting, singing, long distance running, making survival/military support bracelets, swimming and nail art.

The three girls take center stage at 7 p.m. in Gilson Gym to vie for the sought-after title of the 2014 Distinguished Young Woman of Ritzville.