Gingrich selected as 2020 Distinguished Young Woman

Katheran Gingrich was recognized as the Distinguished Young Woman of Lind-Ritzville for 2020 on March 16 at the Lind-Ritzville Middle School gymnasium in Lind, winning out over four other contestants in a night full of thunderous applause and hearty laughs.

Gingrich was also awarded the $1,000 scholarship that comes with being named the Lind-Ritzville Distinguished Young Woman. Over $4,000 worth of scholarship funds were awarded in all at the end of the two-hour program, with each contestant winning at least $100 in scholarship funds.

Taylor Stromberger and Kelley Carleton were recognized as the first finalist and second finalist, respectively. Stromberger won $750 in scholarship funds for finishing in second place, while Carleton won $500 for finishing in third place. The judges made their decisions in a "deliberation room" following the final contest by using a point system for each individual event.

The first contest of the night between the contestants was the talent portion of the program. The talent contest accounted for 20 percent of a contestant's final score. Gingrich, who performed a vocal performance of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," finished in first place in the event. Kelley Carleton finished in second place in the event, as she performed a rendition of Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain" with her flute. For finishing first and second in the event, Gingrich and Carleton were awarded $200 and $100 in scholarship funds, respectively.

Bama Rushing painted for her talent, surprising the crowd at the end when she turned the painting upside-down and revealed that she had actually been drawing a portrait of a man. Stromberger performed a cheer routine set to Demi Lovato's "Confident," and Diamond Spain gave a monologue about leaving her home in California and moving to Ritzville.

Following a vocal performance from the 2019 DYW of Moses Lake, Rachel Law, the contestants were back on stage for their second event of the program, the fitness competition.

The contestants performed a modified routine from the 2016 National DYW Program, "Salute." Each contestant was given the spotlight for a time during the routine to display their fitness capabilities, by performing push-ups, planks and other exercises.

The judges gave Stromberger the highest score, while Gingrich finished in second place. The fitness competition accounted for 15 percent of a contestant's final score.

In the third and final contest of the program, each contestant was asked an on-the-spot question and had to do their best in giving a succinct and thoughtful answer. The self-expression event also accounted for 15 percent of a contestant's final score.

Stromberger finished in first place in the event, and was awarded $150 in scholarship funds. Stromberger was asked what life lessons she would take with her into the special education field.

"Life lessons I would take with me in the special education field is to be patient," said Stromberger. "Every special education student has different needs, and cannot speak for themselves or communicate very well. And in order to do that, you need patience."

Gingrich was the runner-up in the event, and was awarded $100 in scholarship funds. She was asked what she envisioned herself doing with a political science degree.

"With a political science degree, I hope to work my way up until I'm an ambassador and work in a foreign country representing the United States in an embassy," Gingrich said.

The self-expression competition was the third and final contest that took place during the program. Before the program, each contestant was interviewed by the panel of judges. The Interview Awards were given to the contestants who best displayed strength of speech with honest and thoughtful expression.

Gingrich was chosen by the judges as the winner of the event, while Spain finished in second place. Gingrich was awarded $250 in scholarship funds, while Spain was awarded $100. The interview portion of the program accounted for 25 percent of a contestant's final score.

The final criteria that the judges used in determining each contestant's final score was how they fared scholastically. The Scholastic Awards are given to the contestants who have shown the most hard work, educational focus and scholastic achievement. Like the interview portion, the scholastic portion of the program was determined before the program and accounts for 25 percent of a contestant's final score.

Gingrich and Rushing finished first and second in the event, respectively. Gingrich was awarded $250 in scholarship funds, while Rushing was awarded $100.

In addition to the events that were judged and used in determining the winner, the contestants themselves were also able to vote for the DYW Spirit Award, which goes to the contestant who embodies the attitude of a distinguished young woman, is always striving to be their best self and is encouraging others to do the same. This award does not factor into scoring for the overall program

There was a tie for this year's DYW Spirit Award, with Gingrich and Rushing each receiving two of the five votes. Both of the girls were awarded the $150 in scholarship funds that came with the award.

The second award that had no bearing on the scoring of the program was the Be Your Best Self Award. The award is given to the contestant who has ventured outside of her comfort zone, pushed through her fears and did so with a smile and determination to become their best self.

The winner of the Be Your Best Self Award was Kelley Carleton, who was also awarded the $150 in scholarship funds that came with the acknowledgment. Carleton was chosen by the program's production designer and their volunteers.

In all, $4,050 was awarded in scholarships to the five contestants. Donations came from various local businesses, organizations and families. Dena Freese-Roberts donated $1,000 for the 2020 Distinguished Young Woman of Lind-Ritzville winner, the Ritzville Festivals Association donated $750 for the first finalist, and the Curry Family donated $500 for the second finalist.

This was also the first year where the program was able to award runner-ups in the judged events with scholarship monies. Each runner-up in the five judged events was awarded $100 in scholarship funds.