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POMEROY––The Distinguished Young Women of Pomeroy scholarship program held their first event since 2006 on Sunday, April 21, at 5:00 at the Seeley Theatre, where Isabella Field was crowned as Pomeroy's 2025 Distinguished Young Woman. Taylor Gilbert is first alternate. DYW, formerly known as Junior Miss, provided scholarships to participants of the program based upon their skills and involvement in the categories of community service, spirit, fitness, talent, self-expression, scholastics, and interview.

Four junior-year girls from Pomeroy High School competed in the program. Kiersten Bartels, daughter of Brian and Kristi Bartels and Kristin Hatala; Isabella Field, daughter of Chris and Jayci Field; Elena Morfin, daughter of Efren Morfin and Enedelia Avila; and Taylor Gilbert, daughter of Nate and Keshia Gilbert. The girls began practices in January and have been learning poise and public speaking, and participating in serving and youth outreach.

The program contained an opening number, choreographed by Chelsea Eaton and Alyssa Wolf, as well as a fitness routine, a talent section, and a self-expression section. Guest performers entertained the audience as well, including Angie Severson's performance of the National Anthem, Payton Newberg's self-choreographed dance, Carmen Gwinn's piano performance of Taylor Swift's 'Exile', and a dance performed by the Little DYW-girls from grades 1-4 who participated in the Little DYW program earlier this year.

The winners of the scholarships were Isabella Field, who won the 2025 Distinguished Young Woman award, the Talent award, the Scholastic Award, the Interview award, and a Be Your Best Self award, for a total of $1,900; Taylor Gilbert, who won the First Alternate award, the Fitness award, the Self-Expression award, and a Be Your Best Self award for a total of $1,200; Elena Morfin, who won the Spirit of DYW award and a Be Your Best Self Award for a total of $200; and Kiersten Bartels, who won a Be Your Best Self award for $100. The scholarship funds were provided by the former Junior Miss Committee.

The judges for the program were LouAnn Watson, Rob Cunningham, Bailey Roth, Debra Lybyer, Shanda Hunter, and scholastic judge Chris Mentor. Jill Balmer, aunt of co-chair Tai Bye, served as Master of Ceremonies, and intermission refreshments were provided by The Baker's Table and Albertson's Bakery.

-EW photo by Naomi Scoggin

The DYW participants-Taylor Gilbert, Isabella Field, Elena Morfin, and Kiersten Bartels-performed a fitness routine including jumping jacks, pushups, and running in place.

Tai Bye and Gena Severson, co-chairs of Distinguished Young Women of Pomeroy, decided to revive the program that has not been held in Pomeroy since 2006. "The biggest thing we want to do is serve. We want to make a positive impact on these girls' lives," Bye said. The program has been funded through fundraising efforts, donations from the community, and some funds provided from the former Junior Miss Committee. The program has raised $3,400 for scholarship and operating expenses this year. "Our goal is to raise money throughout next year in order to be able to give out more," Bye said. "We cannot make this program work without the community."

Bye also stated that the program has an "army of people" who have put in hours of work behind the scenes. She especially thanked Chelsea Eaton, who has served as choreographer, as well as the five judges of the mock interview held in March. She said the interview provided "an incredible experience for the girls. I was so thankful for those judges."