PAGE A12, KEIZERTIMES, APRIL 15, 2022
LIFE
Feel -Good
presented by
STORY
Saluting the people that make
us proud of our community
These women are distinguished
A
By JOSHUA MANES
Of the Keizertimes
The Distinguished Young Women of
Keizer were back on stage at McNary
High School Saturday, April 9, naming
Kiele Jarnagin and Anna Sponable as
the 2023 representatives.
Jarnagin nearly swept the awards,
receiving $250 scholarships from five of
the six categories. She won the spirit,
self-expression, fitness and scholastics
categories outright. Her monologue from
Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband tied for
the talent award with Lilly Purkey, who
C
sang Top of My School by Katherine
Lynn-Rose. Both Jarnagin and Purkey
received $250 scholarships.
“The first time I heard my name I
was like ‘Oh my gosh, I actually won
something, this is crazy,’” Jarnagin said.
“When they kept calling my name, oh no,
this is feeling a little too real right now.
Every single emotion came at me all at
once. I’m surprised I wasn’t crying.”
The sixth category, interview, was awarded
to the first alternate McKenna Eppley.
Sponable’s emotional shock at being
named a Distinguished Young Woman
of Keizer was apparent when her name
was called.
“I was just expecting to sit there and
say ‘Yay,’ but now I’m here and can’t wait
to represent Keizer,” Sponable said. “I
was kind of hoping to win, but winning
itself, wow, I wasn’t expecting it.”
On top of the $1,000 scholarships they
each received, Jarnagin and Sponable
will now advance to the state competition
for a chance at additional scholarship
money and to move on to the national
program in Mobile, Alabama in June.
Being named the Distinguished Young
D
Women of Keizer comes with more hon-
ors than the scholarships and opportu-
nities at the state and possibly national
levels. While both Jarnagin and Sponable
look forward to competing and learning at
state, one thing stands out to them.
“Going in the Iris Parade, I can’t wait for
that,” Sponable said. “I’ve always dreamed
of being in the Iris Parade just like the pre-
vious Distinguished Young Women.”
Jarnagin sees the title as an oppor-
tunity to be a role model and continue
helping out with the program next year,
inspiring future classes as she was by the
class of 2020.
“I was just in complete awe because
they were strong and independent
women, but they also had their sense of
femininity with them,” Jarnagin said.
“I want to be that person on that float. I
want to be that inspirational person that
little kids look up to.”
Two former Distinguished Young
Women of Keizer received unexpected
recognition. 2022 representatives Ellie
Auvinen and Sydney Smith were part of the
night’s proceedings. The evening began
with Auvinen singing the national anthem
accompanied by Smith on the piano.
Later, both Auvinen and Smith
B