OTTUMWA —
Erica Swanson’s jaw dropped when her name was called as this year’s Distinguished Young Woman of Iowa.
Joyce Sanchez, chair of Distinguished Young Women of Iowa since 1995, said the statewide program, which has been held in Ottumwa since 1973, benefits Iowa high school seniors “who want to further their education and exemplify that all-around high school girl.”
The program provides scholarships for the candidates to use toward their post-secondary education.
“This is a huge honor,” Swanson said after winning Saturday. “I’m absolutely surprised. All the other girls here are absolutely amazing and I could see any one of them getting it. I’m really happy.”
The program, formerly known as Iowa Junior Miss, changed its name to get away from being known as a “pageant” or the Miss America or Miss USA theme, Sanchez said.
At-large programs were held in Norwalk and Ottumwa last fall, which narrowed down the list of girls to nine: Allisyn Brandenburg of Kellogg, Taylor Hoskins of Walford, Ashlyn Nordyke of Ottumwa, Bridget Anderson of Ottumwa, Mandalyn Martin of Moulton, Tori Caddell of Council Bluffs, Erica Swanson of Ottumwa, Sarah Keith of Ottumwa and Bailey Whitsitt of Urbandale.
Swanson will receive a $1,500 scholarship, raised through funds from Ottumwa’s Oktoberfest parade, to go toward her college education. She plans to attend Iowa State University, studying kinesiology and health.
This summer, Swanson will represent Iowa at the national Distinguished Young Woman program in Mobile, Ala., where she will compete against 49 other girls for the top designation.
Each candidate is judged in five categories: self expression, scholastics, talent, fitness and an interview.
Before the event began Saturday night, 45 percent of the candidates’ scores had already been decided from their scholastics and their interview on Friday.
The girls put in long hours last week, rehearsing at Bridge View Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, as well as extra rehearsals from 6:30-10 p.m. every night.
They also heard from businesswomen throughout the community, who spoke about being a leader and motivating others.
“It gives the girls self-esteem and interview skills they can take with them forever,” Sanchez said.
In 1992, Sanchez’s family became a host family for one of the candidates.
“My daughter is an only child, and she thought it would be neat to have a sister for a week,” Sanchez said. “It’s addictive. Once you get involved, you’re hooked.”
After an opening number and a song from last year’s winner, Rachael Ostrem, the girls completed the self expression portion of the program, where they are asked a question at random and must answer on the spot. Questions ranged from sexting to bullying to obesity.
The Adopt-A-School program is always the candidates’ favorite part of the week, Sanchez said. The nine girls were spread throughout the Ottumwa school district at Douma, Eisenhower, Wilson, Wildwood and Horace Mann Elementary Schools. A child from each classroom the girls visited was chosen to go on stage with their “new best friend” Saturday.
Whitsitt was awarded this year’s “Be Your Best Self” award after writing an essay about a father figure in her life. While her father was never present in her life growing up, she had two strong male figures to help guide her: her grandfather and her stepfather.
“I was blessed to spend every morning, afternoon and summers with my grandparents,” Whitsitt wrote. “I live the way he would have wanted me to.”
Her stepfather has also been an important man in her life.
“I’m so incredibly grateful that Mark came into my life and completed our family,” she wrote.
The Spirit Award, which is voted on by all nine candidates and goes to the girl who best exemplifies “Be Your Best Self” was awarded to Caddell.
Ottumwa
Related Photos
-
Ottumwa High School senior Erica Swanson was overcome with emotion after she was named the 2013 Distinguished Young Woman of Iowa Saturday night.
Related Links
Swanson wins top honors at Distinguished Young Women of Iowa competition
- Ottumwa
-
-
Barber shows no signs of cutting career short
OTTUMWA -- Darrell Smith's hands are steady and sure as he picks up his clippers and straight razor to begin his first haircut and shave of the day. Smith, 88, has cut hair for 62 years and has owned Smitty's Barber Shop on Albia Road for the past 58
- Roaring winds Southeast Iowa in clean-up mode after storm passes through OTTUMWA — Work crews in and around Wapello County put in a lot of hours. And they were ready to do it again. “We had the storms roll through there last night,” said Ryan Stensland, a spokesman for Alliant Energy. “Down in southeast part of the state,
-
Flood debris removal up for consideration
OTTUMWA — A month after heavy rainfall caused rivers and streams to flood Ottumwa streets and homes, the city council will solidify a plan to remove the debris left behind. At the council's meeting tonight, members will consider awarding the $12,500
-
Reviving downtown's upper stories
Building by building, the upper stories of downtown Ottumwa are coming back to life after some have sat empty for half a century.
- Expanding Ottumwa's trail system OTTUMWA — The Market Street Bridge is a major link in connecting Ottumwa's north side to its south side. The seventh annual Wapello County Trails Council mediathon kicked off Saturday morning with volunteers on the phones taking pledges from the comm
-
Searching for the perfect book
A steady stream of people snatched up books, magazines, DVDs and more at the annual Pages for Pennies book sale at Bridge View Center this weekend.
-
Staff eager for swimmers Beach Ottumwa improvements
OTTUMWA — When kids talk about the last weeks of school, one subject that often comes up is The Beach Ottumwa. It'll be ready soon, said employees. On Friday, the maintenance staff was installing the fountain heads that shoot water straight up at the
- Mixed reactions to tax reduction OTTUMWA — During past public forums in Ottumwa, Sen. Mark Chelgren, R-Ottumwa, told voters the state should follow its own laws and make taxes equal across the board. This week, legislators in Des Moines took a first step toward that goal, which is a
-
New sports store coming to mall
OTTUMWA — A new tenant is coming to Quincy Place Mall. Lexington Realty International announced Friday afternoon the mall's newest tenant, MC Sports. Construction has already begun, and the store is anticipated to open just in time for back-to-school
- Wellness challenge asks people to live healthy OTTUMWA — Are you ready for the Live Healthy Iowa 10-Week Wellness Challenge? Some of the city employees joined Live Healthy Iowa, and Jody Gates, the city's health director, was captain of one of the two teams of about a dozen people. "Our goals for
- More Ottumwa Headlines
-
