Misty Skelton wins DYW title

Misty Skelton won the first Colfax Distinguished Young Woman title Saturday night to cap a three-hour “A Night at the Movies” competition at the CHS auditorium. Morgan Willson was named first alternate and Kelsey Nails, second alternate, in the competition which totaled 14 entrants.

Skelton, who attended two months of practice sessions while also competing on the Bulldog girls basketball team, also won the fitness, talent and interview events of the competition. Willson won the self-expression segment, and Megan Groom won the academic honors.

Entrants selected Abby Muir for the spirit award, and Willson won the top ticket sales award.

Left to right are Misty Skelton, Erin Cox, Haley Hahn, Abby Muir, Amanda Unger, Elizabeth Hatley, Natasha Nellis, Samantha Pearson, Kelsey Nails, Morgan Willson, Megan Groom, Abby Thayer, Kaysha Lyman and Jherilynne Wride.

Because of strong tickets sales, the event organizers were able to award second-place prizes in the five competition events. Those winners were Willson, fitness; Nails, interview, talent and self expression, and Natasha Nellis, scholastic.

Top prizes included $1,000 to the winner, $600 for first alternate and $400 for second alternate.

Skelton will advance to the state competition in August, and Willson will be the Colfax entrant in the Miss Palouse Empire Fair competition in September.

Saturday’s competition was the first under the new America’s Distinguished Young Woman format which replaces the America’s Junior Miss event which started in Colfax in 1957.

Last year’s winners, Emily Ledbetter, Brooke Webber and Kaci Kopczynski were emcees. Ledbetter will also have the unique claim to being the last Colfax Junior Miss.