Brooke Bankus wins Garfield/ Palouse title

Brooke Bankus of Garfield was named the Distinguished Young Woman of Garfield-Palouse March 10, and awarded $2,875 in cash scholarships during the program at the Silver Creek Connection building in Garfield. Lexi Brantner was selected as runner-up and took home $1,625 in tuition scholarship awards.

All scholarship money was contributed by local businesses, individuals and organizations.

Both girls took home $125 spirit awards. Bankus won both the scholastic category and judges' Interview category, each $450.

Brantner won the fitness category for $250, as well as the self-expression category for $250 and $1,000 as the runner up.

Bankus took home $350 for winning the talent portion of the program and $1,500 as the Garfield/Palouse winner.

It was presented by the Palouse Chamber of Commerce.

Bankus will represent the Garfield-Palouse communities and serve as a role model to spreading the program's national message, "Be Your Best Self."

Brooke is the daughter of Jason and Amanda Bankus, and Lexi is the daughter of Wade and Pam Brantner. Both are juniors at Garfield/Palouse High School in Palouse.

Bankus will participate in the Washington state event Aug. 3 in Pullman. The state winner will compete in the national event next June at Mobile, Ala., for a chance to become the Distinguished Young Woman of America.