Colfax Distinguished Young Woman named

COLFAX - Seven Colfax High School junior girls went on a mission to determine Colfax's Distinguished Young Woman for 2025 on Friday, March 22, with the title going to Karly Wigen, first alternate Marchele McNeilly, and second alternate Ava Swan.

The Colfax Auditorium was packed with friends, and family of the juniors agents #001 McNeilly, #002 Paige Cocking, #003 Karly Wigen, #004 Sunni Ng, #005 Dory Doty, #006 Swan, and #007 Claire Rowland.

As Distinguished Young Woman of Colfax for 2025, Wigen received a $1,600 scholarship, first alternate Marchele McNeilly received a $1,300, and second alternate Ava Swan received $1,000.

The girls set out on daring missions of fitness worth 25 percent after judging scores; talent 20 percent, self expression, 15 percent; scholastic, 25 percent; and a judge's interview at 25 percent.

The girls voted for the spirit award with McNeilly receiving $400.

During breaks the Secret Agent Mission Crew IMF Director Dean Ellis, and Johnny Drake and the Spies consisting of Darin Repp, JP McAnally, and Tyler Peterson kept everyone entertained.

"It's a very large team that pulled this off," Co-Chair Joanne Eng said, adding that there's a number of people that made this all happen. "Carrie Fulfs was fantastic," she said adding that the MC is Fulfs husband Dean and that they've done the program for years. "Everybody has their piece in it," she said.

Distinguished Young Woman of Washington 2023, Olivia Ng, gave a farewell speech and handed out the awards to participants.

In the fitness, talent, and self-expression categories the girls received $350 dollars for first in each section.

First place in the fitness category went to Swan, and second place went to McNeilly.

For talent, Ng took first receiving, and Rowland took second receiving.

Wigen took first in Self-expression, and McNeilly took second.

In scholarship Ng took first place receiving $500, with a tie for second between Doty and McNeilly. Both contestants receiving $400 each.

For the judge's interview Wigen took first recieving $500, and McNeilly took second receiving $400.

Each girl received $300 for the "Be Your Best Self" awards.

This year's Colfax Distinguished Young Woman program brought in $10,400 in scholarship awards.

"We were just really happy with the turnout, and how the businesses donated," Co-Chair Joanne Eng said, adding it increased how much they were able to give coming to $10,400 in total scholarships, and $500 to the top three ticket sales.

Three girls were awarded for selling the most tickets to the event, Wigen received first with $200 in ticket sales, Swan second with $175 in tickets and third McNeilly with $125 in tickets.