1. Pullman teen earns Distinguished Young
Woman of Washington title
Rose Jao to represent state in 2015 Distinguished Young Woman
national program
Dean Hare/Daily News
Rose Jao, front, of Pullman, competes during the fitness portion of the Washington 2015 Distinguished Young Woman
Scholarship Program Saturday at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman.
Posted: Monday, August 4, 2014 1:00 am | Updated: 8:12 am, Mon Aug 4, 2014.
By Danielle Wiley Daily News Staff Writer |
Fifteen young women stood Saturday night on stage at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman hoping to be rewarded
for their hard work.
After months of preparation, practices and outfit changes, it was time to find out who was going home as the
new Distinguished Young Woman of Washington. They all held hands in support during the last nerve-
racking moments.
As winners of various categories were announced, one name stood out among the crowd.
Pullman's Rose Jao, the youngest contestant that night, had so far won a fitness award, a talent award, a
self-expression award and one of the preliminary scholastic awards. Her family and friends in the audience
almost fell out of their seats as her name was called over and over again.
Now it was time for the biggest announcements. Second runner-up went to Lindsey Heflin from Clarkston.
Alison Hyre, representing Moses Lake, was first runner-up.
Jao's name was announced as the 2015 Distinguished Young Woman of Washington.
Jao, who turned 16 years old in April, won about $6,000 in scholarship money Saturday night, in addition to
the title. She will represent Pullman and the state of Washington all year until she goes to Mobile, Ala., next
June to compete for the national title.

2. Jao wowed the judges and the crowd during her performances. During the talent portion of the show, she
played Sonata No. 9 in D Major, K. 311 by Mozart as a piano solo. She showed poise, balance and
gracefulness during her fitness routine and later boldly explained to the judges that the public school system
relies too much on letter grading and needs to be changed during the self-expression portion of the show.
"You know I never really thought I'd get this far," Jao said.
Jao decided to join the DYW program when a close friend encouraged her to look into it, although Jao's
mother wasn't so sure about the idea at first.
"At first she wanted to join this program ... I said no, I don't think you can get it. You are only 16 years old
and other girls are 17-, 18-year-olds. And you are Chinese, I don't think you can get it," Jun Jao said.
Wei-Chi said Jao purchased most of her clothes and shoes needed for the program and took everything
very seriously. She described her daughter as an independent and smart young woman.
She said she, along with her husband, was blown away by her daughter's performance Saturday.
"When she got it, I cried. I never ever dreamed she could get it," she said.
Jao's father, who is Taiwanese, said he was also proud of his daughter, and he is excited to see where she
goes next.
"I think I should do my duty. I will be fully supporting her. She is representing Washington now," Wei-Chi Jao
said.
Although Jao's mother was worried her daughter's Asian heritage might hinder her chances at the title, Jao
believes it was ultimately that background that helped her stand out.
"It didn't hinder anything. Honestly, I think it helped in a way because it made me easy to identify to the
judges. I think with the (Asian) culture, it also helped - it's kind of strict and of high expectations, and it's
helped me be prepared for an event like this," Jao said.
Jao said she is honored to represent Washington and her hometown.
While Jao said she is thrilled to be going to the national competition next summer, she isn't expecting much.
She said she is going to try her best and enjoy herself.
"I'm trying to go in there without expectations. That was my end goal. I just want to get to nationals. I just
want to get there and have fun," she said.
Jao said she is going to use her scholarship money to study business after she graduates high school, and
she is looking at attending Stanford or the University of Washington.
This year was the 57th annual DYWA, which was known as the Junior Miss Program until June 2010. The
program was founded in Mobile, Ala., in 1958 and is one of the oldest scholarship programs in the nation.