Editor,

It is said that the most successful event is one that achieves your goals and exceeds your expectations. That is exactly what took place on Saturday, March 19 at the second annual Miss Oak Harbor Scholarship Pageant, when we crowned our 2016 Miss Oak Harbor and princesses as well as our first ever Teen Miss Oak Harbor and princesses.

In just our second year, we supported 18 contestants through our six-week program and ended the evening awarding over $8,800 in college scholarships.

We continue to prove that this is not a beauty pageant but rather a program designed to encourage, inspire, and recognize the many achievements of the young women in our community.

The success of this program would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors. We humbly thank the following businesses and individuals for their support and contributions: Applebee’s, Ashley’s Design & Letterman Jackets, Bayview Embroidery n’ Print, Blue Fox Drive-In, C. Johnson Construction, Candlewood Suites, Chaparral Services, LLC, China City, Christine Cribb, Cynthia Allen-Jamberry, Custom Engraving, Lynnie Ochoa-Brown of Mary Kay, Debra Lang, Dominos, El Cazador, Eric

Marshall, Equestrian Lifestyle Companies, Farmers Insurance Agent Richard Voit, Frasers Gourmet Hideaway, Greg Smith-Edward Jones, HarborSUP, Island Chem Dry, Island Owlets of Origami Owl, Jones Accounting, Laura Houck Photography, Little Caesars, Kara Vallejo Makeup Artistry, Kara Telenga-DoTerra Essential Oils, Karla Sharkey, Kathy Grecco-Gold Canyon, Kempton Legal, PLLC, LangCo, Markell Egelston-Pampered Chef, Martin’s Auto Electric, Maurices, Melissa Fritch-Essante Organics, Midway Florist, Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Oak Harbor Plaza Cinemas, Pacific Grace Tax & Accounting, Papa Murphy’s, Safeway, Salon 7, Salon Lux, Seaside Salon, Shelly Etherington-Thrive, Skagit-Island Human Resources Management Association, Sugar Studio, Sue Blouin Koetje-Leavitt Group, Suzanne Phay-Stella & Dot, The Ballet Slipper Conservatory, Thrive, Tradewinds Insurance, Tyra Adkinson-Scentsy, Vonda Isenhart, Walmart, WhidbeyLocal.com, Whidbey Tech Solutions and Whidbey Weekly.

We would also like to thank our Mistress of Ceremonies, Erica Wasinger, our auditors, Kathy Jolly and Ronnie Wright with Pacific Grace Tax and Accounting and our judges, Jeff McMahan, Abigail Dominguiano, Brian Jones, Nora O’Connell-Balda and Tara Hizon.

We acknowledge special appreciation for our backstage crew and pageant-night helpers: Michelle O’Kelley, Morgan Demouchet, Barbara Hernandez, Emily Mulka, Jim Nelson, Joe and Janice Case, Kylie Ehlert, OHHS NJROTC Color Guard, Vic Rikard and Wildcat TV.

We would also like to thank our great community for the support of our program and participants, our contestants for their unflagging commitment to the program and its process, and the families who shared their daughters with us and stood behind them all the way.

Jes Walker-Wyse

Pageant Wyse