Five Wapato High School seniors will vie for the title of Miss Wapato on Saturday, Sept. 5. The annual pageant is part of the 69th annual Wapato Harvest celebration. The five 2009 Miss Wapato candidates are: Brenda Diaz, Jessica Camacho, Araceli Urbina, Ariel Valdez and Arcelia Virgen.
Each candidate will be judged in several areas during the program. Prior to the actual competition on Saturday, candidate was required to compete a community service project, submit a written bio and take part in a personal interview. To start the evening, the five contestants will perform an opening fitness routine based on this year’s theme, “Over the Rainbow.” The opening number will be followed by an evening gown competition, a question and answer segment, a talent segment and poise and appearance. The candidates will also be scored on the number of tickets they sell for the festival.
The winner of Miss Wapato 2009 will represent the community at various local events along with serving as an ambassador at out-of-town functions.
Candidate One:
Ariel Valdez
Valdez is a WHS honor roll students, achieving a 3.95 cumulative grade point average at Wapato High. She is a member of the school’s Filipino American Student’s Association, Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement Club, is on the school’s leadership team and is involved in ASB. She is a WHS three-sport athlete – swimming, basketball cheer and tennis. Following graduation, Valdez plans to attend the University of Washington. Her career goal is to become a nurse.
Candidate Two:
Araceli Urbina
Urbina is active in both school activities and high school athletics along with community service and church. She is a member of the school’s M.E.Ch.A, AFAS, WHS Letterman’s club, on the school honor roll and has received the school ‘s Community Service award. She is on the high school basketball, track and cross-country teams. She is also very active in her church and serves as a youth leader.
Following graduation, Urbina plans to attend Tri-Cities Gathers For Him. Her career path includes a job in the legal and medical field or in cosmetology.
Candidate Three:
Brenda Diaz
Diaz is involved in wide range of school and community projects and activities. At Wapato High, Diaz has served as the AFAS event coordinator, is a member of the WHS Letterman’s Club, and sings in the Chamber choir and in Envox, WHS’s honor choir.
She is a member of the WHS soccer team, fast pitch, cheer squad and is the WHS Varsity and JV basketball scorekeeper. Within the community, she is a member of the Tahitian and Filipino dancers and has performed at numerous events, alumni assemblies, and the school luau in 2008. Following high school, she plans to attend college and become a crime scene investigator.
Candidate Four:
Jessica Camacho
Camacho is the 2009-10 ASB vice president at Wapato High School. She is on the WHS honor roll, achieving a 3.97 grade point average. At school, she is also a member of the Family Career and Community Leaders of America club, involved in ASB, serves as the secretary of the MESA club, was a sophomore class officer, the FCCLA Cluster representative at a conference in Dallas and served as an Evergreen Girls State representative. She is a member of the WHS varsity tennis team. She is also employed part-time as a secretary at Skone and Connors in Wapato.
Following high school, Camacho plans to attend the University of Washington. Her career goal is to become a computer science engineer.
Candidate Five:
Arcelia Virgen
Virgen divides her time between school and community projects. At WHS, she is a member of M.E.Ch.A, Art club, Spanish club, has assisted at the Mother’s Tea, Junior/Senior prom, worked at the annual Turkey Dinner, Sukiyaki dinner, Bean feed, school canned food driver. She has also served as her class president.
She is a member of the WHS soccer and tennis teams.
In the community, she served as the coordinator the of Yakama Nation Canned Food drive, worked at Campbell Farms and competed a Christmas gift-wrapping project at WHS.
After graduation, Virgen plans to attend a community college to earn her A.A. degree and transfer to the University of Washington, where she will pursue a nursing degree to become a registered nurse.
The new Miss Wapato will make her first official appearance during the Wapato Fall Festival parade on Monday, Sept. 7.