Editor,

On Saturday, March 9th, at the eighth annual Miss Oak Harbor Scholarship Pageant, we crowned our 2024 Miss and Teen Miss Oak Harbor Royalty, who will represent our city while serving the community for the next year. We supported 21 contestants through our six-week program and ended the evening by delivering over $29,000 in scholarships and awards! 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 is not possible without the generous support of our sponsors, coaches, and volunteers. Whidbey Royalty humbly thanks the following businesses and individuals for their support and contributions:

3 Sisters, Applebee’s, Anita Johnston, Ashley’s Design, Bassett Ag LLC, Because We Matter, Best Friends Veterinary Center, Campbell Brothers Fencing LLC, Cathy Rockwell, China City, Chris’ Bakery, Dominos, Edward Jones—River Powers and Aaron Tabor, Elaine’s Photo Studio, Farm Strong Bulldogs, Frasers Gourmet Hideaway, Honeymoon Bay Coffee Roasters, Humphrey Sign Co, Island Erratics Farm, Island Oral & Facial Surgery, JuelinJoi, Kate Hauter, Laura Houck Photography, Lemme Dental Studio, Lynnie Brown, Mala Sooknanan, Mark’s Auto Repair, Ms Ashley’s Preschool, My Sister’s Closet, North End Fitness, Puget Sound Golf Club, R&R Tree Service, Siren House, Specialty Welding & Technique, STAR Behavior Consulting, Studio Sugar, Sylvan Learning Center of Oak Harbor, The Annie Cash Team, The Ballet Slipper, The Ballet Slipper Conservatory, The Casual House, The Greenhouse Florist & Nursery, The Seaside Salon & Spa-North and Triple C Constructions Services.

We would also like to thank our coaches — Brianna Thompson, Graeme Sandlin, Jill Johnson, JoAnna Brooks, Mara Powers, Mari Wuellner, Stephanie Smith and Sue Riney, our Mistress of Ceremonies — Erica Wasinger; our emcees — Mara Powers and Kiersten Tyson; our judges — Dale Marrs, Jim Slowik, Amy Malmkar, Kendra Sanchez and Kevin Counts; and our many volunteers.

We are so fortunate to live in such a caring and generous community that has a deep understanding of the value of our youth. We thank our supporters for their continued investment in our program, our contestants for their steadfast commitment to the program and its process, and the families who shared their daughters with us and cheered them on each week.

Miss Oak Harbor (dba Whidbey Royalty) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to inspire, challenge, and mentor contestants while providing opportunities for them to develop life skills that will enhance their confidence, self-esteem and sense of accomplishment.

River Powers and the entire

Whidbey Royalty Board of Directors