‘A celebration of freedom.’ Tri-Cities Miss Juneteenth Pageant aims to educate, inspire

Seven Tri-Cities high school girls are preparing to compete for the Miss Juneteenth Scholarship pageant crown this week as part of an effort to educate the public and inspire young Black women to become leaders.

The only Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant in Washington state is celebrating its 21st year of educating the community about the recently recognized federal holiday.

Juneteenth serves as a remembrance of the date that enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Word did not reach slaves in Texas until the Union army took control of the Port of Galveston on June 19, 1865, after the war’s official end.

Pageant director Elouise Sparks started the Tri-Cities event to educate people about Juneteenth, celebrate Black people’s freedom and encourage the young ladies to be educated and excel.

“We are all about education, it’s not about how our girls look. This is a celebration of freedom… for African American people. To be whatever they choose to be, do whatever they choose to do,” Sparks said.

Last year, they raised over $10,000 in scholarships. The pageant is designed to help contestants with the cost of college, with the queen and the court receiving the scholarship money.

The 2022 Queen, Razan Osman, will be passing on her crown. During her time as queen, she has gotten to each people about Juneteenth and know the community better as she participated in different local events, such as speaking to school students.

“I appreciate what I got from this experience and I’m ready for someone else to experience it,” Osman said.

Osman is currently studying civil engineering at WSU Tri-Cities and feels like she gained leadership skills. She has used those newfound skills as the vice president of the Black Student Union club and by forming a Women in STEM club.

To her, Juneteenth is about being a resilient person. This experience has made her more courageous and want to take action.

“Everyone should do something similar to this, it doesn’t have to be a pageant, just something that pushes you out of your comfort zone,” Osman said.

Contestants prepare for the crown by going through a series of classes, and then compete by answering impromptu questions, giving interviews and showcasing their talent.

Osman plans on still helping out and being part of the Big Sister Mentors, which are former queens.

The new queen will be announced Friday, June 16, at the Chiawana High School Auditorium. The event is 6- 9 p.m., at 8125 W. Argent Rd., Pasco.

This year’s contestants are:

Aissata Jallon

Aissata, 16, is the daughter of Fatima Samake of Kennewick. She is an upcoming senior at Kamiakin High School where she is a member of the Black Student Union. She plays basketball, throws shot-put on the track team, does karate and volunteers at the Adult Family Homes. She wants to pursue a degree in pre-med and anesthesiology.

Alyssa Dunstan

Alyssa, 17, is the daughter of Trevor and Ashley Dunstan of Pasco.. She is an upcoming senior at Chiawana High School, where she is a member of the varsity cheerleading team, senior class vice president and a National Honor Society member. She also attends Running Start at Columbia Basin College where she is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. Alyssa enjoys drawing, tumbling and spending time with loved ones. She would like to pursue a degree in astrophysics.

Micah Milliner

Micah, 16, is the daughter of Michael Milliner of Kennewick and Utheshiea Johnson of Georgia. She is an upcoming senior at Kamiakin High School, where she is the Founder of Kamiakin’s first Black Student Union. She is also a member of the Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion Club and the Air Force Junior ROTC. She enjoys baking, reading, and listening to music. One of her fondest memories is making wishes in her home State of Mississippi with her grandmother. Micah would like to attend a Historically Black College or University, specifically Spelman College, to pursue a degree in education, striving to help shape the minds of the upcoming generations.

Nesreen Hassan

Nesreen, 18, is the daughter of Sayeda Hammad. She is a recent graduate of Kennewick High School, and Tri-Tech Skills Center pre-nursing program. She is founder and president of the Black Student Union and enjoyed being a student representative at Kennewick School District. Nesreen also plays viola and works at the Life Care Center of Kennewick. She plans a degree in nursing with a goal of being a pediatrician.

Virginier Middleton

Virginier, aka “Vee,” 16, is the daughter of Pascaline Middleton of Pasco. She is an upcoming senior at Kennewick High School where she played basketball, track, and swim team. She is also a member of the Junior ROTC. Vee enjoys running, basketball and playing with her dog. She plans on attending the Airforce Academy to pursue a degree in nursing.

Camia Howard-Gorman

Camia, 17, is the daughter of Camelia Gorman of Pasco and Simeon Howard of Richland. She is an upcoming senior at Kamiakin High School and a member of the girls’ basketball team, track and field and Black Student Union. The basketball team finished fifth in the state and Camia took first place in the Mid-Columbia Conference and third in the state shot-put competition. She plans to pursue a degree in psychology.

Catherine Elgarai

Catherine, 18, is the daughter of Honida Hassan of Kennewick. She is a recent graduate of Kennewick High School, where she was a member of the Black Student Union, track and field and SDM. Catherine enjoys styling hair in her spare time and plans to pursue a degree in nursing.