Twinkies could send Everett girl to college

EVERETT – Janie Brigman has already proved she’s the cream of the Twinkie box-designing crop.

Her brush with fame started when she saw an ad in National Geographic Kids calling for young artists across the country to take a crack at designing a special box for Twinkies’ 75th anniversary in April.

Janie, 11, designed a birthday box and sent it off.

To her surprise, she won a bicycle, $1,000 and a Twinkie prize pack when she was chosen out of 1,500 kids as one of 10 national finalists.

Now she’s in the running for the grand prize, a $40,000 scholarship, and her drawing going out on Twinkie boxes across the country.

Hostess-Frito Lay Co., which makes Twinkies, is allowing America to decide which of the 10 finalists should win with an online vote at www.twinkies.com.

Janie, the daughter of Rick and Nancy Brigman of Everett, will enter sixth grade at Evergreen Middle School in September.

The fifth of six children, Janie just smiles when her mother explains how shy she can be in public.

“But once she’s comfortable, watch out!” Nancy Brigman said. “I think it’s exciting for her. We find it fun and entertaining, even if she doesn’t like all the attention.”

Janie loves to draw, and as a child she drew on the walls. Now that she’s older, her parents supply her with window chalk to decorate the glass in her room.

She checks out drawing books from the library, and also likes to read mysteries, make scrapbooks and watch design shows on television.

Although Twinkies have far brought her fame and could bring her a fortune to spend on college, Janie doesn’t eat many Twinkies.

“They’re OK, but I like Ding-Dongs better,” she said. “Sometimes the cream is too much.”

To get the word out about the contest, Janie used her paints to write “Vote for Janie at www.twinkies.com” on the windows of her family’s house and cars.

Tens of thousands of people have voted online so far, but with 10 days left to vote, it’s still anybody’s contest, said Twinkies spokesman Kevin Kaul.

Contestants are from cities all over the country and range in age from 6 to 11.

“With our birthday coming up, it was important for us to celebrate with kids,” Kaul said. “Kids of all ages eat Hostess, but truly it starts when they’re kids with Twinkies in lunchboxes.”

Voting for Twinkie box designs ends Aug. 31, and the winners will not be announced in April.

If Janie wins, there will be plenty of time to decide what college will receive her $40,000.

The real decision, Nancy Brigman said, will be Twinkie-related.

“If her design gets on the box, how many boxes do we buy?”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Lake Stevens Sewer District wastewater treatment plant. (Lake Stevens Sewer District)
Lake Stevens sewer district trial delayed until April

The dispute began in 2021 and centers around when the city can take over the district.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

A salmon carcass lays across willow branches in Edgecomb Creek on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tribes: State fish passage projects knock down barriers for local efforts

Court-ordered projects have sparked collaboration for salmon habitat restoration

The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.