2021 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Emily Kang Distinguished Young Woman of Illinois 2020
Showcase Order Opening Number, “Dynamite” and Introduction of Participants,
choreographed by Julia Markun, Distinguished Young Woman of Illinois 2012
History of Program and Explanation of Judging Categories Fitness Routine, “Body Work,”
Distinguished Young Women of Illinois Class of 2021 and Emily Kang, Distinguished Young Woman of Illinois 2020 Dora Guo, Distinguished Young Woman of America 2019
choreographed by Emily Kidd, Distinguished Young Woman of Illinois 2007
Silver Group: Participants 7-11
Talent Presentations
Participants 1-3
Self-Expression Showcase
Blue Group: Participants 12-17
Introduction of Judges
Dora Guo
Talent Presentations
Participants 4-6
Fitness Routine
Red Group: Participants 1-6
Talent Presentations
Participants 7-10
Self-Expression Showcase
Silver Group
Be Your Best Self Program
Dora Guo
Talent Presentations
Participants 11-13
Fitness Routine
Blue Group
Talent Presentations
Participants 14-17
Self-Expression Showcase
Red Group
Special Talent Presentation: “Ruby Red,” Contemporary Dance
Emily Kang, Distinguished Young Woman of Illinois 2020
Year in Review
Emily Kang
Gratitude to Sponsors & Volunteers
Tiana Pequette, Chairwoman, Distinguished Young Women of Illinois
Scholarship Awards
Tiana Pequette
Message from the Chairwoman On behalf of the Distinguished Young Women of Illinois state committee, I welcome you to the 2021 Distinguished Young Women of Illinois digital program, a scholarship program that recognizes and rewards high school senior girls for their achievements and excellence! I got involved with Distinguished Young Women in high school. One evening when I was a sophomore, I happened to watch the national finals on television. When I saw the judging criteria, which included scholastics as a major component as opposed to a swimsuit competition, I thought, “I actually get points for my SAT score and GPA? This is the best pageant ever!” When I was a senior, I looked into the program again and signed up. I soon learned that it was not a “pageant” at all, but a true scholarship program. The winners go on to attend the top universities in the country, aided by the scholarships they earn through the Distinguished Young Women program. My experience participating in the Distinguished Young Women of Illinois program was amazing. I loved getting to meet so many other intelligent, talented, and ambitious high school seniors from across the state. I was so honored to be named the overall Scholastic Achievement winner in the state, and the scholarship I won there went toward my tuition at Northwestern University. When my sister Emily Kidd won the state title in 2007, I decided to start a local program in my hometown, which I chaired for three years. This is now my eleventh year serving as the state chairwoman! Despite the current circumstances preventing the usual gatherings and in-person school and shows, this year’s outstanding participants have had the opportunity to meet other motivated and goal-oriented women and share their experiences and goals, both over video calls and in an outdoor gathering. This is an opportunity to meet new friends, celebrate high school successes, and set the stage for future educational opportunities. Over the past month, in addition to many hours of preparation, the participants have also gotten to know our 2020 representative, Emily Kang. Emily is a very intelligent, talented, and driven young woman, and she represented Illinois beautifully in the digital national finals in June! In fact, she earned a $1,000 scholarship for placing in the top five girls in the nation in the Scholastic Achievement category. She recently began her remote classes as a freshman at Princeton University, where she plans to pursue a degree in Computer Science, and I am confident she will be very successful in it all! I want to extend a very big thank you to my husband Jason, our Assistant Chair, and the rest of our state committee and judges. Organizing and coordinating a state-level program takes a tremendous amount of work, time, and dedication—even more so when it is mostly digital! Knowing that this is all done on a completely volunteer basis shows the love and support that we truly have for this program.
Illinois State Committee Tiana Pequette, Chairwoman Jason Pequette, Assistant Chairman Pam Boker, Judges Chairwoman Emily Kidd, Choreographer Julia Markun, Choreographer & Public Relations Chair Jennifer DeSmedt, Program Book Coordinator Lauren & Diane Etzkorn, Food Coordinators Sean Kidd, Tabulator Joe Stevens, National Support Team
Program Volunteers: Anne Marie Markun, Jillene Szostak, Wenxiu Zhao, Linda Phillips, Nitin Jog & Gauri Jog
Interview, Self-Expression & Fitness Coaches: Emily Kidd, Distinguished Young Woman of Illinois 2007 Julia Markun, Distinguished Young Woman of Illinois 2012 Isha Jog, Distinguished Young Woman of Illinois 2013 Lauren DeSmedt, Distinguished Young Woman of Illinois 2017 Lauren Etzkorn, Distinguished Young Woman of Illinois 2018 Dora Guo, Distinguished Young Woman of America 2019 Emily Kang, Distinguished Young Woman of Illinois 2020
2021 Program Judges Mohra Gavankar Past Chairwoman, Distinguished Young Women of Illinois Board of Trustees for Lewis University
Leigh Meyer Math Teacher, Shiloh Middle School
Heather Siemienas Distinguished Young Woman of Illinois 2008 Associate Director, Development & Alumni Relations, University of Texas
Gigi Dowling Urban Vice President, Board of Directors for Looking Glass Playhouse Former High School Principal
Jessica White Distinguished Young Woman of Nebraska 2007 Human Resources Business Partner with Amazon
Sanyukta Vinesh Participant Number 1
Distinguished Young Woman of Bartlett Talent: Kathak Dance, Paurushya Kathak Activities: Kathak Classical Dance, Assistant Dance Teacher, Basketball, Kumon Tutor, Health Occupational Students of America, South Asian Student Association, VKK Youth Committee Leader, Kiwanis International Organization, Red Cross Club, Certified Nursing Assistant, Active Minds Honors: SASA Junior Delegates, Licensed Nursing Assistant, Appointed to VKK Youth Committee Chair College Preference: Nova Southeastern University
Ashley Gutteridge Participant Number 2
Distinguished Young Woman of Chicago Talent: Piano Performance, Prelude in C Major by Bach Activities: Cheerleading, We the People, The Citizen and The Constitution Competition, Fundraising and Development Internship, Student Council, Mayor for the Day, Future Leaders of Chicago, Student Tutor, Leadership and Community Service Club, Mission Trip, Piano, Church Volunteer Honors: 3rd Place in State – We the People Competition, Honor Roll, MVP – Chicago Hope Cheer, Most Outstanding Physics Student, Most Outstanding Mathematics Student, Most Outstanding Honors Government Student, Most Improved Drama Student College Preference: The University of Chicago
Zoe Zigler Participant Number 3
Distinguished Young Woman of Shiloh Talent: Jazz Dance, Le Jazz Hot Activities: Dance Team, Junior Varsity Volleyball, Varsity Soccer, Mock Trial, Student Ambassador, Life Guarding, CIVITAS, School the World, Claire McCaskill Campaign, Low Income Childcare Worker
Honors: Numerous individual and team awards with Adams Dance Team College Preference: George Washington University
Melody Colonel Participant Number 4
Distinguished Young Woman of Chester Talent: Vocal Performance, The Wizard and I Activities: Drama, Band, Cross Country, Show Choir, Academic Challenge/Scholar Bowl, Track, School Newspaper (Editor), School Yearbook (Editor), Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, Library Volunteer, Church Lector and Volunteer, Tutor Honors: Outstanding Vocalist, Division 1 Ratings for Solo and Ensemble, Perfect Attendance, Academic C Award, Outstanding Characterization, IHSA State Finals for Video News Editing, SISPA Writing Award, Featured Soloist College Preference: Illinois Wesleyan University
Alana Wu Participant Number 5
Distinguished Young Woman of South Barrington Talent: Chinese Dance, 山南丽影: Shadow on the Mountain Activities: Ballet, Muay Thai, Boxing, Brazilian Jiujitsu, Traditional Chinese Dance, Cello (quartet and symphony orchestra), Ensemble Club, Art, Beading, Patient Relations Volunteer, Virtual Companion for Senior Citizens, Virtual Tutor
Honors: Maddy Summer Artist’s Award, AP Scholar with Distinction, President’s Volunteer Service Award, Tao Li World Cup Dance Competition (1st), National Honor Society
College Preference: Columbia University
Mia Vollkommer Participant Number 6
Distinguished Young Woman of Schaumburg Talent: Flute Performance, Concerto in G Major by Pergolesi Activities: Cross Country, Math Team, School Musical, Student Math Tutor, Tri-M (honors band), Band, Book Club, Volunteer at Marklund Center, Peer Jury, Volunteer at Spring Valley Nature Center Honors: Honor Roll (4.0 GPA), National Honor Society, AP Scholar with Distinction, IHSA Scholastic Achievement Award, Schaumburg High School Saxon Pride Winner, IL Seal of Biliteracy (English & Japanese) College Preference: University of Illinois
Julia McMahon Participant Number 7
Distinguished Young Woman of Oak Forest Talent: Vocal Performance, What Did I Ever See in Him? Activities: Concert Choir, International Thespian Society, Choir Executive Board, Volleyball, Student Council, National Honor Society President, World Language Honor Society, Oak Forest Drama Department, Church Lector, Smithsonian Digital Volunteer, Various Volunteer Work
Honors: Most Outstanding Musician Award, The Frank Vacco Award, High Honor Roll, 3 Division 1 Singing Performance at IHSA Solo and Ensemble, State Qualifier Chicago Metro History Fair, AP Scholar with Distinction
College Preference: Barnard College
Megan Schulte Participant Number 8
Distinguished Young Woman of Sparta Talent: Piano Performance, Fantasia in D Minor by Mozart Activities: Volleyball, Drama, Student Council, Dance Committee, Archery, Piano, Church Volunteer, Nursing Home Volunteer Honors: Leadership Scholarship, Service Scholarship, Scholarship for Academic Achievement, First Place Shamrock Shootout, State Qualifier for Archery College Preference: Saint Louis University
Rishika Chikoti Participant Number 9
Distinguished Young Woman of Hawthorn Woods Talent: Bharatnatyam Fusion Dance, Shape of You Activities: Congressional Debate Team, History Fair, HOSA Future Health Professionals, Future Business Leaders of America, Future Doctors of America, National Honor Society, Biochemical Research at Illinois State University, National Startup Accelerator, Freshman Mentor Program, The Ripple Initiative, Hospital and Medical Center Volunteer, Tutor
Honors: International History Day - Qualifier (4x) and 3rd Place, President’s Volunteer Service Gold Award, State Finalist at Illinois State HOSA Competition (3x), International FBLA Qualifier (3x) and Finalist, State Champion FBLA, Many 1st Place Awards at Illinois Debate Tournaments, Ambassador Award
College Preference: Brown University
Michelle Gong Participant Number 10
Distinguished Young Woman of Glenview Talent: Harp Performance, The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky Activities: Varsity Badminton, Exemplary Students Research Program, Math Team, Science Olympiad, Glenbrook Symphony Orchestra Harpist, Calliope (Literary Art Magazine), Cornerstone Christian Club, Lurie Children’s Summer Research, Mission Trip, Key Club, Interact, Service Clubs, Church Volunteer Honors: National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Gold – Northwestern Sonata-Sonatina Festival, Varsity Scholar, 1st Place Science Olympiad College Preference: Yale University
Francky Chloe Maemble Participant Number 11
Distinguished Young Woman of Urbana Talent: Afro Dance, Balaya Activities: Varsity Track and Field, Cross Country, Varsity Cheerleading, Science Olympiad, Interact Club, Project Ignition, Project 7, Eclectic Dance Team, ThinkFirst Advisory Board Member, Library Volunteer, Do Something Ambassador, Vitality Volunteer, Remote Teacher Assistant Honors: Future Medical Leaders Delegate, Academic Monogram Honoree, National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists Award, Big 12 Conference Scholar Athlete, Scholastic Achievement Recipient, Most Improved in Varsity Cheerleading, 2019 Scholarship Tea Awards Honoree
College Preference: University of Illinois
Claire O’Connell Participant Number 12
Distinguished Young Woman of Tinley Park Talent: French Horn Performance, No.10 Adagio by Gallay Activities: Wind Symphony, Junior Class Council, Winter Percussion, Student Council, Marching Band, Musical Theatre Pit Orchestra, P.E. Junior Leader, Church Volunteer, Elementary School Volunteer, Nursing Home Volunteer Honors: National Honor Society, Principal Chair in Wind Symphony, Mellophone Section Leader, Music for All National Festival, Community Service Award, ILMEA Honor District Band, Attendance Award, Finalist in WGI World Championships College Preference: University of Illinois
Hannah Fink Participant Number 13
Distinguished Young Woman of Wonder Lake Talent: Vocal Performance, I’ll See You Again Activities: Soccer, Varsity Choir, Bowling, Volleyball, Tennis, Babysitting, Vet Assistant, Tutor, Volunteer Work Honors: Most Improved Player – Soccer, Outstanding Musician, National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, High Honor Roll (all semesters) College Preference: Texas A&M University
Katie Wu Participant Number 14
Distinguished Young Woman of Long Grove Talent: Contemporary Dance, Waves Activities: Choreography, Writing (Blog and Published Book), Teen Insider Magazine Writer, Project Pen Pal, Write Club, Freshman Mentor, Book Clubs, Dancing for Dancers Intern, Yale Young Global Scholars, Senior Center Volunteer, Dance Teacher Assistant, Camp Counselor/English Teacher (China)
Honors: Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award, Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, Gold Honor Roll, Several High Awards at Various Dance Competitions, National Honor Society, National Honor Society of Dance Arts Inductee, 1 st Place Award from ASAN, Communication Arts Junior AP Achievement Award, Ambassador Award, Published Writer
College Preference: Yale University
Ellyn Hu Participant Number 15
Distinguished Young Woman of Deerfield Talent: Guzheng Performance, Crimson Lilies, Blooming Bright Activities: Student Inquiry and Research, ALLIES STEM Leadership & Development Program, Math Team, Mu Alpha Theta, Girls Who Code, Martial Arts Club, Tutor, Teacher Assistant, Community Volunteer, Flute, Dance Honors: Scholastic Art & Writing – 1 Gold Key/2 Silver Keys, National AP Scholar Award, District Solo & Ensemble – Flute – 1st Division, Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics Student Achievement Award, Overseas Taoli World Dance Competition Awards, National Community Service Award, American Academy of Ballet Performance Awards, ICTM Math Contest Regionals (3rd) College Preference: University of Chicago
Ruchi Patel Participant Number 16
Distinguished Young Woman of Hoffman Estates Talent: Kathak Dance, Ghar More Pardesiya Activities: Student Congressional Debate, Health Occupations Students of America, Scholastic Bowl, Social Studies Club, South Asian Student Association, Math Team, Kathak Dance, Multicultural, Medical Careers, Various Volunteer Activities Honors: National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society, Presidential Gold Award, 1st Place Speaker Illinois Congressional Debate Association, Best Presiding Officer, AP Scholar Award, AP Scholar with Distinction College Preferences: University of Chicago, Northwestern University
Ella Borho Participant Number 17
Distinguished Young Woman of Lombard Talent: Vocal Performance, What Only Love Can See Activities: Theatre, Marching Band, Concert Band, Choir, Piano, Orchestra, YES Club, Easter Seals Volunteer, Youth Ministry Group Leader, Various Volunteer Work Honors: National Honor Society, Tri-M, NEHS, Civitas, Thespians, World Language Honor Society, Superior Ribbon for IMA, Music Booster Scholarship College Preference: University of Iowa __________________________________________________________________________________________
Best Wishes to our Shining Star!
Ella Borho Love, Meema & Papa Scott
Dear Ella, From your very first performances in our living room to your performances on the big stage, we are so proud of all you have accomplished! You have brought so much joy, happiness, and laughter to our lives! We love you! Love, Dad, Mom, Luke, Jake & Kate
Dear Ella, I’m praying for your success in this competition and hope that you win! I’m thinking that the process you’ve completed to get to this point has already helped you grow and come to appreciate your talents and skills. They are SO many! You are richly blessed, and whatever the outcome, you ARE a distinguished young woman of Illinois!
Love, Grandma Trish
We have known Ella since the age of 16 months and watched her grow into a generous, energetic and talented young lady. As her babysitter I got to know Ella very well. She would take on challenges in all the parks we visited, showed wide eyed curiosity in our regular visits to Chicago museums and became a talented pianist from a very young age, faithfully practicing her lessons. I've watched Ella develop strong friendships with her outgoing personality and acceptance of all those she meets. Ella has three younger siblings and is loving and kind with them and has set an incredible example as the oldest sibling. We so enjoyed watching her creativeness in school and with her brothers and sister, writing plays and drawing them into such creative play time. It has been our joy to watch Ella grow into a lovely and hard-working young woman. Congratulations, Ella! Love, Rich and Peg Cello
Hannah - You never cease to amaze us in the young woman you have become. We have enjoyed every minute of your Barbie-playing, pigtail-wearing days, as well as watching you develop into a confident, compassionate, and caring human being. There are few words to describe just how proud of you we are! As you embark on your last year of high school and chase your dreams (into the sunsets and following the swirling winds of a tornado) as a future Meteorologist, all kinds of new adventures await, and we will continue to be there for you every step of the way. Soar confidently in your own sky and remember that when things get tough along the way, you are the storm! Love, Mom, Dad, and Ty
Dear Sanyukta - You met the challenge with determination, strength, and total confidence! Congrats! We are totally completely proud of you! Love, Family
Claire, Good luck in your endeavor with the Distinguished Young Women’s Scholarship. I am proud to be one of your sponsors as you have demonstrated a pattern of hard work and compassion by giving back to the community, achieving your goals, and taking on several leadership roles. Good luck and continue to reach for the stars. Sincerely, Joel Johnston Joel Enterprises
Claire, We are so proud of you. You amaze us through your perseverance, hard work, and effort. More importantly, we are so proud of who you are on the inside. You have a good heart and you demonstrate compassion, strong morals, and dedication. You stand up for what you believe in and are not easily swayed by the distractions of the world. We can’t wait to see what great things you achieve. We love you! Love, Mom, Dad, Luke, and Grandma
You are a ROCK STAR Mia!!! Brains, Beauty and GREAT Personality! We wish you the best of luck and FUN with IL DYW! Your familyMOM, DAD, MARGIE, MYRIN & ZOO!
BEST OF LUCK MEGAN When we think of Talented, Terrific, Tremendous & Top-Notch women, we think of YOU! Wishing you the very best in every walk of life! CE Dept.
Good luck Rishika! We are so incredibly proud of all your achievements and of the wonderful young woman you have become, and we can’t wait to see what you will continue to accomplish.
DISTINGUISHED YOUNG WOMAN OF AMERICA FOR 2020 Kentucky’s Elif Ozyurekoglu was named the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2020, during the 63rd Annual National Finals.
FUN FACTS: •
Elif attended duPont Manual High School. Her academic honors include the US Navy Office of Naval Research Naval Science Award, Regional Science Fair Champion in Biomedical Engineering and published research in the international peer-reviewed journal “The Orthopedist.”
She is a first-generation Turkish American. Elif’s parents both immigrated to Louisville, KY, where Elif and her sister were both born and raised.
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Elif spent two months in Istanbul, Turkey, conducting psychological research with Syrian refugees.
Outside of the classroom, Elif is a leader among her peers. She is passionate about women’s rights and working to empower young women throughout her community. She is on the Steering Committee for Louisville Girls Leadership, a program which provides high school sophomores with skills for the future. She is a member of the Louisville Youth Board and founder of US Turkish Youth.
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Elif is a Turkish Nationals Swimming Finalist and was able to swim alongside future Olympians during her time in Istanbul.
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She is the founder and CEO of her own company. What started as an at-home hobby due to her passion for skincare and cosmetics turned into Elif’s very own natural cosmetics line, “Elyph Cosmetics.”
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Elif loves baking! She says, “although I won’t be going on Cupcake Wars anytime soon, I like to spend time with my sister making fun treats in the kitchen.”
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The first movie Elif ever watched in a movie theatre, and favorite to this day, was “Shrek 2.” Growing up, she affectionately referred to the theatre as “Shrek’s house” and even spoke about it in her National Finals interview.
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She can sing the alphabet backwards!
Elif has been trained in classical piano since the age of five. She has always been passionate about music and the performing arts. Elif is also a competitive swimmer. She not only holds state and regional swimming titles in Kentucky, but also competed at the national level in Turkey. In the fall, Elif will attend Columbia University in the CP Davis Scholars Program to study biomedical engineering. She hopes to pursue a career in reconstructive plastic surgery. Elif believes “the way we see ourselves is so important” and hopes to spread confidence by working with internal and external scarring. Winning more than $33,000 in cash scholarships and a gold medallion, Elif will represent the Class of 2020 as the Distinguished Young Woman of America during this year.
LEFT TO RIGHT, CLOCKWISE: Elif ready for her interview ; participating in the digital selfexpression category ; per forming “Fantaisie Impromptu,” which she learned specifically for National Finals; showing off her home state of Kentucky ; participating in the fitness category during National Finals.
Distinguished Young Women is grateful to all of our national sponsors who make each year’s program possible through their generous contributions toward scholarships and the ongoing operation of the nationwide program.
STATES CLUB
SPIRIT CLUB
CLUB 100
The businesses and individuals in the States Club sponsor a state’s representative during National Finals. The members of this elite group have graciously contributed $5,000 each. We appreciate their financial support and their dedication to the success of this program.
The businesses and individuals in the Spirit Club sponsor a state’s representative during National Finals. Members of this group have generously contributed $2,500 and we appreciate their support.
Club 100 is a community of alumnae who invest $1,000 or more each year to build a solid foundation for the program. Our goal is to find 100 alumnae who share our mission. Want to learn more about the club and the benefits of membership? Contact Kendra at Kendra@DistinguishedYW.org.
AJM Scholarship Foundation The Better Skin Co. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Captain Teresa E. Elders Foundation Cisco and Pamela Codina Delaney Development, Inc. Distinguished Young Women Past Presidents Encore Rehabilitation Evonik Industries Dee and Jim Gambill Joy and Jimmy Grodnick The Hearin-Chandler Foundation The Howard Wealth Management Group of Stifel Phil and Liz Kaiser Arlene Mitchell Mobile County Commission Pam and Eric Patterson Norvelle and Teresa Smith Maureen Sullivan Collins
Jessica and Bill Barrick Lori Jo and Paul Carbonneau Hargrove Engineers + Constructors Kendra and Michael Haskins McKinney Petroleum Equipment Thompson Engineering, Inc.
Amanda Biles, 1995 Tim and Shigeko Bork in honor of Skye Bork, 2017 Lori Jo Carbonneau, 1986 Nicole Chafitz Orr, 1991 Shalisha Francis-Feusner, 1995 Marsha Grady, 1982 Ashley Halfman Hopp, 1993 Kendra Haskins, 1991 in honor of Bruce Triftshauser Leigh Knosher, 1981 Aimee Parker, 1999 Andrea Plummer Guardenier, 1996 Pamela and Victor Renard in honor of Nicole Renard, 2013 Maureen Sullivan Collins, 1960
Distinguished Young Women was founded in 1958 by the Mobile (AL) Jaycees as an outgrowth of its popular Azalea Trail Maid program. Originally called America’s Junior Miss, Distinguished Young Women was created as a way to meet the need for higher education scholarships for young women. While continuing to address the need for scholarships, Distinguished Young Women also saw an opportunity to help prepare young women for success in life after high school. Many skills that help individuals be successful—how to conduct a business interview, believing that your opinions are worthy of recognition and how to speak with confidence and effectively convey your thoughts—are not taught in school. Our Life Skills Workshops begin this education. Plus, to ensure the greatest impact possible, participation in our program is always free, allowing young women of all backgrounds to be able to reap the benefits of participation. Distinguished Young Women is proud to be the oldest and largest scholarship program in the nation for college-bound high school senior girls. Since 1958, the program has awarded more than $112 million in cash scholarships at local, state, and national programs. In addition to cash scholarships, Distinguished Young Women participants are eligible for college-granted scholarships from over 100 colleges and universities across the country. Almost $1 billion in college scholarship opportunities were provided to the Class of 2020, some of which included full tuition plus room and board. Many participants leave the program with scholarships, but all walk away from the experience with life skills to help them interview for jobs, develop healthy relationships and have increased confidence.
Throughout the years, Distinguished Young Women has continued to attract the nation’s best and brightest. More than 775,000 young women have participated in the program at the local, state and national levels. Journalist and anchor Diane Sawyer (1963), Journalist Deborah Norville (1975), Will & Grace actress Debra Messing (1986), CNN anchor Robin Meade (1987) and violinist and best-selling author Lindsey Stirling (2005) are a few of the program’s celebrity faces. Distinguished Young Women is proud to have helped these women on their road to success and is equally proud of the thousands of other past participants who have achieved success through a vast number of careers, such as Dr. Linda Rutledge Delbridge (1973), vice-president at IBM; Marlo Graves (1990), Shuttle Integration Group Engineer for Boeing; pediatrician Dr. Susan Davidson (1998); and Sruthi Palaniappan (2016), the youngest delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention and student body President at Harvard. Distinguished Young Women continues because of the hard work and dedication of more than 10,000 volunteers throughout the nation. These individuals devote countless hours to planning, funding and executing local, state and national programs. A board of directors including civic, business and professional leaders governs the national nonprofit corporation. These volunteers are committed to providing opportunities to young women who have achieved excellence in their high school careers. Thanks to dedicated volunteers and support from the Mobile community, Distinguished Young Women continues to impact the lives of thousands of young women across the country.
LEFT TO RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM: 1. Phyllis Whitenack (WV) was the first national representative in 1958. 2. The Class of 1963 takes part in the Youth
Fitness. In the center is Diane Sawyer, Kentucky and America’s Junior Miss for that year. 3. The Tonight Show’s Ed McMahon served as host of the program in 1980. 4. Kim Smith (NC) was the first America’s Junior Miss to receive a medallion instead of a crown in 1981. 5. Tyrenda Williams, America’s Junior Miss for 1997, spreads the message of the Be Your Best Self. 6. The Class of 2001 Has Beens perform. 7. Madison Leonard of Idaho was named the first Distinguished Young Women of America in 2010. 8. A participant in the local Charleston County (SC) program takes part in a Life Skills Workshop in 2015.
The Distinguished Alumnae is a sisterhood of more than 775,000 women who have participated in Distinguished Young Women or Junior Miss programs at any level—local, state or national—since the program’s origin. They are passionate about this program!
HOW TO STAY INVOLVED JOIN US ON FACEBOOK In February 2019, the Distinguished Network launched providing an online space for alumnae of all ages to network and connect. Join the private Facebook page by searching “The Distinguished Network.” JOIN US IN PERSON Past participants stay connected through newsletters, alumnae clubs, volunteering and social media. We currently have Alumnae Clubs in Atlanta, the Bay Area, Boston, Mobile, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia and Washington DC. Alumnae can receive information about getting connected by emailing Lisa@DistinguishedYW.org.
After a fully digital 2020 National Finals program, we’ve seen it all! The message and impact of Distinguished Young Women CAN be spread, no matter the circumstances. Help us continue to share that message by getting involved with local programs in your area, OR start a program in your area using our flexible format options! In order to increase our impact, we need new grassroots programs reaching into communities. These programs feed into our state programs to help them GROW! Flexible format local programs were created with the intention that anyone can start a program - regardless of time, location or resources. Here are some of the perks of our flexible format:
YOU CAN DO IT! • • • •
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Minimal time commitment - only a few hours Flexible - you set the schedule Host your local program partially OR fully digital DYW provides the Scholastics Judge, Program Judge contacts, Fitness routine, Life Skills Workshop videos and College-Granted Scholarships No venue needed Low to ZERO cost
Are YOU able to volunteer even a few hours of your time and start impacting young women? Contact our National Field Director, Lisa Lawley Burnette, at Lisa@DistinguishedYW for a more in-depth description of our program options or to get connected with a program in your area.
AL ABAMA Dominique Verville
A LA SK A Mia Elias
ARIZONA Nivea Krishnan
ARK ANS AS Sarah Gibson
CALIFOR NIA Stephanie Temnyk
HA W AII Josette Huang
ID A H O Hannah Copmann
ILLINO IS Emily Kang
IND IANA Grace Knolinski
IOWA Grace Wood
M ASSA CHUS ET T S Michaela Olah
M IC H I G A N Maria Fields
MINNE S O TA Molly Krog
MIS S IS S IPPI Rebekah Williams
MISSOU R I Makenna Baker
N EW MEX ICO Brynna Lines
NE W Y O R K Liza Cotter
NORT H CARO LINA Faith Mae Kiser
NORT H D AK O TA Adelyn Emter
OHIO Soumya Vytla
SOU T H DA KO TA Marina Strom
TE NNE SS E E Mary Humphrey
T E XAS Gracie Beth Scrushy
UTAH Shannon Huntsman
VE R M ONT Shannon Adams
C O L O R A DO Korttney Potter
C O NNE C TIC U T Charlotte Domittner
D E LAW ARE Jenna Anger
F LO RID A Brooklyn Peters
GEOR GIA Abigail Matthews
KAN S AS Ainsley Smith
K E NTU C K Y Elif Ozyurekoglu
LO UIS IANA Sophia Nicolosi
MAINE Abigail Levasseur
MAR YLAND Megan Chang
M O N TA N A Lauren Hanson
NE B R A SK A Elise Vahle
NE VAD A Emma Phillips
NE W HAMPS HIRE April Mauceri
NEW JER SEY Amanda Zheng
OKL A HO MA Avery Mitchell
O RE G O N Brighid Rickman
PE NNS YLVANIA Aaliyah Smith
RHO D E IS LAND Alexis Carrasco
S O UT H CAR OLINA Faith Davis
V IR G IN IA Jessica Brown
W A S H I NG TO N Tesslyn Preppernau
W E S T VIRG INIA Aleksandra Sklioutovskaya-Lopez
W IS CONS IN Riley Feng
WYOM ING Aubrianne Crosby
The Class of 2020 shared $127,000 in cash scholarships at the national level and almost $1 Billion in collegegranted scholarships available to them by taking part in the Distinguished Young Women experience. Fourteen state reps are currently attending college tuition free using scholarships available through DYW.
DISTINGUISHED YOUNG WOMAN OF AMERICA • $30,000 Elif Ozyurekoglu Kentucky
CA
HI
TN
WA
MS
FIRST RUNNER-UP $20,000 Nivea Krishnan Arizona
FINALISTS • $5,000 EACH Stephanie Temnyk California Josette Huang Hawaii Rebekah Williams Mississippi Mary Humphrey Tennessee Tesslyn Preppernau Washington
SECOND RUNNER-UP $10,000 Dominique Verville Alabama
CATEGORY AWARDS INTERVIEW • $1,000 EACH Dominique Verville AL Nivea Krishnan AZ Elif Ozyurekoglu KY Brighid Rickman OR Riley Feng WI SCHOLASTICS • $1,000 EACH Nivea Krishnan AZ Emily Kang IL Elif Ozyurekoglu KY Liza Cotter NY Mary Humphrey TN TALENT • $1,000 EACH Mia Elias AK Josette Huang HI Emma Phillips NV Faith Mae Kiser NC Aleksandra Sklioutovskaya-Lopez WV
FITNESS • $1,000 EACH Dominique Verville AL Brooklyn Peters FL Rebekah Williams MS Riley Feng WI Aubrianne Crosby WY SELF-EXPRESSION • $1,000 EACH Nivea Krishnan AZ Stephanie Temnyk CA Brooklyn Peters FL Elif Ozyurekoglu KY Lauren Hanson MT
SATELLITE AWARDS TELL ME A STORY by Maureen Sullivan Collins • $2,500 Charlotte Domittner Connecticut Emma Phillips Nevada Wintzell’s Betty Copeland MY TOWN AWARD • $1,000 Sophia Nicolosi Montana The Shoppes at Bel Air COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD • $1,500 Grace Knolinski Indiana Dr. Richard B. Rogers SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP • $1,600 Grace Knolinski Indiana Chick-Fil-A BE YOUR BEST SELF AWARD in honor of Reggie Copeland • $1,000 EACH Gracie Beth Scrushy Texas Emma Phillips Nevada
Arlene Mitchell DISTINGUISHED LEADERSHIP AWARD • $1,000 EACH Josette Huang Hawaii Maria Fields Michigan NATIONAL PANHELLENIC CONFERENCE/ NPC FOUNDATION AWARD • $1,000 EACH Liza Cotter New York Anita Liu California Participant JD and Roxann Dyess DISTINGUISHED VLOGGER AWARD • $500 Rachel Brady South Dakota 2019 Amy Osmond Cook HAS BEEN AWARD • $2,000 Hanna Pohlmann Nebraska 2019 DISTINGUISHED OUTREACH AWARD • $500 Emily Douthitt Nelson County, KY Participant
Founded in 1987, the Be Your Best Self (BYBS) program is the official outreach program of Distinguished Young Women. In keeping with our mission, the program provides an opportunity for participants to beneficially impact the lives of children in their communities. The simple and practical message of the Be Your Best Self program is carried across the country through dynamic and engaging presentations created by Distinguished Young Women participants at all levels (local, state and national). The Be Your Best Self program seeks to encourage young people to lead successful and productive lives. Participants delivering the BYBS message use their personal experiences and unique talents to create presentations that inspire leaders for the future. Be Healthy, Be Involved, Be Studious, Be Ambitious and Be Responsible are the five elements that help define what it means to Be Your Best Self. This year, Distinguished Young Women celebrated its eleventh annual National Be Your Best Self Week, a nationwide event that took place April 20-24. During the week, Distinguished Young Women participants across the country visited with groups of children in their communities to share the Be Your Best Self message. As a result, thousands of young people learned what it means to be their best selves and how they can work toward a bright and productive future. Distinguished Young Women is proud to offer a special scholarship award in conjunction with the Be Your Best Self program, the Distinguished Outreach Award. Any young woman who participated in a 2020 Distinguished Young Women program at the local or state level (excludes state winners) and participated in National Be Your Best Self Week was eligible to compete for the award. The recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Outreach Award for 2020 was Emily Douthitt of Nelson County, KY. The Be Your Best Self Scholarship Selection Committee consists of Jill Dilday, Emily Lloyd, Bliss McMichael, Donald Rucker, Sr., Samantha Schikowski, Chelsea Shirley, Manali Kulkarni, Miiko Toussaint, Kendall Trammell and Bailey Walker
Bring BYBS to your community! Want a BYBS presentation at your organization or school? Contact Lisa@DistinguishedYW.org to find the program closest to you.
Be physically fit and drug free
Serve your community
Set and achieve goals
Live by moral and ethical principles
Stay in school
1958 | WEST VIRGINIA Phyllis A. Whitenack
1968 | OKLAHOMA Debi Faubion Attorri
1978 | MISSOURI Kim Crosby Westenberg
1959 | PENNSYLVANIA Judi Humphrey Peckonis
1969 CALIFORNIA Jackie Bennington Weiss
1979 | PENNSYLVANIA Susan Horvath McCready
1960 | CONNECTICUT Maureen Sullivan Collins
1970 | ARIZONA Karen Stenwall Wiseman
1980 | GEORGIA Julie Bryan Moran
1961 | MISSOURI Mary Frann Luecke
1971 | NEW JERSEY Arlene Stens Thompson
University of Central Florida Graduate; registered nurse; lived in Scottsdale, AZ; two daughters and two grandchildren; died in 2011
Studied for a career in nursing; one son; died in 1968
Southern Connecticut State University graduate; BS degree in special education; lives on Fisher Island, FL and CT with husband of 54 years, George; three sons and ten grandchildren
Attended Northwestern University; founded the America’s Junior Miss Council in 1995; had an extensive career in acting; died in 1998
Stephens College graduate; former evening news anchor at WSOC-TV; Broadcast and promotion spokesperson at her company Debi Presents LLC; lives with her husband in Charlotte, NC
Masters in Education/Physical Education from Stanford University; High School dance instructor & Dir. of International Baccalaureate Dance Certificate Program; two daughters
Studied at Texas Christian University and Kansas State; Masters in psychology; Senior VP Marketing for global real estate company; three daughters and four grandchildren
Master’s degree from Trenton State College; lives in Moorestown, NJ; five children
Feature soloist with symphonies around the U.S.; starred in Guys and Dolls and Into the Woods on Broadway; lives in Springfield, MO with husband; two daughters and one son
Studied at Troy University; worked in radio; currently living in Virginia with her husband, a retired Air Force Colonel
Graduate of UGA; first female anchor of ABC’s Wide World of Sports; host of Entertainment Tonight for 10 years; host of LIFETIME’S The Balancing Act; two daughters
1981 | NORTH CAROLINA Kim Smith Yandow
Career as a dancer/choreographer & director; taught dance at BYU for 11 years; directed her own women’s performing company for 7 years; authored SimpleSpaces; ten children
1962 | RHODE ISLAND Jean Leslie Allen
1972 | KENTUCKY Lydia Hodson Copeland
1982 | MISSISSIPPI Susan Hammett Wilmore
1963 | KENTUCKY Diane Sawyer
1973 | KANSAS Linda Rutledge Delbridge
1983 | ALABAMA Stephanie Ashmore Pitts
1964 | WASHINGTON Linda Felber
1974 | WYOMING Karen Morris Gowdy
1984 | MINNESOTA Amber Kvanli Ward
1965 | MICHIGAN Patrice Gaunder Heeran
1975 | ARKANSAS Julie Forshee Thurber
1985 | TEXAS Valerie Lowrance Tyler
1966 | WISCONSIN Diane Wilkins
1976 | WASHINGTON Lenne Jo Hallgren
1986 | VIRGINIA Lori Jo Smith Carbonneau
Whitworth College graduate; public speaker, author, and active in public affairs; contributor to Full Bloom; resides in Eagle, ID with husband J.E. Givens; three children and three grandchildren
Graduate of Princeton; Harvard MBA; lives in Virginia following years in China; Director of Membership for the McLean Project for the Arts; married with two sons and one daughter
1977 | ARKANSAS Christy Moller Wojohn
1987 | WISCONSIN Chuti Tiu
George Washington University graduate; attended Georgetown Law School; lives in Providence, RI; one son; died in 2018
Wellesley College graduate; lives in New York City; former co-host of ABC’s Good Morning America; current anchor of ABC’s World News and principal anchor; wife of the late Mike Nichols
Master’s degree from University of Illinois; coordinator of student services for school district; one daughter; lives in Salem, OR
Graduate of Marygrove College (Detroit); lives in Washoe Valley, NV, with husband of 46 years, John; two sons and one daughter
Studied at Marymont and the University of Massachusetts; worked in import business in California; died in 2005
1967 | ARKANSAS Rosemary Dunaway Trible
Univ. of TX graduate; works with students at Christopher Newport University; author of book Fear to Freedom & created nonprofit called Fear 2 Freedom; two children & two grandchildren
George Washington University graduate; worked in television; one son; died in 1991
Ph.D. in computer science from George Washington University; Director, Automation Business Development for Information Services Group; resides in Lake Tahoe, NV
Attended the University of Wyoming, New York University, and Stella Adler’s; played the role of Faith Coleridge on the Emmy-winning Ryan’s Hope; three daughters
Spring Hill College graduate; lives in Miami Beach, FL and Park City, UT with her husband; two sons
University of Georgia graduate; teaches 1st grade; lives in Zachary, LA; five children
Master’s degree from Louisiana State University in communication disorders; senior sales representative with Takeda Pharmaceuticals; lives in Alexandria, LA with two sons
University of Mississippi Nursing School grad; Pediatric Oncology, Pre-Op and Recovery Room Nursing; lives in Fairhope, AL with four children
M.B.A. from Kellogg at Northwestern University; lives in New York City with husband and two children
University of Texas - Ph.D. in jurispendence; former prosecutor; working as a lecturer in trial advocacy at the University of Texas Law School; four children
Northwestern University; actor, writer, & producer; wrote, produced & starred in feature film Pretty Rosebud; serves on Tallgrass Film Festival Filmmaker Advisory Board
1988 | MISSISSIPPI Kristen Logan Sepesi
1999 | GEORGIA Sarah Jane Everman Shanks
2010 | IDAHO Madison Leonard
1989 | MISSOURI Kristin Huxhold Provisero
2000 | UTAH Jesika Henderson Harmon
2011 | TENNESSEE Katye Brock Bodak
1990 ILLINOIS Sara Martin Rosheger
2001 | ALABAMA Carrie Colvin Alling
2012 | NORTH CAROLINA Christina Maxwell
1991 CALIFORNIA Amy Elizabeth Goodman
2002 | OREGON Amy Kerr McVey
2013 | WASHINGTON Nicole Renard
1992 | CALIFORNIA Tiffany Stoker Madsen
2003 | CALIFORNIA Andrea Finch Williams
2014 | GEORGIA Brooke Rucker
1993 | GEORGIA Rebecca Jones Kujawa
2004 | TEXAS Shannon Essenpreis Fortenberry
Attended Baylor University; former marketing consultant and Colorado state chairman; lives in Athens, GA with two children
University of Illinois graduate; master’s degree from Webster University; Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar; Broadway singer and actress living in New York; two daughters
Northwestern University graduate; master’s degree from the University of Warwick in Coventry, England; 1995 British Marshall Scholar; kindergarten teacher; two children
UCLA; Master’s from Columbia; journalist & style expert; contributor NBC’s TODAY Show, The Rachael Ray Show, Live with Kelly & Ryan, The View, The Talk; author of Wear This, Toss That; two children
BYU then Juris Doctorate from Hastings College of the Law; Clovis Unified School Board Trustee; certified teacher of Let’s Play Music and Sound Beginnings; three sons and two daughters
Graduate of the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music; most recently appeared on Broadway in Cats; lives with her husband Justin in New York, NY
Honors graduate from Brigham Young University; BA in English and minor in dance; currently resides in Alpine, UT, with five children
Vanderbilt University grad with a degree in economics; digital media and video production consultant; lives in Los Angeles with two daughters
Graduated cum laude from Willamette University with a major in rhetoric and media studies; owns and operates fine art wedding and portrait photography studio with husband Erich; lives in Salem, OR
Graduated from Brigham Young University with major in music/dance/theater; teaches voice and piano lessons; resides in Gainesville, FL with three children
Pepperdine grad with a Masters of Music degree in Voice and Opera; currently singing opera professionally; Lives in Switzerland with her husband
University of Tennessee; master’s in SpeechLanguage Pathology; working as a speechlanguage pathologist; lives in Knoxville
University of Michigan; BFA in musical theatre, film and television in NYC; creative arts therapist for pediatric oncology; “Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role” at New York Musical Festival
Chapman University; majored in TV broadcast journalism; recently interned for Ryan Seacrest Studios & iHeartMedia; studied abroad in New Zealand
Florida State University; member of Charles Anderson’s COA Dance Project company; Visioning Partner Assistant at Urban Bush Women
2015 | ALASKA Máire Nakada Aguirre
University of Mississippi; Communications Manager for agricultural input supplier GreenPoint AG; three children
University of South Alabama; BS in Nursing; Cardio Pulmonary Critical Care nurse at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital; Recently married; gaining experience for nurse anesthesia school.
1994 | UTAH Amy Osmond Cook
2005 | MISSISSIPPI Kelli Schutz Croyle
Ph.D. in Communication from University of Utah; Director of Provider Relations for North American Health Care; CEO of Osmond Marketing; Healthcare columnist; five children
Belhaven University; motivational and guest speaker; spiritual development director at Westbrook Christian School; fitness coordinator at Big Oak Ranch, a Christian home for children needing a chance; two sons
2016 | SOUTH CAROLINA Tara Moore
1995 | NEW JERSEY Kiersten Rickenbach Cerveny
2006 | KENTUCKY Taylor Phillips
2017 | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Skye Bork
1996 | TENNESSEE Andrea Plummer Guardenier
2007 | MINNESOTA Nora Ali
2018 | INDIANA Aaryan Morrison
1997 | ALABAMA Tyrenda Williams-Reed
2008 | UTAH Lindsey Brinton Harris
Duke University; earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation; Vice President of Business Management for an energy company; three children
Duke and Tulane School of Medicine; dermatologist in private practice in New York; Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Mt. Sinai Hospital; three children; died in 2015
University of Virginia; received MD from Albany Medical College and served seven years in the Air Force as a pediatrician; Fellow in Pediatric Intensive Care in San Diego; one daughter
Birmingham-Southern College; M.A. in Journalism and Latin American & Caribbean Studies from NYU; HR/Payroll Manager for the Birmingham Barons; two daughters
1998 | PENNSYLVANIA Susan Davidson Sankova
Harvard and Georgetown School of Medicine; Johns Hopkins Hospital pediatric residency; currently an assistant professor of anesthesiology at University of Maryland Medical School
Stanford undergrad & PhD; currently Assistant Professor of Management & Organizations at New York University (Stern School of Business)
Graduate of Harvard University with BA in statistics and quantitative finance; anchor at business and technology news network, Cheddar; living in New York City
Harvard University; graduated #1 in law school class from UC Hastings College of Law; lives in Salt Lake City with three children
2009 | KENTUCKY Michelle Rodgers
Northwestern University; Community Program Coordinator for Eugene, OR; middle school teacher & group facilitator; Director of The Eugene Story Project
Clemson University; Beginning the Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program at Emory University this year.
Pursuing an Economics-Mathematics major at Columbia University; Vice President of student council; Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority; Undergraduate Recruitment Committee
Student at Harvard University majoring in Social Studies and African Studies; Modern Dance Company; Strong Women Strong Girls; Harvard National MUN; Harvard Undergraduate Council
2019 | ILLINOIS Dora Guo
Student at Yale University majoring in Ethnicity, Race and Migration; Member of Rhythmic Blue, Yale Daily News, Yale Dancers
The Class of 2021 is eligible for college-granted scholarships from colleges and universities across the nation. CARROLL COLLEGE* Helena, Montana Four-year renewable scholarship of $22,000, with annual renewal contingent on maintaining a 2.0 or higher college GPA: • National Scholastic Winner Four-year renewable scholarship of $20,000, with annual renewal contingent on maintaining a 2.0 or higher college GPA: • Any State Scholastic Winner Four-year renewable scholarship of $19,000, with annual renewal contingent on maintaining a 2.0 or higher college GPA: • Any Local Scholastic Winner CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY* Orange, California Four-year renewable Presidential Scholarship ($32,000 annually/$128,000 total award) to: • Any State Winner • Overall Scholastics Winner at the state level Student must apply and qualify for Freshman Admission. Scholarship is renewable provided student maintains full time attendance and established GPA requirements. HOOD COLLEGE* Frederick, Maryland Four-year, renewable full tuition scholarship with maintenance of a 3.25 GPA to: • Distinguished Young Woman of America • Any State Winner Four year, renewable half tuition scholarship with maintenance of a 3.25 GPA to: • Any Distinguished Young Woman participant HUNTINGDON COLLEGE* Montgomery, Alabama Four-year, full tuition renewable scholarship to: • Any State Winner Limited to 5 awards per year. OHIO UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS Athens, Ohio Four-year, renewable combined talent and leadership scholarship of $1,250-$2,500 to: • Any participant accepted to the Schools of Music, Art+Design, Theater, Dance, Film, or Interdisciplinary Arts Distinguished Young Women program awards may be stacked with OHIO University meritbased scholarships only. SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY Georgetown, Texas $7,500 renewable four year scholarship to: • Any National Program participant $5,000 renewable four year scholarship to: • Any State Program participant (from any state) $2,500 renewable four year scholarship to: • Any Texas Local Program participant
SPELMAN COLLEGE Atlanta, Georgia $1,000 one-time Freshman year scholarship to: • One participant annually Interested participants must contact the National Office for an application. TROY UNIVERSITY Troy, Alabama $10,000 Chancellor’s Scholarship & $1,000 Study Abroad Scholarship to: • Distinguished Young Woman of America • Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama • Distinguished Young Woman of Florida • Distinguished Young Woman of Georgia $3,500 DYW Scholarships (to include $1,000 Study Abroad Scholarship) to: • any Alabama local program winners with 3.0 high school GPA & 23 ACT Four-year, renewable Trojan Opportunity Expanded Scholarship valued at the out-of-state portion of tuition costs with maintenance of 2.7 GPA to: All National Participants from out-of-state with 3.0 high school GPA & 22 ACT UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA* Tuscaloosa, Alabama Four-year award for the value of a Presidential scholarship, $5,000 freshman year housing scholarship and $5,000 study abroad stipend to: • Distinguished Young Woman of America Four-year award for the value of a Presidential scholarship to: • Any State Winner Four-year award for the value of a Presidential scholarship plus a $5,000 freshman year housing scholarship to: • Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama • Alabama’s Overall Scholastics Winner If a student receives a merit-based automatic offer that is less than the In-State or Out-ofState Presidential, this designation will bump them to the Presidential-equivalent award. A student cannot receive both a merit based award and program-based award. Should a student already be receiving a Presidential Scholarship, they will receive a $2,000 per year stipend, $300 per year book scholarship, and one-time $3,000 study abroad stipend. If the National Representative has already received a Presidential Scholarship, she will only receive the housing scholarship and study abroad stipend. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM Birmingham, Alabama One-year, stackable scholarship of $1,000 • Any State Winner
One-year, stackable scholarship of $750 is available to: • Any Alabama local Winner • Up to 2 participants nominated by the Jefferson County (AL) Program UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO Moscow, Idaho Four year, renewable Go Idaho scholarship program guarantees these levels of funding from a combination of scholarships to all participants at the local/state level who are Idaho residents: • $4,000 with a 3.9-4.0 high school GPA • $3,000 with a 3.75-3.899 high school GPA • $2,000 with a 3.4-3.749 high school GPA • $1,000 with a 3.0-3.399 high school GPA Four year, renewable Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) scholarship program guarantees the WUE award to all participants at the local/state level who are not residents of Idaho, but are residents of a WUE state. • WUE qualifiers pay 150% of instate tuition and fees and do not pay out-ofstate tuition, a savings of over $12,000/ year; must have a 3.2 unweighted high school GPA. Four year, renewable Invitation to Idaho scholarship program (results in a savings of over $15,084 and is renewable up to four years of undergraduate enrollment for first year recipients with a 2.5 minimum University of Idaho cumulative GPA. For transfer students the award is renewable up to three additional years depending on the number of transfer credits with a 2.5 minimum University of Idaho cumulative GPA) to: • all participants at the local or state level who are non-residents and who qualify as new, first-time freshmen and transfer students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree and who have an incoming GPA of 3.0 or higher UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE Mobile, Alabama Four year, renewable full tuition and fees scholarship with maintenance of a 3.0 GPA to: • Distinguished Young Woman of America Four-year, renewable half tuition scholarship with maintenance of a 3.0 GPA to: • Any Distinguished Young Woman participant with a minimum 27 ACT and 3.0 high school GPA The priority deadline for application submission is May 1st. A student cannot receive both a merit-based award and DYW program-based tuition award. To be considered for these awards, you must enroll full time to the University for the fall semester immediately following your high school graduation and be a residential student.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA* Mobile, Alabama Four year, renewable full tuition and fees, on-campus room and board scholarship with maintenance of a 3.0 GPA to: • Distinguished Young Woman of America • Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama • National Overall Scholastics Winner • Any State winner with 30 ACT or 1360 SAT and 3.0 GPA UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA* Livingston, Alabama Four year, renewable $2,500 Trustee Leadership scholarship with maintenance of a 3.0 college GPA to: • Any local or state participant with a 19 ACT and 2.0 high school GPA Additionally, Trustee Academic Scholarships at UWA start at a 27 composite ACT and 3.0 high school GPA and can be stacked with the DYW award. WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY* Pullman, Washington Four-year, full tuition scholarship at the Pullman campus, with annual renewal contingent on maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress and full-time status, to: • Distinguished Young Woman of America XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUSIANA* New Orleans, Louisiana $ 9,000 per year, four-year renewable scholarship with maintenance of a 3.3 college GPA to: • Any local/state participant accepted at Xavier with a minimum 23 ACT and 3.3 unweighted high school GPA Interested students are highly encouraged to apply to the University by December 1st. YORK COLLEGE OF PENNSYLVANIA* York, Pennsylvania $10,000 per year, four-year renewable scholarship with maintenance of a 3.0 GPA to: • Any State winner • Any Pennsylvania local winner *If a student receives a scholarship of higher value from the college, that scholarship will replace the scholarship associated with Distinguished Young Women.
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Proud Sponsors of Melody Colonel: Mike Liefer Mary Sulser
Thank you to all of our sponsors for your generous support!
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Proud Sponsors of Ruchi Patel: Lori Zink David Jackson
Thank you to all of our sponsors for your generous support!
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High School Girls! If you are interested in being a Distinguished Young Woman, check out our website to learn more! www.DistinguishedYW.org Join our mailing list by clicking “APPLY NOW”! Questions? Email us at Illinois@DistinguishedYW.org
2021 Scholarship Winners Overall Scholastic Achievement: ______________________________________________ Overall Interview: ______________________________________________ Overall Physical Fitness: ______________________________________________ Overall Talent: ______________________________________________ Overall Self-Expression: ______________________________________________ Spirit Award: ______________________________________________ 4th Runner Up: ______________________________________________ 3rd Runner Up: ______________________________________________ 2nd Runner Up: ______________________________________________ 1st Runner Up: ______________________________________________ Distinguished Young Woman of Illinois 2021: ______________________________________________