OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Mountain Brook Student to Represent Alabama in the National Distinguished Young Women Competition
Julianne Abenoja, a senior at Mountain Brook High School, was named Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama 2022 during a recent weekend of competition in Montgomery. “The entire night felt like a whirlwind,” Abenoja said in an interview with Alabama News Network. “I was Julianne Abenoja running on pure adrenaline in the last performance, and it was just such a dream.” Abenoja, who was named Distinguished Young Woman of Jefferson County in July, was one of 45 contestants from across the state who competed in the event, according to a press release from Mountain Brook schools. She won the talent, fitness, scholastic and interview portions of DYW of Alabama. She will represent Alabama at the National DYW competition June 23-25 in Mobile. Julianne received $6,000 in scholarships for her wins, and several colleges in the state award full renewable tuition scholarships to the winner, as well. “She was very well-loved by the other participants, the committee that puts
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PEOPLE on the program and other participants’ families,” DYW of Jefferson County Chairman Eddie Macksoud said. “Every mom and dad want their darling to win, but she deserved to win.” Abenoja is the third Mountain Brook High School student to earn the DYW of Alabama recognition, previously named Alabama’s Junior Miss, since 1985. She joins Christa Carns Lidikay, 1985, and Kathryn Tully Oelsner, 2009. “Julianne is an amazing young woman and an incredible student. She works incredibly hard both in the classroom and in her interests outside of school,” Mountain Brook High School Principal Philip Holley said. “Julianne embodies everything that we believe in at Mountain Brook High School.” Mountain Brook Schools Superintendent Dicky Barlow said he’s excited Abenoja will be representing Mountain Brook. “It is no surprise to those who know Julianne that she has been named Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama for 2022,” he said. “We’re so excited that she gets to represent our community and state at the national level with her talent and personal character. We wish her the best and are very proud of her continued success.”
Jackie O’Neal Dancer Landed 1st Runner Up at National Competition
Emma Carter from the Jackie O’Neal School of Dance was 1st runner up to Miss Dance of America during national competition this past summer in Dallas.
pre-professional program called The Launch Training Program at The Space in Orange County.
Homewood’s Morales Earns Eagle Rank
Emma Carter
She won the ballet and jazz auditions and had the highest-scoring lyrical piece in the competition, “Honest,” which was choreographed by her teacher Nealey Towns Alonso. She represented Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee at nationals after winning the regional title of Miss Dance Chapter 33 last year. Carter was set to give up her regional title, crown the new titleholder and perform a solo during this year’s competition Feb. 5 in Montgomery. She has studied at Jackie O’Neal School of Dance since the age of 5 and has been a company dancer on a competitive level for the past seven years. Carter is the daughter of Dr. Scott and Hayden Appell of Mountain Brook and a 2021 graduate of Valleydale Christian Academy. She recently moved to California, where she was accepted in the elite
Hunter C. Morales, a Homewood resident and a member of Boy Scout Troop 79 at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout for the class of 2020 from the Vulcan District Eagle Board. During his years in scouting, Morales earned 24 merit badges; was inducted into the Order of the Arrow, scouting’s national honor society; and held the leadership roles of assistant senior patrol leader, assistant patrol leader and den chief. He has gone on multiple adventure trips and campouts, including white water rafting on the Ocoee River and the 2019 Seabase high adventure trip in Islamorada, Florida. The Seabase expedition included seven days of sailing, snorkeling and fishing off the Florida Keys.
Morales’ Eagle project was at Homewood High School, where he designed, planned and constructed a teaching platform stage for the outdoor classroom. The stage provides a space for teachers to conduct sessions outside the traditional classroom. Hunter C. Morales Not only has this addition been a benefit during the pandemic, it will be an asset for the school for years to come. Morales is a senior at Homewood High School, where he is SGA executive vice president and a member of Patriot Pride Ambassadors, Beta Club and National Honor Society. He also is a member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church. He is the son of Stacey and Scott Morales of Homewood.
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