Recently, the Ackerman Civic Club held their annual Choctaw County Distinguished Young Woman program for 2025.
This year’s winner was Presley Scarbrough. Scarbrough is the daughter of Wayne and Jessica Scarbrough and a Junior at Choctaw County High School.
As the new Choctaw County DYW 2025, Scarbrough won a $3,000 scholarship as well as a full ride to Holmes Community College, $1,000 for her freshman year at Mississippi State University, and an outfit from Indigo Soul. She also won $3,000 for winning the Talent, Fitness and Self-Expression Awards during the preliminary portion of the program.
Scarbrough will move on to compete with other DYW winners across the state in Meridian at the Evangel Temple from July 11 through July 13.
Liv Gundy won first alternate and won a $2,000 scholarship and half-tuition to Holmes Community College. She also won $1,000 for the Scholastic award.
Kate Beard won second alternate. Beard won a $1,500 scholarship and Cara Henson won third alternate and a $1,000 scholarship. Henson also won the “Be Your Best Self” Essay and a $1,000 scholarship.
Marlee Coleman won fourth alternate and a $750 scholarship, she also won $1,000 for the Spirit Award.
The Choctaw County Program is a part of the largest and oldest scholarship program for high school girls in the nation. More than 2 million dollars in scholarships is presented each year at the local, state, and national level of Distinguished Young Women. The central focus of Distinguished Young Women is, and always has been, to recognize and reward excellence in education. The evaluation process is consistent at the local, state, and national levels. The mission is to provide scholarship opportunities to outstanding, college-bound high school girls, and to encourage personal development in all young people through its “Be Your Best Self” outreach program. The Distinguished Young Women Program is made possible by its national sponsors:
Alabama Media Group, City of Mobile, Mobile County, Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Alabama Power Foundation, Regions Financial Corporation, Gant Travel Management, Shoe Station, Coffeen Family, Barkin Family, and Jostens
This scholarship program has been in the county since 1976, and the Twentieth Century Club wishes to thank everyone in the community for supporting the local program.
