2020 Distinguished Young Women program will be at Louisville High School Auditorium Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 6:00 pm. “An Evening of Elegance” is the theme.
The contestants for the 2020 Distinguished Young Women program are busy in preparation for the annual event and to see who will represent Winston County in the state program.
The 2020 DYW contestants are:
• Addy Suzanne Webb is contestant number one. She is the daughter of James Robert and Susan Webb. She is a junior at Noxapater Attendance Center. Addy will be playing Sonata No. 14, "Moonlight" 3rd Movement for her talent.
• Emma Rae Fulcher is contestant number two. She is a junior at Winston Academy. Her parents are Jennifer Fulcher and the late Scott Fulcher. For her talent, she will be singing "Queens Don't" by RaeLynn.
• Cheyenne Summer Thrash is contestant number three. Her parents are Melisa and Jimmy Todd Thrash. She is a junior at Noxapater Attendance Center. She will be performing a cheer routine for her talent.
• Dakota Tagan Strait is contestant number four. She is a junior at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science. She is the daughter of Heather Barrett and Jimmy Strait. Dakota will be performing a self-composted monologue for her talent.
• Bailey Nicole Gregory is contestant number five. She is a junior at Nanih Waiya Attendance Center. She is the daughter of Kevin and Nicole Gregory. She will be playing "Maple Leaf Rag" by Scott Joplin on the piano.
• Magdelyn Claire Kirk is contestant number six. She is a junior at Winston Academy. She is the daughter of Melanie and Kiley Kirk. For her talent, she will be performing a tumbling/dancing routine to "Rather Be" by Pentatonix.
The County winner will advance to the state program in Meridian, MS in the summer where they give away more than $35,000 in cash tuition scholarships. The state winner advances to the National competition in Mobile, Alabama.
Founded in 1958, DYW is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls. Each program evaluates participants in the categories of scholastics, interview, talent, fitness and self-expression. Local program winners advance to the state level and all state winners participate in the National Finals held in Mobile, Ala., the summer after they graduate from high school.
In addition to earning scholarships, the girls participate in a life skills program that includes workshops and online resources. Participants can learn skills like interviewing, public speaking, self-confidence building and more to prepare for the program and for the world after high school and college.
For more information on DYW, visit the website at www.distinguishedyw.org
Mother-Daughter social
The group also recently held its annual Mother-Daughter social.
The DYW contestants and their moms attended a Mother-Daughter social on February 23 at Lake Tiak O’Khata. It was hosted by Margaret and Bailey Taylor.
Little Sisters and DTW women social held
The Little Sisters in the program offer support during Distinguished Young Women Program
Everyone needs a little encouragement and help sometime and that is just what a Little Sister offers to a Distinguished Young Woman Participant.
DYW participants choose two ladies to serve as Little Sisters during the DYW Program. Being a Little Sister provides tenth graders and sometimes younger ladies to get an inside scoop on the experience. They see the behind the scenes perspective of the program, and it allows them to decide if they would like to participate when they are eleventh graders. Since parents aren’t allowed backstage, Little Sisters take their place and help with wardrobe changes, hair and makeup, and provide moral support during the program.
On Feb. 15 a social for the DYW young women and their little sisters was held at Lake Tiak O’Khata.
