Gracie Burton, Distinguished Young Woman of Webster County, will be one of 34 Mississippi high school seniors competing for more than $28,900 in college scholarships when the 2020 Distinguished Young Women of Mississippi Program gets underway Thursday in Meridian.
The state program is now in its 63rd year celebrating and spotlighting outstanding achievements of the state’s best and brightest high school girls. The three nights of competition at the Evangel Temple conclude Saturday. Curtain opens 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; 8 p.m. Saturday.
“We are extremely excited about this year’s program,” said Sid Wilkinson, state chairman of the Distinguished Young Women of Mississippi Program. “This program celebrates what is right with today’s young people and offers them cash scholarship opportunities to further their education.”
Gracie, the daughter of Jason and Amanda Burton of Eupora, attends Eupora High School. Academic accomplishments, membership and hobbies include junior class president, FCA member, Beta Club, Future Business Leaders of America and Student Council reporter. She plans to attend Mississippi State University.
During the weeklong program in Meridian, contestants are evaluated on scholastic achievement, fitness, self-expression, talent and interview. Burton has chosen a Contemporary Dance presentation of “Better Than Today” for her talent.
If selected as Distinguished Young Woman of Mississippi, Gracie will compete in the Distinguished Young Woman for 2020 finals in June of 2020, held in Mobile, Ala. There she will compete for the opportunity to win a share of more than $100,000 in cash scholarship awards, including the $50,000 national title scholarship award.
Begun in 1958, Distinguished Young Women has impacted the lives of more than 765,000 young women. Its mission is to empower high school young women by providing scholarship opportunities, developing self-confidence and teaching crucial life skills needed for success in college and beyond.
National sponsors include Mobile County, city of Mobile, Alabama Power Foundation, Encore Rehabilitation, Wintzell’s Oyster House, Master Boat Builders, Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Evonik, Regions Financial Corp., Jostens and Alabama Media Group.
