Streamers, a cactus, flags, and an enormous piñata adorned the stage of the Ty Cobb Auditorium on the campus of Choctaw County High School on March 17th, 2018. Eleventh grade Choctaw county residents were invited to participate in this year’s “Fiesta” themed scholarship program. Ladies participating were Morgan McDaniel, Mallory MacKenzie, Gracie Cravens, Millie Taylor, and Halle Ruth Stevenson.
On program night, a $3,000 scholarship was awarded to Mallory MacKenzie for being named the Distinguished Young Woman of Choctaw County. MacKenzie was also the recipient of the $500 Mitchell Dental Self-Expression Award, the $500 North American Coal Scholastic Achievement Award, and the $500 Choctaw Regional Fitness Award.
Receiving the $2,000 first alternate award was Halle Stevenson. Stevenson also received the Coleman Funeral Home $500 Be Your Best Self Essay Scholarship. Millie Taylor received the $1,000 2nd Alternate Scholarship. She was also awarded the Dakota Brasher-Alfa Agency Talent scholarship of $500. Other scholarships were also awarded.
The $1,000 Fair Propane & Forrester and Associates’ Spirit Award, voted on by the contestants, was given to Mallory MacKenzie. The overall winner also received an outfit for state provided by Southern Charm, flowers provided by Forget Me Not Florist in Ackerman, a full tuition scholarship to Holmes Community College and a $1,000 to Mississippi State University.
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: City of Mobile, Mobile County, Wintzell’s Oyster House, Evonik Industries, Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Encore Rehabilitation Inc., Alabama Power Foundation, Regions Bank, and Master Boat Builders.
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.
