Enormous circles, balloons, and marquee letters adorned the stage of the Ty Cobb Auditorium on the campus of Choctaw County High School on March 16, 2025. Eleventh grade Choctaw county residents were invited to participate in this year’s “Golden Year” themed scholarship program.
Ladies participating were Brooklynn Foddrill, Janorria Houston, Miley Dossett, Raynee Claire Lucas, Kelsey Fulgham, Azaria McGee, Kara Hollis, and Amirecle Potts.
On program night, a $3,000.00 scholarship was awarded to Raynee Lucas for being named the Distinguished Young Woman of Choctaw County. Lucas also received an additional $3,000.00 in preliminary award scholarships for self-expression, talent, and fitness. Receiving the $2,000.00 first alternate award was Kelsey Fulgham. She also received the $1,000 scholastic scholarship. Kara Hollis received the $1,000 2nd alternate award. She was also the recipient of the Shirley McGaugh $1,000 Spirit Scholarship and the $1,000 Essay Scholarship. Janorria Houston received the $750.00 3rd Alternate award. The 4th alternate $500.00 scholarship was awarded to Miley Dossett. Lucas also received flowers provided by Forget Me Not Florist in Ackerman, a full tuition scholarship to Holmes Community College and a $1,000.00(freshman year) 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: Alabama Media Group, City of Mobile, Mobile County, Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Alabama Power Foundation, Regions Financial Corporation, Gant Travel Management, John Cauley Jeweler, The Coffeen Family, and Jostens.
This scholarship program has been in the county since 1976, and the Ackerman Civic League wishes to thank everyone in the community for supporting the local program.
