2023 Distinguished Young Women of Alaska

Lauren Olson Distinguished Young Woman of Alaska 2023

Welcome to the 65th Annual Alaska State Showcase

Distinguished Young Women is a national scholarship program that inspires high school girls to develop their full, individual potential through a fun, transformative experience that culminates in a celebratory showcase of their accomplishments.

• By encouraging continued education and providing college scholarships

• By developing self-confidence and the abilities to interview effectively, to speak to public, to perform on stage and to build interpersonal relationships

• By encouraging and showcasing excellence in academic achievement, physical fitness, on-stage performance skills, and the ability to think and communicate clearly

• By creating opportunities to beneficially inspire the lives of others

State Committee

The state program wouldn’t be possible without countless hours of dedication by a committed group of volunteers. A huge thank you to all the people who made this program happen.

Program Co-Chairs - Holly Adkins and Julie Broyles

Judges Chair - Holly Adkins

Production Chair - Holly Adkins

Fitness Choreographer - Elle Adkins

Program Order

Welcome

Meet the Participants

Fitness

Meet Our Judges

Talent

Self-Expression

Lauren Olson, Distinguished Young Woman of Alaska 2022

Awards

Awards

Distinguished Young Woman of Alaska 2023

First Alternate

Interview Category Winner

Scholastic Category Winner

Self-Expression Category Winner

Talent Category Winner

Fitness Category Winner

Greta Helgeson

HIGH SCHOOL : Service High School

CAREER GOALS :

COLLEGE CHOICES : University of Alaska - Anchorage

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: Flag Football • TBA Theatre • Art • Music •

Work (hostess)

TALENT : Singing

SELECTION : Come Together

Madisen Lundamo

HIGH SCHOOL :

CAREER GOALS : Political Leadership

COLLEGE CHOICES : Willamette University in Salem, Oregon

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: Drama, Debate, and Forensics • Pep Band •

Concert Choir • National Honor Society • Concert Band

Association

• Jazz Choir • Jazz Band

TALENT : Classical Singing

SELECTION : Last Night

Kylie Morris

HIGH SCHOOL :

• Student Body

CAREER GOALS : High School English Teacher/Small Business Owner

COLLEGE CHOICES : Yale University/Seton Hall University

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: Drama, Debate & Forensics • Student

Government • National Honor Society

• Yearbook • Battle of the Books

Math Club • Climate Fair for a Cool Climate Participant • Chess Club

Juneau Book Club

• Future Women of STEM Club

TALENT : Poem Recitation

SELECTION : Invisible Children

Jazzie Trotter

HIGH SCHOOL :

CAREER GOALS : Architect

COLLEGE CHOICES : Notre Dame

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: ERHS Student Government • ERHS Varsity

Volleyball • American Legion Auxiliary Girls\' State/Girls\' Nation •

United States Senate Youth Program • ASD Gifted Architecture

Mentorship • Academic WorldQuest Bowl • ERHS Varsity Basketball •

ERHS Varsity Track and Field • Pass to Play AK Sand Volleyball •

National Honor Society

TALENT : Piano

SELECTION : Maple Leaf Rag

Judges Panel

Kim Johnson grew up in Kenai, AK and spent her early adult life in Anchorage. She attended the University of Alaska in both Fairbanks and Anchorage. In 1996 she relocated to Dallas, TX, where she lived and raised her family for several years, and received her Graduate Marketing Professional Certification from Southern Methodist University, Cox School of Business Kim now resides in Grangeville, ID, and is the Director of Marketing & Communications for St Mary's Health. She has 3 grown sons, Tyson, Scott and Brian, 2 "bonus girls", Hailey and Danielle, and one beautiful granddaughter, Avery. She loves to spend time with her family camping and boating and many weekends she can be found singing in a classic rock band. Kim was the first runner up for her local Junior Miss Program in 1983 Kim started the DYW of the Camas Prairie program 8 years ago and is thrilled to be able to “give back” to the program that she says gave her so much.

elisa Kaschmitter is the Manager of Gem Chain Bar, a international anufacturing company, were she has worked for seven years. She ajored in Accounting and minored in Business Management. She is hair of Mountain View School District's Board of Trustees, serving the rd of 4 years on the Board Melisa spent seven years working for the aho Department of Labor including working with teens and young dults as a Career Development Facilitator. She also worked in conomic Development creating and organizing the Idaho-Lewis ounty Career Expo for area high school youth and local businesses or four years. She is married, a mother of two children, eight bonus hildren and has five grandchildren Melisa still enjoys working with outh in the community, actively seeking to employ and train young adults through the company's national apprenticeship program she founded. Her idea of fun is growing herbs and succulents, cooking, and traveling. She is looking forward to a trip to New Zealand with husband Andy this spring, bonus son Danny graduating from college and her daughter Chloe and bonus son Thomas both graduating from high school Melisa has spent several years serving as the judges chairperson for the Distinguished Young Women of the Camas Prairie.

Bobbie Kennedy served as a Coast Guard spouse for 18 years, enjoying the adventures of a military wife, until her husband John retired in 2014. She is the proud mother of three incredible grown children (Olivia, Marissa, Jack) and two of the world’s best sons-inlaw, and Nana to four wonderful grandsons. Bobbie treasures her work with students as an educator. For fun, she enjoys singing, being a Weather Spotter, training for obstacle course mud runs, and watching baseball. She is looking forward to more adventures with John, spoiling Olivia’s boys, ziplining with Marissa, and her second skydive jump with Jack. Bobbie first became involved with the Distinguished Young Women program in 2013, after enthusiastically supporting her own daughters participating at both local and state programs She has been a program judge in Maryland and Idaho, as well as serving her local program as a choreographer and backstage coordinator.

Kathleen Navarre Kathleen is a recently retired teacher and coach in Alaska for 28 years She has coached flag football since it began in Anchorage in 2006 and is proud that her teams have won 8 championships. She is currently employed with the Alaska Association of School Activities. Kathleen was born and raised in Kenai, Alaska as the youngest of 11 children. In 1986, Kathleen was the first runner up in the Kenai Junior Miss program

Tabulator

Former CEO of Alaska Communications Systems

Scholastics Judge

William Bishop

Dr. Deena Bishop

Former Anchorage School District Superintendent

State Representatives Through theYears

1959 Diane Lee (3)

1960 Lorene Nershak

1961 Mary Black

1962 Beverly Mimms

1963 Terry O'Neill

1964 Alice Anne Arnold

1965 Linda Landborg

1966 Patricia Longley

1967 Susan Kortie

1968 Barbara Logan

1969 Elizabeth Tomme

1970 Susan Wingrove

1971 Grace Ann Wells

1972 Judi Ann Hough

1973 Judy Moore

1974 Louise Severson

1975 Sherry Taylor

1976 Gayle Anne Walker

1977 Sherry Roesel

1978 LuAnn Piccard

1979 Lori Alborn

1980 Elizabeth Stolpe

1981 Chris Brister

1982 Kim Roerig

1983 Toni Roraff

1984 Jill Lewis

1985 Tiffany Tibbetts

1986 Paige Adams

1987 Jenni Lynn

1988 Julie Valantas

1989 Melissa Waldron

1990 Katy Thompson

1991 Jennifer Watkins

1992 Michelle Schurig

1993 Denise McDonald

1994 Joslyn Tinker

1995 Kiyetta Anderson

1996 Lisa Lucas

1997 Hillary Moore

1998 Holly Pomeroy

1999 Tesa Allemann

2000 Chelsea Paskvan

2001 Kara Merrill

2002 Kathryn Lockwood (3)

2003 Rachel Warbelow

2004 Kaitlin Vadla

2005 Elena Bird

2006 Jennifer Werth

2007 Aimee McClory

2008 Johanna Soderlund

2009 Anastasia Brease

2010 Roisin Nakada

2011 Sydney McIntosh

2012 Deven lnch

2013 Emma Scott

2014 Jennifer Sheasley

2015 Maire Nakada (NW, T, I)

2016 Cheyenne Mathews

2017 Elle Adkins

2018 Isabelle Pope

2019 Emma Broyles

2020 Mias Elias

2021 Evelyn Nutt

2022 Lauren Olson

Judging Criteria

Distinguished Young Women attracts outstanding participants who demonstrate excellence in all areas of their lives. At all levels, the judging standards and basis of selection are the same. They were devised to evaluate the qualities and characteristics in which our Program believes every young woman should strive to possess.

Scholastics - 25%

Scholastics is judged by a separate individual with a background in academics and scholastic evaluation. The Scholastics Judge considers each participant’s grade point average, standardized test scores, and curriculum.

Interview - 25%

In a 10 minute interview and discussion session, the Judges’ panel considers the following criteria: clarity of expression, mental alertness, perception, sense of values, human relations, educated responses, knowledge of current issues and events, and personality.

Talent - 20%

Each participant is allowed 90 seconds for her talent presentation. Judges consider the following criteria: technical ability, originality, appropriateness of selection, costume and stage presence.

Fitness -15%

The fitness portion of the program is to evaluate the participants overall conditioning during a choreographed fitness routine. Judges consider the following criteria: agility, coordination, strength, and stamina.

Self Expression - 15%

This portion of the program allows the Judges to evaluate the participants grace, demeanor, self-confidence and communication skills. Judges consider: poise, carriage, posture, composure, and communication ability.

Lauren Olson

Distinguished Young Women has been such a wonderful experience, and it has allowed me to delve deeper into aspects of myself I would like to augment and focus on. The experience was nothing short of incredible, and I am so grateful to have been a part of it. From the moment I became our state

representative, I was struck by the warmth and friendliness of everyone involved. Everyone was welcoming and supportive, whether it was the staff, the volunteers, or the other participants.

Distinguished Young Woman of Alaska 2022

I felt like I was part of a community, even though we had all just met. The events themselves were unforgettable. Every moment was a chance to showcase our skills and talents, from the talent portion to the fitness routine. But even more than that, it was a chance to learn from one another. I was constantly inspired by the creativity and dedication of my fellow participants, and I found myself pushing myself harder than ever before. I knew that I was exactly where I was meant to be. Looking back on the experience now, I am filled with gratitude. Not just for the scholarship that I received, but for the friendships that I made, the lessons that I learned, and the memories that I will cherish forever. I am so thankful to have represented our great state and to have taken part in an experience I will never forget.

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Lauren Olson

Katelyn Cai

Arizona’s Katelyn Cai was named the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2022, during the 65th Annual National Finals.

Katelyn is a graduate of BASIS Scottsdale. Her academic honors include being named a 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholar, National AP Scholar, Robertson Scholar, Bank of America Student Leader, and one of Arizona’s 18 under 18.

Outside of the classroom, Katelyn is passionate about education and equality. The project she devotes most of her time to is a nonprofit she founded, “Invest in Her.” The idea was sparked from watching her mother fight for her own right to an education, inspiring Katelyn to provide equitable opportunities for women to be successful.

Katelyn enjoys pouring her whole heart into everything she does. Aside from her nonprofit, Katelyn is also extremely passionate about speech and debate. She was ranked Number 2 in the country for extemporaneous speaking.

In the fall, Katelyn will attend Duke University on a full-ride scholarship as a Robertson Scholar. She will be majoring in Public Policy and Economics with goals to attend law school in the future and pursue a career in legislature. After completing high school with a graduating class of only 77 students, Katelyn says she’s excited to meet lots of new people and experience life in a new environment!

Winning $46,000 in cash scholarships and a gold medallion at the national program, Katelyn will represent the Class of 2022 as the Distinguished Young Woman of America during this year.

FUN FACTS

• Katelyn is a first-generation Chinese-American. Her parents both immigrated from China and now live in Scottsdale, Arizona where they raised Katelyn and her younger brother.

• At only the age of 18, she has already worked for every level of government in some way and is currently an intern at both her senator’s office and city office.

• Katelyn has been dancing since the age of eight.

• Her guilty pleasure is watching cheesy movies on Netflix, more specifically watching “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” on repeat.

• She’s a dog person - Katelyn got a “pandemic puppy” in 2020 named Stella and has trained her in two languages!

• Katelyn’s favorite plans are no plans! She loves getting a call from a friend who’s up for a spontaneous activity.

• When asked who inspires her, she immediately replied, “My mom... if I can be half the woman she is when I am older I will have done a good job.”

LEFT TO RIGHT, CLOCKWISE: Katelyn having fun at our LuLu’s Beach Party; participating in the Fitness category; on stage during the 65th National Finals; dancing to “This Woman’s Work” for her talent; with her fellow participants; accepting her scholarship.

National Sponsors

Distinguished Young Women is grateful to all of our national sponsors who make each year’s program possible through their generous contributions toward scholarships and the ongoing operation of the nationwide program.

States Club, Spirit Club & Event Sponsors

STATES CLUB

The businesses and individuals in the States Club sponsor a representative during Finals. The members of this elite group have graciously contributed $5,000 each. We appreciate their financial support and their dedication to the success of this program.

Austal

Valerie Boltz Austin

AJM Foundation Board

The Better Skin Co.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama

Captain Teresa Elders Foundation

Lori Jo and Paul Carbonneau

Pam and Cisco Codina

Delaney Development

Distinguished Young Women Past Presidents

Evonik Corporation

Jim and Dee Gambill

Joy and Jimmy Grodnick

The Hearin-Chandler Foundation

The Howard Wealth Management Group of Stifel

Phil and Elizabeth Kaiser

Mister “P” Express

Arlene Mitchell

Pam and Eric Patterson

Jim and Carol Rubino

Judith Skelton

Mr. and Mrs. Norvelle Smith

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Rep. Victor Gaston presented a special gift in honor of Joy Grodnick, Pam Patterson and Kathy Latta (pictured left to right) in recognition of their years of dedication and service to Distinguished Young Women. First introduced to the program by his mother-inlaw Mary Jumonville, who was a volunteer with the program in its early years, Rep. Gaston has been a supporter of the program and it’s mission ever since.

SPIRIT CLUB

The businesses and individuals in the Spirit Club sponsor a state’s representative during National Finals. Members of this group have generously contributed $2,500 and we appreciate their support.

Ascension

Jessica and Bill Barrick

Hargrove Engineers + Constructors

Kendra and Michael Haskins

McKinney Petroleum Equipment

EVENT SPONSORS

These businesses supported our workshops that created a rich learning expereince for our 50 state representatives.

AFTER FINALS PARTY

Mobile County

DESTINY'S BEACH PARTY

Premier Medical

FITNESS WORKSHOP

Jazzercise

INTERVIEW WORKSHOP

The Adecco Group

STATE SPECIALITIES PARTY

Mobile County

VIRTUAL WOMEN’S FORUM

National Panhellenic Conference

IN-PERSON WOMEN’S FORUM

University of Mobile

Program History

1958-2022

Distinguished Young Women was founded in 1958 by the Mobile (AL) Jaycees as an outgrowth of its popular Azalea Trail Maid program. Originally called America’s Junior Miss, Distinguished Young Women was created as a way to meet the need for higher education scholarships for young women.

While continuing to address the need for scholarships, Distinguished Young Women also saw an opportunity to help prepare young women for success in life after high school. Many skills that help individuals be successful—how to conduct a business interview, believing that your opinions are worthy of recognition and how to speak with confidence and effectively convey your thoughts—are not taught in school. Our Life Skills Workshops begin this education. Plus, to ensure the greatest impact possible, participation in our program is always free, allowing young women of all backgrounds to be able to reap the benefits of participation.

Distinguished Young Women is proud to be the oldest and largest scholarship program in the nation for college-bound high school senior girls. Since 1958, the program has awarded more than $118 million in cash scholarships at local, state, and national programs. In addition to cash scholarships, Distinguished Young Women participants are eligible for college-granted scholarships from over 100 colleges and universities across the country. Over $1 billion in college scholarship opportunities were provided to the Class of 2022, some of which included full tuition plus room and board. Many participants leave the program with scholarships, but all walk away from the experience with life skills to help them interview for jobs, develop healthy relationships and have increased confidence.

Throughout the years, Distinguished Young Women has continued to attract the nation’s best and brightest. More than 780,000 young women have participated in the program at the local, state and national levels. Journalist and anchor Diane Sawyer (1963), Journalist Deborah Norville (1975), Will & Grace actress Debra Messing (1986), CNN anchor Robin Meade (1987) and violinist and best-selling author Lindsey Stirling (2005) are a few of the program’s celebrity faces. Distinguished Young Women is proud to have helped these women on their road to success and is equally proud of the thousands of other past participants who have achieved success through a vast number of careers, such as Dr. Linda Rutledge Delbridge (1973), vice-president at IBM; Marlo Graves (1990), Shuttle Integration Group Engineer for Boeing; pediatrician Dr. Susan Davidson (1998); and Sruthi Palaniappan (2016), the youngest delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention and former student body President at Harvard College.

Distinguished Young Women continues because of the hard work and dedication of more than 10,000 volunteers throughout the nation. These individuals devote countless hours to planning, funding and executing local, state and national programs. A board of directors including civic, business and professional leaders governs the national nonprofit corporation. These volunteers are committed to providing opportunities to young women who have achieved excellence in their high school careers. Thanks to dedicated volunteers and support from the Mobile community, Distinguished Young Women continues to impact the lives of thousands of young women across the country.

LEFT TO RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM: 1. Phyllis Whitenack (WV) was the first national representative in 1958. 2. The Class of 1963 takes part in the Youth Fitness. In the center is Diane Sawyer, Kentucky and America’s Junior Miss for that year. 3. The Tonight Show’s Ed McMahon served as host of the program in 1980. 4. Kim Smith (NC) was the first America’s Junior Miss to receive a medallion instead of a crown in 1981. 5. Tyrenda Williams, America’s Junior Miss for 1997, spreads the message of the Be Your Best Self. 6. The Class of 2001 Has Beens perform. 7. Madison Leonard of Idaho was named the first Distinguished Young Women of America in 2010. 8. A participant in the local Charleston County (SC) program takes part in a Life Skills Workshop in 2015.

Distinguished Alumnae

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK

In 2019, the Distinguished Network launched providing an online space for alumnae of all ages to network and connect. Join the private Facebook page by searching “The Distinguished Network.”

JOIN US IN PERSON

Past participants stay connected through newsletters and updates, alumnae reunions and clubs, volunteering and social media. We currently have Alumnae Clubs in Atlanta, the Bay Area, Boston, Mobile, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia and Washington DC. Alumnae can receive information about getting connected by emailing Norma@DistinguishedYW.org

Get Involved!

Distinguished Alumnae is a sisterhood of more than 780,000 women who have participated in Distinguished Young Women or Junior Miss programs at any level—local, state or national— since the program’s origin.

Help us continue to share the message and impact of Distinguished Young Women by getting involved with local programs in your area, OR start a program in your area using our flexible format options!

In order to increase our impact, we need new grassroots programs reaching into communities. These programs feed into our state programs to help them grow! Flexible format local programs were created with the intention that anyone can start a program - regardless of time, location or resources. Here are some of the perks of our flexible format:

YOU CAN DO IT!

• Minimal time commitment - only a few hours

• Flexible - you set the schedule

• Host your local program partially OR fully digital

• DYW provides the Scholastics Judge, Program Judge contacts, Fitness routine, Life Skills Workshop videos and College-Granted Scholarships

• No venue needed

• Low to ZERO cost

Are YOU able to volunteer even a few hours of your time and start impacting young women? Contact our National Field Director, Lisa Lawley Burnette, at Lisa@DistinguishedYW.org for a more in-depth description of our program options or to get connected with a program in your area.

Distinguished Young Women

ALABAMA Julianne Abenoja

HAWAII Ellie Ochiai

MASSACHUSETTS Isabel Xue

NEW MEXICO Salma Barragan

SOUTH DAKOTA Mackenzie Brady

ARIZONA Katelyn Cai

ILLINOIS Rosie Wang

MINNESOTA Keerthana Ramanathan

NORTH CAROLINA Asa Thurnau

TEXAS Ankita Talukdar

ALASKA Lauren Olson

IDAHO Kenadee Kuhn

MICHIGAN Sharanya Swaminathan

NEW YORK Mary Cotter

TENNESSEE Amy Pham

ARKANSAS Maria Spearn

INDIANA Elizabeth Taylor

MISSISSIPPI Christina Danford

NORTH DAKOTA Amy Hong

UTAH Isabel Hallows

CALIFORNIA Emily Lee

IOWA Amy Nguyen

MISSOURI Elizabeth Moots

OHIO Cassandra Mayers

VERMONT Jenelle Hardy

Class of 2022

COLORADO Madison Manning

KANSAS Lydia Poe

MONTANA Kaitlyn Ruch

OKLAHOMA Jenna Scott

VIRGINIA Jadyn Talley

DELAWARE Mikayla Dayton

LOUISIANA Anna Claire Bridges

NEVADA Rachel McDonald

PENNSYLVANIA Avia Weber

WEST VIRGINIA Rebecca Pruett

CONNECTICUT Condoleezza Coleman

KENTUCKY McKenna Sun

NEBRASKA Erin Schuette

OREGON Zora Richardson

WASHINGTON Esther Roeber

FLORIDA London Taylor

MAINE Grace Kelso

NEW HAMPSHIRE Kate Chevaire

RHODE ISLAND Mya Schiavone

WISCONSIN Cynthia Lu

GEORGIA Mya Moffitt

MARYLAND Genevieve Batman

NEW JERSEY Cady Wang

SOUTH CAROLINA Mary Compton

WYOMING Whitnee Hale

Class of 2022 Awards

The Class of 2022 shared in $153,000 in cash scholarships at the national level and more than $1 BILLION in college-granted scholarships available to them by taking part in the DYW experience.

DISTINGUISHED YOUNG WOMAN OF AMERICA

$40,000

Katelyn Cai Arizona

FIRST RUNNER-UP $20,000

Julianne Abenoja Alabama

SECOND RUNNER-UP $15,000

Cynthia Lu Wisconsin

THIRD RUNNER-UP $10,000

Isabel Xue Massachusetts

FINALISTS $5,000 EACH

Madison Manning CO

Rosie Wang IL

Avia Weber PA

Amy Pham TN

CATEGORY AWARDS

SCHOLASTICS • $1,000 EACH

Katelyn Cai AZ McKenna Sun KY

INTERVIEW • $1,000 EACH

Katelyn Cai AZ Mikayla Dayton DE

TALENT • $1,000 EACH

Julianne Abenoja AL Katelyn Cai AZ

FITNESS • $1,000 EACH

Julianne Abenoja AL Katelyn Cai AZ

SELF-EXPRESSION • $1,000 EACH

Katelyn Cai AZ Madison Manning CO

SATELLITE AWARDS

Joy Mitchell Grodnick SPIRIT AWARD • $2,000

Avia Weber PA

TELL ME A STORY by Maureen Sullivan Collins • $2,500

Emily Lee CA Keerthana Ramanathan MN

Chick-Fil-A BE YOUR BEST SELF AWARD in honor of Reggie & Betty Copeland • $1,000 EACH

Elizabeth Taylor IN Ankita Talukdar TX

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD presented by the Hyman Family Foundation • $1,000

Mya Moffitt GA

NATIONAL PANHELLENIC CONFERENCE/

NPC FOUNDATION AWARDS • $1,000 EACH

Avia Weber PA

Kaavya Raamkumar San Diego, CA Participant

Dr. Richard B. Rogers SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP • $1,500

Mary Cotter NY

Rebecca Houston Todd ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AWARD • $1,500

Rosie Wang IL

Bork Family SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARDS • $500 EACH

Rosie Wang IL Grace Kelso ME

Press Register/AL.com DISTINGUISHED DIARY AWARD • $1,000

Katelyn Cai AZ

DISTINGUISHED VLOGGER AWARD in honor of Roxann Dyess • $1,000

Isabella DiPietrantonio PA 202 1

Amy Osmond Cook HAS BEEN AWARD • $2,000

Alison Reed CO 2021

Roxann Dyess HAS BEEN SPIRIT AWARD • $2,000

Ella Froedge SC 2021

DISTINGUISHED OUTREACH AWARD • $1,000

Adyson Schafer Almira/Coulee/Hartline, WA

Be Your Best Self

Founded in 1987, the Be Your Best Self (BYBS) program is the official outreach program of Distinguished Young Women. In keeping with our mission, the program provides an opportunity for participants to beneficially impact the lives of children in their communities.

The simple and practical message of the Be Your Best Self program is carried across the country through dynamic and engaging presentations created by Distinguished Young Women participants at all levels (local, state and national).

The Be Your Best Self program seeks to encourage young people to lead successful and productive lives. Participants delivering the BYBS message use their personal experiences and unique talents to create presentations that inspire leaders for the future. Be Healthy, Be Involved, Be Studious, Be Ambitious and Be Responsible are the five elements that help define what it means to Be Your Best Self.

This year, Distinguished Young Women celebrated its thirteenth annual National Be Your Best Self Week, a nationwide event that took place April 18-22. During the week, Distinguished Young Women participants across the country visited with groups of children in their communities and via video conference to share the Be Your Best Self message. As a result, thousands of young people learned what it means to be their best selves and how they can work toward a bright and productive future.

Distinguished Young Women is proud to offer a special scholarship award in conjunction with the Be Your Best Self program, the Distinguished Outreach Award. Any young woman who participated in a 2022 Distinguished Young Women program at the local or state level (excludes state winners) and participated in National Be Your Best Self Week was eligible to compete for the award. This year’s Distinguished Outreach Award recipient is Adyson Schafer, Distinguished Young Woman of Almira/Coulee/Hartline, WA for 2022.

The Be Your Best Self Scholarship Selection Committee consists of Tifara Brown, Emily Lloyd Herman, Bliss McMichael, Kami Brumley, and Tobi Collins.

Bring BYBS to your community! Want a BYBS presentation at your organization or school? Contact Lisa@ DistinguishedYW.org to find the program closest to you.

BE RESPONSIBLE

Live by moral and ethical principles

BE STUDIOUS Stay in school and be a lifelong learner

TOP TO BOTTOM: Kristen Logan, the 1988 National Representative, gives a Be Your Best Self presentation at Junior Achievement; 2022 Distinguished Outreach Award recipient, Adyson Schafer.

National Representatives 1958-2021

1958 | WEST VIRGINIA

Phyllis A. Whitenack

University of Central Florida Graduate; registered nurse; lived in Scottsdale, AZ; two daughters and two grandchildren; died in 2011

1959 | PENNSYLVANIA

Judi Humphrey Peckonis

Studied for a career in nursing; one son; died in 1968

1960 | CONNECTICUT

Maureen Sullivan Collins

Southern Connecticut State University graduate; BS degree in special education; lives on Fisher Island, FL and CT with husband of 54 years, George; three sons and ten grandchildren

1961 | MISSOURI

Mary Frann Luecke

Attended Northwestern University; founded the America’s Junior Miss Council in 1995; had an extensive career in acting; died in 1998

1962 | RHODE ISLAND

Jean Leslie Allen

George Washington University graduate; attended Georgetown Law School; lives in Providence, RI; one son; died in 2018

1963 | KENTUCKY

Diane Sawyer

Wellesley College graduate; lives in New York City; former co-host of ABC’s Good Morning America; current anchor of ABC’s World News and principal anchor; wife of the late Mike Nichols

1964 | WASHINGTON

Linda Felber

Master’s degree from University of Illinois; coordinator of student services for school district; one daughter; lives in Salem, OR

1965 | MICHIGAN

Patrice Gaunder Heeran

Graduate of Marygrove College (Detroit); lives in Washoe Valley, NV, with husband of 46 years, John; two sons and one daughter

1966 | WISCONSIN

Diane Wilkins

Studied at Marymont and the University of Massachusetts; worked in import business in California; died in 2005

1967 | ARKANSAS

Rosemary Dunaway Trible

Univ. of TX graduate; works with students at Christopher Newport University; author of book

Fear to Freedom & created nonprofit called Fear 2 Freedom; two children & two grandchildren

1968 | OKLAHOMA

Debi Faubion Attorri

Stephens College graduate; former evening news anchor at WSOC-TV; Broadcast and promotion spokesperson at her company Debi Presents LLC; lives with her husband in Charlotte, NC

1969 CALIFORNIA

Jackie Bennington Weiss

Masters in Education/Physical Education from Stanford University; High School dance instructor & Dir. of International Baccalaureate Dance Certificate Program; two daughters

1970 | ARIZONA

Karen Stenwall Wiseman

Studied at Texas Christian University and Kansas State; Masters in psychology; Senior VP Marketing for global real estate company; three daughters and four grandchildren

1971 | NEW JERSEY

Arlene Stens Thompson

Master’s degree from Trenton State College; lives in Moorestown, NJ; five children

1972 | KENTUCKY

Lydia Hodson Copeland George Washington University graduate; worked in television; one son; died in 1991

1973 | KANSAS

Linda Rutledge Delbridge

Ph.D. in computer science from George Washington University; Director, Automation Business Development for Information Services Group; resides in Lake Tahoe, NV with husband Dave, rescue husky, Kane, and cat, Boris.

1974 | WYOMING

Karen Morris Gowdy

Attended the University of Wyoming, New York University, and Stella Adler’s; played the role of Faith Coleridge on the Emmy-winning Ryan’s Hope; three daughters

1975 | ARKANSAS

Julie Forshee Thurber Spring Hill College graduate; lives in Miami Beach, FL and Park City, UT with her husband; two sons

1976 | WASHINGTON

Lenne Jo Hallgren

Whitworth College graduate; public speaker, author, and active in public affairs; contributor to Full Bloom; resides in Eagle, ID with husband J.E. Givens; three children and three grandchildren

1977 | ARKANSAS

Christy Moller Wojohn

University of Georgia graduate; teaches 1st grade; lives in Zachary, LA; five children

1980 | GEORGIA

Julie Bryan Moran

Graduate of UGA; first female anchor of ABC’s Wide World of Sports; host of Entertainment

Tonight for 10 years; host of LIFETIME’S The Balancing Act; two daughters

1981 | NORTH CAROLINA

Kim Smith Yandow

Career as a dancer/choreographer & director; taught dance at BYU for 11 years; directed her own women’s performing company for 7 years; authored SimpleSpaces; ten children

1982 | MISSISSIPPI

Susan Hammett Wilmore

Master’s degree from Louisiana State University in communication disorders; senior sales representative with Takeda Pharmaceuticals; lives in Alexandria, LA with two sons

1983 | ALABAMA

Stephanie Ashmore Pitts

University of Mississippi Nursing School grad; Pediatric Oncology, Pre-Op and Recovery Room Nursing; lives in Fairhope, AL with four children

1984 | MINNESOTA

Amber Kvanli Ward

M.B.A. from Kellogg at Northwestern University; lives in New York City with husband and two children

1985 | TEXAS

Valerie Lowrance Tyler

University of Texas - Ph.D. in jurispendence; former prosecutor; working as a lecturer in trial advocacy at the University of Texas Law School; four children

1986 | VIRGINIA

Lori Jo Smith Carbonneau

Graduate of Princeton; Harvard MBA; lives in Virginia following years in China; Director of Membership for the McLean Project for the Arts; married with two sons and one daughter

1987 | WISCONSIN

Chuti Tiu

Northwestern University; actor, writer, & producer; wrote, produced & starred in feature film Pretty Rosebud; serves on Tallgrass Film Festival Filmmaker Advisory Board

1988 | MISSISSIPPI

Kristen Logan Sepesi

Attended Baylor University; former marketing consultant and Colorado state chairman; lives in Athens, GA with two children

1978 | MISSOURI

Kim Crosby Westenberg

Feature soloist with symphonies around the U.S.; starred in Guys and Dolls and Into the Woods on Broadway; lives in Springfield, MO with husband; two daughters and one son

1979 | PENNSYLVANIA

Susan Horvath McCready

Studied at Troy University; worked in radio; currently living in Virginia with her husband, a retired Air Force Colonel

1989 | MISSOURI

Kristin Huxhold Provisero

University of Illinois graduate; master’s degree from Webster University; Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar; Broadway singer and actress living in New York; two daughters

1990 ILLINOIS

Sara Martin Rosheger

Northwestern University graduate; master’s degree from the University of Warwick in Coventry, England; 1995 British Marshall Scholar; kindergarten teacher; two children

1991 CALIFORNIA

Amy Elizabeth Goodman

UCLA; Master’s from Columbia; journalist & style expert; contributor NBC’s TODAY Show, The Rachael Ray Show, Live with Kelly & Ryan, The View, The Talk; author of Wear This, Toss That; two children

1992 | CALIFORNIA

Tiffany Stoker Madsen

BYU then Juris Doctorate from Hastings College of the Law; Clovis Unified School Board Trustee; certified teacher of Let’s Play Music and Sound Beginnings; three sons and two daughters

1993 | GEORGIA

Rebecca Jones Kujawa

Duke University; earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation; Vice President of Business Management for an energy company; three children

1994 | UTAH

Amy Osmond Cook

Ph.D. in Communication from University of Utah; Director of Provider Relations for North American Health Care; CEO of Osmond Marketing; Healthcare columnist; five children

1995 | NEW JERSEY Kiersten Rickenbach Cerveny

Duke and Tulane School of Medicine; dermatologist in private practice in New York; Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Mt. Sinai Hospital; three children; died in 2015

1996

|

TENNESSEE

Andrea Plummer Guardenier

University of Virginia; received MD from Albany Medical College and served seven years in the Air Force as a pediatrician; Fellow in Pediatric Intensive Care in San Diego; one daughter

1997 | ALABAMA

Tyrenda Williams-Reed

Birmingham-Southern College; M.A. in Journalism and Latin American & Caribbean Studies from NYU; HR/Payroll Manager for the Birmingham Barons; two daughters

1998 | PENNSYLVANIA

Susan Davidson Sankova

Harvard and Georgetown School of Medicine; Johns Hopkins Hospital pediatric residency; currently an assistant professor of anesthesiology at University of Maryland Medical School

1999

| GEORGIA

Sarah Jane Everman Shanks

Graduate of the University of Cincinnati

Conservatory of Music; most recently appeared on Broadway in Cats; lives with her husband and son in New York, NY

2000 | UTAH

Jesika Henderson Harmon

Honors graduate from Brigham Young University; BA in English and minor in dance; currently resides in Alpine, UT, with five children

2001 | ALABAMA

Carrie Colvin Alling

Vanderbilt University grad with a degree in economics; digital media and video production consultant; lives in Los Angeles with two daughters

2002 | OREGON

Amy Kerr McVey

Graduated cum laude from Willamette University; owns and operates fine art wedding and portrait photography studio with husband; lives in Salem, OR

2003 | CALIFORNIA

Andrea Finch Williams

Graduated from Brigham Young University with major in music/dance/theater; teaches voice and piano lessons; resides in Gainesville, FL with three children

2004 | TEXAS

Shannon Essenpreis Fortenberry University of Mississippi; Communications Manager for agricultural input supplier GreenPoint AG; three children

2005 | MISSISSIPPI

Kelli Schutz Croyle

Belhaven University; motivational and guest speaker; spiritual development director at Westbrook Christian School; fitness coordinator at Big Oak Ranch, a Christian home for children needing a chance; two sons

2006 | KENTUCKY

Taylor Phillips

Stanford undergrad & PhD; currently Assistant Professor of Management & Organizations at New York University (Stern School of Business)

2007 | MINNESOTA

Nora Ali

Graduate of Harvard University with BA in statistics and quantitative finance; anchor at business and technology news network, Cheddar; living in New York City

2008 | UTAH

Lindsey Brinton Harris

Harvard University; graduated #1 in law school class from UC Hastings College of Law; lives in Salt Lake City with three children

2009 |

KENTUCKY

Michelle Rodgers

Northwestern University; Community Program Coordinator for Eugene, OR; middle school teacher & group facilitator; Director of The Eugene Story Project

2010 | IDAHO

Madison Leonard

Pepperdine grad with a Masters of Music degree in Voice and Opera; currently singing opera professionally; Lives in Switzerland with her husband

2011 | TENNESSEE

Katye Brock Bodak

University of Tennessee; master’s in SpeechLanguage Pathology; working as a speechlanguage pathologist; lives in Knoxville with her husband and daughter

2012 |

NORTH

CAROLINA

Christina Maxwell

University of Michigan; BFA in musical theatre, film and television in NYC; creative arts therapist for pediatric oncology; “Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role” at New York Musical Festival

2013 | WASHINGTON

Nicole Renard

Chapman University graduate; majored in TV broadcast journalism; recently interned for Ryan Seacrest Studios & iHeartMedia; studied abroad in New Zealand

2014 | GEORGIA

Brooke Rucker

Florida State University graduate; member of Charles Anderson’s COA Dance Project company; Visioning Partner Assistant at Urban Bush Women; living in Brooklyn, NY

2015 | ALASKA

Máire Nakada Aguirre

University of South Alabama graduate; BS in Nursing; Worked as a Cardio Pulmonary Critical Care nurse at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital while earning MA; Living in Alaska with husband

2016 | SOUTH CAROLINA

Tara Moore

Clemson University graduate with a BS in Health Sciences; Miss Clemson University 2018; Captain of the Rally Cat Dance Team; Alpha Delta Pi Sorority; Beginning the Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program at Emory University

2017 | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Skye Bork

Columbia University graduate with a degree in Economics-Mathematics; Vice President of student council; Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and Undergraduate Recruitment Committee; continues to take dance and ballet classes

2018 | INDIANA

Aaryan Morrison

Student at Harvard University majoring in Social Studies and African Studies; Modern Dance Company; Strong Women Strong Girls; Harvard National MUN; Harvard Undergraduate Council

2019 | ILLINOIS

Dora Guo

Student at Yale University majoring in Ethnicity, Race and Migration; Member of Rhythmic Blue, Yale Daily News, Yale Dancers

2020 | KENTUCKY

Elif Ozyurekoglu

Student at Columbia University majoring in Biomedical Engineering; Swim/Dive Team; Kappa Alpha Theta; Society of Women Engineers; Columbia Podcast Reporter

2021

| GEOGRIA Destiny Kluck Student at Brandeis University double majoring in HSSP and Biology; Research Lab Assistant; Posse Scholar; Community Engagement Ambassador; Adagio and Ballet Dance member

College-Granted Scholarships

The Class of 2023 is eligible for scholarships from colleges and universities across the nation.

ALBION COLLEGE

Albion, Michigan

Four year, renewable $1,000 scholarship to:

• Any Distinguished Young Women participant

To qualify, students my apply for admission by December 1st of their senior year of high school.

CARROLL COLLEGE*

Helena, Montana

Four-year renewable scholarship of $24,000, with annual renewal contingent on maintaining a 2.0 or higher college GPA to:

• National Scholastic Winner

Four-year renewable scholarship of $22,000, with annual renewal contingent on maintaining a 2.0 or higher college GPA to:

• Any State Scholastic Winner

Four-year renewable scholarship of $21,000, with annual renewal contingent on maintaining a 2.0 or higher college GPAt o:

• Any Local Scholastic Winner

CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY*

Orange, California

Four-year renewable Presidential Scholarship ($32,000 annually/$128,000 total award) to:

• Any State Winner

• State level Overall Scholastics Winner

Must apply and qualify for Freshman Admission. Scholarship is renewable provided student maintains full time attendance and GPA requirements.

HOOD COLLEGE*

Frederick, Maryland

Four-year, renewable full tuition scholarship with maintenance of a 3.25 GPA to:

• Distinguished Young Woman of America

• Any State Winner

$112,000 Presidential scholarship ($28,000* minimum annually, renewable for up to four years) with maintenance of a 3.25 GPA to:

• Any DYW participant

HUNTINGDON COLLEGE*

Montgomery, Alabama

Four-year, full tuition renewable scholarship to:

• Any State Winner (Limited to 5 awards per year.)

JUNIATA COLLEGE

Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

Four-year, renewable $20,000-$36,000 merit scholarship to:

• Any DYW participant

Additional recognition for student applicants who demonstrate commitment to leadership, service, and their community to:

• Distinguished Young Woman of America will also receive a four-year renewable $2,500 award

• Any State Winner will also receive a four-year renewable $1,000 award

• All DYW participants will also receive a four-year renewable $500 award

OHIO UNIVERSITY

Athens, Ohio

Four-year, renewable scholarship of $2,000 with maintenance of a 3.0 GPA and minimum of 12 credit hours per semester to:

• Any Distinguished Young Woman participant Limited to 3 awards per year. May be combined with certain other university scholarships.

COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS*

Athens, Ohio

Four-year, $1,250-$2,500 renewable four year scholarship to:

• Any Participant who is admitted to, and pursues a major in, the OHIO University College of Fine Arts (the Schools of Music, Art+Design, Theatre, Dance, Film, or Interdisciplinary Arts)

OHIO UNIVERSITY HONORS TUTORIAL COLLEGE

Athens, Ohio

Four-year, renewable scholarship valued at full, in-state tuition to:

• Any participant enrolling in the Honors Tutorial College as a first-year student in fall 2023.

Additional four-year, renewable scholarship valued at $7,000 annually and applicable specifically to the out-of-state surcharge to:

• Any non-Ohio resident and DYW participant enrolling in the Honors Tutorial College as a first-year student in Fall 2023 Scholarship may not be combined with certain other university scholarships. More details available upon request.

QUINCY UNIVERSITY

Quincy, Illinois

$5,000 renewable four year scholarship to:

• Any National, State, or Local winner

RANDOLPH COLLEGE

Lynchburg, Virginia

All Distinguished Young Women Participants are eligible for the WildCat Commitment awards of:

• $5,000 four-year renewable scholarship to students with 4.0 or higher high school GPA

• $4,000 four-year renewable scholarship to students with 3.75-3.99 high school GPA

• $3,000 four-year renewable scholarship to students with 3.5-3.74 high school GPA

• $2,000 four-year renewable scholarship to students with high school 3.25-3.49 Gpa

• $1,000 Four-year renewable scholarship to students with high school 3.0-3.24 GPA

*Through a combination of merit scholarships, need-based grants, and other incentives, every admitted student who files the fafsa will receive at least $13,000 in financial commitment from randolph college.

SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

Georgetown, Texas

• $7,500 renewable four year scholarship to:

• Any National Program participant

• $5,000 renewable four year scholarship to:

• Any State Program participant (from any state)

• $2,500 renewable four year scholarship to:

• Any Texas Local Program participant

All applicants for admission to Southwestern will be considered for our general merit scholarships at the time of admission review. DYW program awards may be stacked with general scholarship awards from the University.

SPRINGHILL COLLEGE*

Mobile, Alabama

Four-year, full tuition and fees scholarship to:

• Distinguished Young Woman of America

Four-year full tuition scholarship; must have a minimum 30 ACT and 3.7 high school GPA; Limited to one award per year to:

• Any State Winner (Limited to 1 award per year.)

ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY

San Antonio, Texas

Four-year, renewable full tuition scholarship to:

• Distinguished Young Woman of America

• Distinguished Young Woman of Texas

• National Scholastic Category Winners

• All State Winers with 30 ACT and 3.7 high school GPA

STETSON UNIVERSITY*

DeLand, Florida

Four-year Presidential Scholarship ranging from $22,500 to $30,000, witht all applicable enrollment requirements met and maintenance of a 2.0 GPA to:

• Distinguished Young Woman of America

• Distinguished Young Woman of Florida

STEVENSON UNIVERSITY*

Stevenson, Maryland

$15,000 renewable, four-year scholarships to:

• Any State Winner TROY UNIVERSITY*

Troy, Alabama

$10,000 Chancellor’s Scholarship and $1,250 Study Abroad Scholarship to:

• Any State Winner

$3,500 DYW Scholarship and $1,250 Study Abroad Scholarship to:

• any Alabama local program winner with 3.0 GPA & 23 ACT

Four-year, renewable Trojan Opportunity Expanded Scholarship valued at the out-of-state portion of tuition costs with maintenance of 2.7 GPA to:

• Any State Winner with 3.0 GPA and 20 ACT UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA*

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Four-year award for the value of a Presidential scholarship, $5,000 freshman year housing scholarship and $5,000 study abroad stipend to:

• Distinguished Young Woman of America

Four-year award for the value of a Presidential scholarship to:

• Any State Winner

Four-year award for the value of a Presidential scholarship plus a $5,000 freshman year housing scholarship to:

• Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama

• Alabama’s Overall Scholastics Winner

If student receives a merit-based automatic offer that is less than a Presidential, this designation will bump them to the Presidential. A student cannot receive both a merit-based award and program-based tuition award. Should student already be receiving a Presidential Scholarship, they will receive a $2,000/year stipend, $300/year book

scholarship, and a one-time $3,000 study abroad stipend. If National Representative has already received Presidential Scholarship, will only receive the housing scholarship and study abroad stipend.

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM

Birmingham, Alabama

One-year, stackable scholarship of $1,000 to:

• Any State Winner

Four-year award for the value of a Presidential scholarship to:

• Any Alabama Local Winner

• Up to 2 participants who are nominated by the Distinguished Young Women of Jefferson County (AL) Program

Must be admitted for the fall semester following HS graduation. Must submit the General Application in UAB’s Blazer Scholarship Management and Resource Tool and complete four additional questions. One of these additional questions requires you to upload written verification of your participation/selection from DYW. Deadline for completing the scholarship application is May 31.

UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE*

Mobile, Alabama

Four-year, renewable full tuition and fees scholarship, with maintenance of a 3.0 GPA, to:

• Distinguished Young Woman of America

Four-year, renewable half tuition scholarship, with maintenance of a 3.0 GPA, to:

• Any Distinguished Young Women participant

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA*

Mobile, Alabama

Four-year, renewable full tuition and fees scholarship with maintenance of a 3.0 GPA to:

• Distinguished Young Woman of America

• Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama

• National Overall Scholastics Winner

• Any State winner with 30 ACT or 1360 SAT and 3.0 GPA

After acceptance to USA, incoming first-time freshman will automatically be reviewed for the Freshman Admission awards. Students must be a U. S. citizen, applied for/obtained Permanent Residency, or a student attending a U.S. High School with a qualified visa status; be an incoming first-time freshman; and h Have at least a 3.0 High School GPA and an ACT super score of at least 21 (or SAT equivalent). Freshman Admission Scholarships range from $3,000-full tuition, renewable annually with eligiblitiy requirements met.

UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA

Livingston, Alabama

$2,500 four-year renewable Trustee Leadership Scholarship (with maintenance of a 3.0 GPA) to:

• Any local or state participant (with at least a 19 ACT) Trustee Academic Scholarships at UWA start at a 21 composite ACT and 3.0 HS GPA and can be partially stacked with the DYW award so qualified participants can receive the full amount for their highest award plus half of the next

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY*

Pullman, Washington

Four-year, full tuition scholarship at the Pullman campus, with annual renewal contingent on maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress and full-time status, to:

Distinguished Young Woman of America

WORCESTER STATE UNIVERSITY*

Worcester, Massachusetts

Four year, renewable scholarship at the rate of full in-state tuition and fees, with maintenance of a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher, to:

• Distinguished Young Woman of America

• Any State Winner

• Any State Scholastic Winner

*Recipients must have a 3.75 recalculated, cumulative high school GPA and must apply and qualify for fall freshman admission, prior to March 1st for the following semester. The scholarship is renewable for a maximum of four contiguous years.

YORK COLLEGE OF PENNSYLVANIA*

York, Pennsylvania

$10,000 per year, four-year renewable scholarship with maintenance of 3.0 GPA to:

• Any State Winner

• Any Pennsylvania Local Winner

* If a student receives a scholarship of higher value from the college, that scholarship will replace the scholarship associated with Distinguished Young Women.