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