caelia chung

pauline

chang #13

HIGH SCHOOL: Mount Hebron High School CAREER GOALS: Financial Manager COLLEGE CHOICES: Brown University ACTIVITIES/HONORS: National Economics Challenge • Future Business Leaders of America • Dance • Environmental Club TALENT: Korean Traditional Dance SELECTION: Darha Nopigom

brina

ratangee #14

HIGH SCHOOL: Urbana High School CAREER GOALS: Neurosurgeon COLLEGE CHOICES: Johns Hopkins University ACTIVITIES/HONORS: Research Intern at National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST) • Captain of Science Olympiad • Captain of Academic Team • Principal Stand in Potomac Valley Youth Orchestra • Concertmaster of Chamber Orchestra • Vice President of Tri-M Music Honor Society • Captain of Model United Nations • National and International History Bee Competitor • Varsity Tennis, 2nd Doubles • MENSA Honor Society, Platinum Membership

TALENT: Violin Performance

SELECTION: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor

life skills workshops

• The Maryland Business

Roundtable for

Education provided training for all of our participants. • Melissa Bennett taught a wonderful kickboxing, stress management and nutrition workshop.

• Sonya Bowie

incorporated LIFESKILLS 101 which was a crash course covering everything from using social media correctly and safely to writing proper thank you notes. • Taryn Smith presented an exciting workshop entitled

Starting the Conversation

About Race and Racism. • Julie Boyer taught the participants about financial literacy, covering credit cards, debt, savings accounts and how charging a $27 dollar bathing suit can ruin your credit if you don’t pay the credit card bill. • Megan Chang shared her state representative

Be Your Best Self presentation.

• Dr. Aarrthy Aranachulum

gave information and updates about “all things

Covid.” • Pam Francis taught us some amazing yoga and meditation techniques. • Elena Rippeon, DYWMD 2018; Kara Iwanowski,

DYWMD 2019; and

Megan Chang, DYWMD 2020 talked about the

DYW sisterhood.

1958 Gale L. Dawson, Silver Spring 1959 * 1960 Desda Morris, Silver Spring 1961 Suzanne DeLong, Westminster 1962 Dorothy Sue Zucco, Baltimore 1963 Gail Saltsman, Randallstown 1964 Paula Morgan, Lutherville 1965 Linda Miller, Baltimore 1966 Susan Lane, Rockville 1967 Carol Barrow, Ellicon City 1968 Holly Ann Palmer, Laurel 1969 Jane Roberts, Silver Spring 1970 Sheila Louise O’Regan, Bowie 1971 Kathryn Lee Epstein, Bowie 1972 Eileen A. Blackman, Silver Spring 1973 Lori Grimes, Laurel 1974 Cathy Holz, Ellicott City 1975 Claudia Miller, Sparks (5) 1976 Marlene M. Lunn, LaPlata 1977 Cindy Wolfe, Glen Burnie 1978 Jo Anne Lindsey, Towson 1979 Lisa Koogle, Brunswick 1980 Dawn Denham, Columbia (T) 1981 Tricia Sol, Lanham 1982 Virginia Cha, Frederick 1983 Pam Courtright, Columbia 1984 Suzanne Eacker, Ellicott City 1985 Michelle Sekula, Hagerstown 1986 Rebecca Cosentino, Ellicott City 1987 Debbie Redmond, Smithsburg 1988 Stephanie Hosier, Monrovia 1989 Mary McGuirk, Middletown 1990 Karin Hoppmann, Crofton 1991 Nicole Chafitz, New Midway (1) 1992 Jennifer Burnham, Reisterstown (1) 1993 Shannon Spence, Bryantown 1994 Alicia Larsen, Lanham 1995 Sruti Ranjami Nataraja 1996 Christina Jane Higdon, LaPlata 1997 Megan Holtz, LaPlata 1998 Megan Pickette, Mount Airy 1999 Kristen Fay, Frederick 2000 Sarah Wroth, Poolesville (5) 2001 Elizabeth Borowski, Baltimore 2002 Kristi Jobson, Annapolis 2003 Theresa DiSipio, Mount Airy 2004 Brooke Poklemba, Westminster 2005 Ronke Olaleye, Randallstown 2006 Mary Lee Adams, Columbia 2007 Lindsay Hanna, Frostburg 2008 Kali Phillips, Frederick 2009 Hannah Stone, Huntingtown 2010 Kristi Snyder, Bel Air (5) 2011 Rebecca Mitchell, Ijamsville 2012 Sierra Terrell, Upper Marlboro 2013 Aleks Knepper, Frostburg 2014 Margo Huffman, Westminister 2015 Nicole Lusk, La Plata 2016 Noelle Li, Phoenix 2017 Amanda Ellis, Baltimore 2018 Elena Rippeon, Westminister (5) 2019 Kara Iwanowski, Bel Air 2020 Megan Chang, Ijamsville

KEY: (NW) National Winner (1) First Runner-up (2) Second Runner-up (3) Third Runner-up (4) Fourth Runner-up (5) Finalist (S) Overall Scholastics (T) Overall Talent (F) Overall Fitness (E) Overall Self-Expression (I) Overall Interview (SPR) Spirit * No Participant

DISTINGUISHED YOUNG WOMAN OF AMERICA FOR 2020

Kentucky’s Elif Ozyurekoglu was named the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2020, during the 63rd Annual National Finals.

Elif attended duPont Manual High School. Her academic honors include the US Navy Office of Naval Research Naval Science Award, Regional Science Fair Champion in Biomedical Engineering and published research in the international peer-reviewed journal “The Orthopedist.” Outside of the classroom, Elif is a leader among her peers. She is passionate about women’s rights and working to empower young women throughout her community. She is on the Steering Committee for Louisville Girls Leadership, a program which provides high school sophomores with skills for the future. She is a member of the Louisville Youth Board and founder of US Turkish Youth. Elif has been trained in classical piano since the age of five. She has always been passionate about music and the performing arts. Elif is also a competitive swimmer. She not only holds state and regional swimming titles in Kentucky, but also competed at the national level in Turkey. In the fall, Elif will attend Columbia University in the CP Davis Scholars Program to study biomedical engineering. She hopes to pursue a career in reconstructive plastic surgery. Elif believes “the way we see ourselves is so important” and hopes to spread confidence by working with internal and external scarring.

Winning more than $33,000 in cash scholarships and a gold medallion, Elif will represent the Class of 2020 as the Distinguished Young Woman of America during this year.

FUN FACTS:

She is a first-generation Turkish American. Elif’s parents both immigrated to Louisville, KY, where Elif and her sister were both born and raised.

Elif spent two months in Istanbul, Turkey, conducting psychological research with Syrian refugees. Elif is a Turkish Nationals Swimming Finalist and was able to swim alongside future Olympians during her time in Istanbul.

She is the founder and CEO of her own company. What started as an at-home hobby due to her passion for skincare and cosmetics turned into Elif’s very own natural cosmetics line, “Elyph Cosmetics.” Elif loves baking! She says, “although I won’t be going on Cupcake Wars anytime soon, I like to spend time with my sister making fun treats in the kitchen.” The first movie Elif ever watched in a movie theatre, and favorite to this day, was “Shrek 2.” Growing up, she affectionately referred to the theatre as “Shrek’s house” and even spoke about it in her National Finals interview.

She can sing the alphabet backwards!

LEFT TO RIGHT, CLOCKWISE: Elif ready for her interview; participating in the digital self

expression category; per forming “Fantaisie Impromptu,” which she learned specifically for National Finals; showing off her home state of Kentucky; participating in the fitness category during National Finals.

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

The businesses and individuals in the States Club sponsor a state’s representative during National 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.

AJM Scholarship Foundation The Better Skin Co. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Captain Teresa E. Elders Foundation Cisco and Pamela Codina Delaney Development, Inc. Distinguished Young Women Past Presidents Encore Rehabilitation Evonik Industries Dee and Jim Gambill Joy and Jimmy Grodnick The Hearin-Chandler Foundation The Howard Wealth Management Group of Stifel Phil and Liz Kaiser Arlene Mitchell Mobile County Commission Pam and Eric Patterson Norvelle and Teresa Smith Maureen Sullivan Collins

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.

Jessica and Bill Barrick Lori Jo and Paul Carbonneau Hargrove Engineers + Constructors Kendra and Michael Haskins McKinney Petroleum Equipment Thompson Engineering, Inc.

CLUB 100

Club 100 is a community of alumnae who invest $1,000 or more each year to build a solid foundation for the program. Our goal is to find 100 alumnae who share our mission. Want to learn more about the club and the benefits of membership? Contact Kendra at Kendra@DistinguishedYW.org.

Amanda Biles, 1995 Tim and Shigeko Bork in honor of Skye Bork, 2017 Lori Jo Carbonneau, 1986 Nicole Chafitz Orr, 1991 Shalisha Francis-Feusner, 1995 Marsha Grady, 1982 Ashley Halfman Hopp, 1993 Kendra Haskins, 1991 in honor of Bruce Triftshauser Leigh Knosher, 1981 Aimee Parker, 1999 Andrea Plummer Guardenier, 1996 Pamela and Victor Renard in honor of Nicole Renard, 2013 Maureen Sullivan Collins, 1960

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 $112 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. Almost $1 billion in college scholarship opportunities were provided to the Class of 2020, 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 775,000 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 student body President at Harvard.

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.

ALABAMA Dominique Verville

ALASKA Mia Elias

ARIZONA

Nivea Krishnan

ARKANSAS

Sarah Gibson

CALIFORNIA Stephanie Temnyk

HAWAII Josette Huang

IDAHO

Hannah Copmann

ILLINOIS

Emily Kang

INDIANA Grace Knolinski

IOWA Grace Wood

MASSACHUSETTS

Michaela Olah

MICHIGAN

Maria Fields

MINNESOTA

Molly Krog

MISSISSIPPI

Rebekah Williams

MISSOURI Makenna Baker

NEW MEXICO

Brynna Lines

NEW YORK

Liza Cotter

NORTH CAROLINA

Faith Mae Kiser

NORTH DAKOTA

Adelyn Emter

OHIO Soumya Vytla

SOUTH DAKOTA

Marina Strom

TENNESSEE

Mary Humphrey

TEXAS Gracie Beth Scrushy

UTAH Shannon Huntsman

VERMONT Shannon Adams

COLORADO

Korttney Potter

CONNECTICUT

Charlotte Domittner

DELAWARE

Jenna Anger

FLORIDA Brooklyn Peters

GEORGIA Abigail Matthews

KANSAS

Ainsley Smith

KENTUCKY

Elif Ozyurekoglu

LOUISIANA

Sophia Nicolosi

MAINE

Abigail Levasseur

MARYLAND

Megan Chang

MONTANA

Lauren Hanson

NEBRASKA

Elise Vahle

NEVADA

Emma Phillips

NEW HAMPSHIRE

April Mauceri

NEW JERSEY

Amanda Zheng

OKLAHOMA Avery Mitchell

OREGON

Brighid Rickman

PENNSYLVANIA

Aaliyah Smith

RHODE ISLAND

Alexis Carrasco

SOUTH CAROLINA

Faith Davis

VIRGINIA

Jessica Brown

WASHINGTON

Tesslyn Preppernau

WEST VIRGINIA

Aleksandra Sklioutovskaya-Lopez

WISCONSIN

Riley Feng

WYOMING Aubrianne Crosby

The Distinguished Alumnae is a sisterhood of more than 775,000 women who have participated in Distinguished Young Women or Junior Miss programs at any level—local, state or national—since the program’s origin. They are passionate about this program!

HOW TO STAY INVOLVED

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK In February 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, alumnae 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 Lisa@DistinguishedYW.org.

After a fully digital 2020 National Finals program, we’ve seen it all! The message and impact of Distinguished Young Women CAN be spread, no matter the circumstances. Help us continue to share that message 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 for a more in-depth description of our program options or to get connected with a program in your area.

The Class of 2020 shared $127,000 in cash scholarships at the national level and almost $1 Billion in collegegranted scholarships available to them by taking part in the Distinguished Young Women experience. Fourteen state reps are currently attending college tuition free using scholarships available through DYW.

DISTINGUISHED YOUNG WOMAN OF AMERICA • $30,000 Elif Ozyurekoglu Kentucky

FIRST RUNNER-UP $20,000 Nivea Krishnan Arizona

SECOND RUNNER-UP $10,000 Dominique Verville Alabama

CA HI MS

TN WA

FINALISTS • $5,000 EACH Stephanie Temnyk California Rebekah Williams Mississippi Tesslyn Preppernau Washington Josette Huang Hawaii Mary Humphrey Tennessee

CATEGORY AWARDS

INTERVIEW • $1,000 EACH Dominique Verville AL Nivea Krishnan Brighid Rickman OR Riley Feng WI AZ Elif Ozyurekoglu KY

SCHOLASTICS • $1,000 EACH Nivea Krishnan AZ Emily Kang IL Liza Cotter NY Mary Humphrey Elif Ozyurekoglu

TN KY

TALENT • $1,000 EACH Mia Elias AK Josette Huang HI Emma Phillips NV Faith Mae Kiser NC Aleksandra Sklioutovskaya-Lopez WV FITNESS • $1,000 EACH Dominique Verville AL Brooklyn Peters Rebekah Williams MS Riley Feng WI Aubrianne Crosby WY FL

SELF-EXPRESSION • $1,000 EACH Nivea Krishnan AZ Stephanie Temnyk CA Brooklyn Peters FL Elif Ozyurekoglu KY Lauren Hanson MT

SATELLITE AWARDS

TELL ME A STORY by Maureen Sullivan Collins • $2,500 Charlotte Domittner Connecticut Emma Phillips Nevada

Wintzell’s Betty Copeland MY TOWN AWARD • $1,000 Sophia Nicolosi Montana

The Shoppes at Bel Air

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD • $1,500 Grace Knolinski Indiana

Dr. Richard B. Rogers SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP • $1,600 Grace Knolinski Indiana

Chick-Fil-A BE YOUR BEST SELF AWARD in honor of Reggie Copeland • $1,000 EACH Gracie Beth Scrushy Texas Emma Phillips

Arlene Mitchell

DISTINGUISHED LEADERSHIP AWARD • $1,000 EACH Josette Huang Hawaii Maria Fields Michigan

NATIONAL PANHELLENIC CONFERENCE/ NPC FOUNDATION AWARD • $1,000 EACH Liza Cotter New York Anita Liu California Participant

JD and Roxann Dyess DISTINGUISHED VLOGGER AWARD • $500 Rachel Brady South Dakota 2019

Amy Osmond Cook HAS BEEN AWARD • $2,000 Hanna Pohlmann Nebraska 2019

DISTINGUISHED OUTREACH AWARD • $500 Emily Douthitt Nelson County, KY Participant

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

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

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

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

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 Justin 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 with a major in rhetoric and media studies; owns and operates fine art wedding and portrait photography studio with husband Erich; 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

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

2014 | GEORGIA

Brooke Rucker Florida State University; member of Charles Anderson’s COA Dance Project company; Visioning Partner Assistant at Urban Bush Women

2015 | ALASKA

Máire Nakada Aguirre University of South Alabama; BS in Nursing; Cardio Pulmonary Critical Care nurse at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital; Recently married; gaining experience for nurse anesthesia school.

2016 | SOUTH CAROLINA

Tara Moore Clemson University; Beginning the Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program at Emory University this year.

2017 | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Skye Bork Pursuing an Economics-Mathematics major at Columbia University; Vice President of student council; Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority; Undergraduate Recruitment Committee

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

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 eleventh annual National Be Your Best Self Week, a nationwide event that took place April 20-24. During the week, Distinguished Young Women participants across the country visited with groups of children in their communities 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 2020 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. The recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Outreach Award for 2020 was Emily Douthitt of Nelson County, KY. The Be Your Best Self Scholarship Selection Committee consists of Jill Dilday, Emily Lloyd, Bliss McMichael, Donald Rucker, Sr., Samantha Schikowski, Chelsea Shirley, Manali Kulkarni, Miiko Toussaint, Kendall Trammell and Bailey Walker

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 physically fit and drug free

Serve your community

Set and achieve goals

Live by moral and ethical principles

Stay in school

The Class of 2021 is eligible for college-granted scholarships from colleges and universities across the nation. Below is the list for 2020, see our website for updated college-granted scholarships for the Class of 2021.

AUBURN UNIVERSITY*

Auburn, Alabama

Four year, renewable full tuition resident scholarship (must have 3.5 high school GPA and 26 ACT) to: • Distinguished Young Woman of America Consideration for scholarships will be given to state representatives meeting the same eligibility criteria for the National Representative on a case-by-case basis.

CARROLL COLLEGE*

Helena, Montana

Four-year renewable scholarship of $22,000, with annual renewal contingent on maintaining a 2.0 or higher college GPA: • National Scholastic Winner Four-year renewable scholarship of $20,000, with annual renewal contingent on maintaining a 2.0 or higher college GPA: • Any State Scholastic Winner Four-year renewable scholarship of $19,000, with annual renewal contingent on maintaining a 2.0 or higher college GPA: • Any Local Scholastic Winner

CATAWBA COLLEGE*

Salisbury, North Carolina

Four-year renewable scholarship of at least $10,000, with annual renewal contingent on maintaining a 2.7 or higher college GPA and remaining enrolled full time: • Any Distinguished Young Women participant who enroll at Catawba College as a first time, first year student

CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY*

Orange, California

Four-year renewable Presidential Scholarship to any State Winner and any Overall Scholastics Winner at the state level: • $32,000 annually/$128,000 total award Student must apply and qualify for Freshman Admission. Scholarship is renewable provided student maintains full time attendance and established GPA requirements.

GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS COLLEGE

St. Peter, Minnesota

Four-year renewable scholarships: • $1,000 Gustavus Scholarship added to current award annually recognizing any local/state participant who shows significant academic achievement, service or leadership in their high school, churches and communities

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 Four year, renewable half tuition scholarship with maintenance of a 3.25 GPA to: • Any Distinguished Young Woman participant

HUNTINGDON COLLEGE*

Montgomery, Alabama

Four-year, full tuition renewable scholarship to: • Any State Winner Limited to 5 awards per year. MCDANIEL COLLEGE*

Westminster, Maryland

Four-year renewable $25,000 scholarship with maintenance of a 3.0 GPA to: • Distinguished Young Woman of America • Distinguished Young Woman of Maryland

SPRING HILL COLLEGE

Mobile, Alabama

Four-year, full tuition scholarship to: • Distinguished Young Woman of America • National Scholastic category winners Four-year, full tuition scholarship (minimum 30 ACT and 3.7 high school GPA) to: • Any State Winner

STEPHENS COLLEGE

Columbia, Missouri

One-time $2,000 Academic Program Scholarship to: • Any Distinguished Young Women participant who is an incoming freshman BIOLOGY or HEALTH SCIENCES MAJOR Participant must apply and be accepted to Stephens College and apply for the scholarship by March 1st.

STETSON UNIVERSITY*

Central Florida

Four-year Presidential Scholarship ranging from $22,500 to $29,000 with maintenance of a 2.0 GPA to: • Distinguished Young Woman of America • Distinguished Young Woman of Florida Must meet all applicable enrollment requirements.

STEVENSON UNIVERSITY*

Stevenson, Maryland

$15,000 renewable four year scholarship to: • Any State Winner

TROY UNIVERSITY

Troy, Alabama

$10,000 Chancellor’s Scholarship & $1,000 Study Abroad Scholarship to: • Distinguished Young Woman of America • Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama • Distinguished Young Woman of Florida • Distinguished Young Woman of Georgia $3,500 DYW Scholarships (to include $1,000 Study Abroad Scholarship) to: • any Alabama local program winners with 3.0 high school 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: • All National Participants from out-of-state with 3.0 high school GPA & 22 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 a student is receiving a merit-based automatic offer that is less than a Presidential, this designation will bump them to the Presidentialequivalent. A student cannot receive both a merit-based award and program-based tuition award. Should a student already be receiving a Presidential Scholarship, they will receive a $2,000 per year stipend, $300 per year book scholarship, and a one-time $3,000 study abroad stipend. If the National Representative has already received a Presidential Scholarship, she will only receive the housing scholarship and study abroad stipend.

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM

Birmingham, Alabama

One-year, stackable scholarship of $1,000 • Any State Winner One-year, stackable scholarship of $750 is available to: • Any Alabama local Winner • Up to 2 participants who are nominated by the Jefferson County (AL) Program

UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO

Moscow, Idaho

Four year, renewable Go Idaho scholarship program guarantees these levels of funding from a combination of scholarships to all participants at the local/state level who are Idaho residents: • $4,000 with a 3.9-4.0 high school GPA • $3,000 with a 3.75-3.899 high school GPA • $2,000 with a 3.4-3.749 high school GPA • $1,000 with a 3.0-3.399 high school GPA Four year, renewable Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) scholarship program guarantees the WUE award to all participants at the local/state level who are not residents of Idaho, but are residents of a WUE state. • WUE qualifiers pay 150% of in-state tuition and fees and do not pay out of state tuition, a savings of over $12,000/ year; must have a minimum 3.2 unweighted high school GPA Four year, renewable Discover Idaho scholarship program guarantees these levels of funding from a combination of scholarships to all participants at the local/state level who are non-residents and not receiving WUE: • $8,000 with a 3.9-4.0 high school GPA • $6,000 with a 3.75-3.899 high school GPA • $5,000 with a 3.4-3.749 high school GPA • $2,000 with a 3.0-3.399 high school GPA

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 Woman participant with a minimum 27 ACT and 3.0 high school GPA The priority deadline for application submission is May 1st. A student cannot receive both a meritbased award and DYW program-based tuition award. To be considered for these awards, you must enroll full time to the University for the fall semester immediately following your high school graduation and be a residential student.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA*

Mobile, Alabama

Four year, renewable full tuition and fees, on-campus room and board 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

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 contestant (with at least a 19 ACT) Additionally, Trustee Academic Scholarships at UWA start at a 21 composite ACT and 3.0 high school GPA and can be partially stacked with the DYW award so that 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. Recipients must have a 3.75 recalculated, cumulative high school GPA and a 1280 combined score on the Evidence-based Reading and Writing, + Mathematics sections of the SAT. To qualify, you must be awarded: • Distinguished Young Woman of America • Distinguished Young Woman of MA • Distinguished Young Woman of RI Recipient 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 to recipients who maintain a cumulative college GPA of 3.3 or higher.

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUSIANA*

New Orleans, Louisiana

$ 9,000 per year, four-year renewable scholarship with maintenance of a 3.3 GPA to: • Any local/state participant accepted at Xavier with a minimum 23 ACT and 3.3 unweighted high school GPA Interested students are highly encouraged to apply to the University by December 1st.

YORK COLLEGE OF PENNSYLVANIA*

York, Pennsylvania

$10,000 per year, four-year renewable scholarship with maintenance of a 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 r eplace the scholarship associated with Distinguished Young Women.