High school senior girls from across West Virginia will join together in Lynchburg, VA, for the Distinguished Young Women of West Virginia and Virginia program to be held Jan. 7, 2017 at Brookville High School. Participants will compete for cash college scholarships and the opportunity to represent West Virginia at America’s Distinguished Young Women to be held in Mobile, AL on June 29, 30 and July 1, 2017. The young women competing will be evaluated by a panel of five judges in the following categories: Scholastics (25 percent), Interview (25 percent), Talent (20 percent), Fitness (15 percent), and Self-Expression (15 percent). The participant selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of West Virginia will advance to the National level at the 60th Distinguished Young Women National Finals in Mobile, AL, where she will join with 50 other state representatives in competing for cash scholarships and the opportunity to become America’s Distinguished Young Women. Founded in 1958 in Mobile, AL, Distinguished Young Women is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls. During its 58 years of operation, the program has provided life-changing experiences for more than 740,000 young women. Last year, Distinguished Young Women provided more than $820 million in cash and college scholarship opportunities to program participants at the local, state and national level. Previously known as America’s Junior Miss, the program announced its new name in June 2010. The mission of Distinguished Young Women is to positively impact the lives of young women by providing a transformative experience that promotes and rewards scholarship, leadership and talent. National sponsors include Mobile County, City of Mobile, Wintzell’s Oyster House, The Hearin-Chandler Foundation, Encore Rehabilitation, Alabama Power Foundation, Master Boat Builders, Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Regions Financial Corporation, and Alabama Media Group. To apply for the program go online to www.distinguishedyw.org and click on APPLY NOW. For more information about Distinguished Young Women, contact Bruce Triftshauser, contestant coordinator, 334-717-3888 or brucetrift@knology.net.
