By Keysha Drexel
Journal editor
More than half of the students competing in the Distinguished Young Women Program of Jefferson County next month attend Over the Mountain Schools.
Mountain Brook, Homewood, Hoover, Vestavia Hills and North Shelby schools are well-represented among the 30 high school seniors representing 14 high school from across Jefferson County who will compete for cash tuition and college-granted scholarships in what was formerly known as the Junior Miss program.
The Distinguished Young Women Program will be July 18 and 19 at the Wright Center Concert Hall on the campus of Samford University in Homewood.
Sarah Grace McDuff, the current Distinguished Young Woman of Jefferson County and a graduate of Homewood High School, will present special dance performances on each night of the competition.
The mistress of ceremonies will be Ashley Halfman, the 1993 Jefferson County Junior Miss winner.
With a theme of “A Winter Wonderland,” participants will compete on stage in the talent, fitness and self-expression categories.
On the final night of the competition, finalists will be selected along with overall category winners. The Distinguished Young Woman of Jefferson County 2015 will then be crowned, along with a first alternate winner and second alternate winner.
The winner of the competition will have the opportunity to represent Jefferson County in the Distinguished Young Women Program of Alabama in Montgomery in January.
Those participating this year are:
Chelsea Aaron, daughter of Tommy and Cathy Aaron, Oak Grove High School.
Caroline Bearden, daughter of Jeremy and Kelley Bearden, Hoover High School.
Elexia Coleman, daughter of James Evans III and Merika Coleman-Evans, Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School.
Haley Dellaccio, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Dellaccio, Vestavia Hills High School.
Abbey Donze, daughter of Cathy Donze and the late Frank Donze, Vestavia Hills High School.
Jordan English, daughter of Brad and Nancy English, Hoover High School.
Mikailah Good, daughter of Sean and Rebecca Good, Oak Grove High School.
Brooklyn Hornbuckle, daughter of Steven and Candace Hornbuckle, Vestavia Hills High School.
Sydney James, daughter of Jeff and Jo Ellen James, Hoover High School.
Emilee Jones, daughter of Wayne and Cecelia Jones, Clay-Chalkville High School.
Caroline Karson, daughter of Kyle Karson and Bryan Karson, Homewood High School.
Mary Kash, daughter of Mike and Julie Kash, Vestavia Hills High School.
Margo King, daughter of Clay and Leslie King, Vestavia Hills High School.
Lucy Kornegay, daughter of Tim and Carey Kornegay, Hueytown High School.
Alex Larson, daughter of Lyle and Sarah Larson, Vestavia Hills High School.
Mary Beth McClung, daughter of Bill and Lisa McClung, Hoover High School.
Whitney McWilliams, daughter of Shaun and Wynette McWilliams, Alabama School of Fine Arts.
McClain Miles, daughter of Jonathan and Beth Miles, Shades Valley High School.
Mary Kathryn Parrott, daughter of Keith and Kristy Parrott, Mountain Brook High School.
Marisa Pickard, daughter of Billy and Gigi Pickard, Spain Park High School.
Amica Rapadas, daughter of Freddie and Aileen Rapadas, Homewood High School.
Rayven Rice, daughter of Curtis and Clissten Rice, Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School.
Steffie Rosene, daughter of William and Johanne Rosene, Vestavia Hills High School.
Catherine Saab, daughter of Andy and Susan Saab, Hoover High School.
Keijondra Smith, daughter of Christopher and Michelle Smith, Minor High School.
Lauren Smith, daughter of Rusty and Davilyn Smith, Hewitt-Trussville High School.
Anna Lea Strickland, daughter of Chace and Lea Ann Strickland, Briarwood Christian School.
Ann Thomas, daughter of Jeff and Susanne Thomas, Mountain Brook High School.
Hannah Walter, daughter of Mark and Leigh Walter, Vestavia Hills High School.
Elizabeth Weyerman, daughter of Brian and Cynthia Weyerman, Hewitt-Trussville High School.
Founded in 1958 in Mobile, Distinguished Young Women is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls.
It has provided more than $100 million in cash scholarships at the local, state and national levels.
In addition to cash scholarships, Distinguished Young Women participants are eligible for college-granted scholarships from almost 200 colleges and universities. More than $365 million in college scholarship opportunities were provided last year, some of which included full tuition, room and board.
Tickets for the preliminaries at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on July 18 are $15. Tickets for the finals on July 19 are $25. Tickets can be purchased from any of the program’s participants or at the Samford University Wright Center box office each evening one hour prior to the event. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 907-0210.
For more information on the Distinguished Young Women of Jefferson County Program, contact chairman Eddie Macksoud at 907-0210 or jefferson@distinguishedyw.org or visit www.distinguishedyw.org.
