BEDFORD – High school senior young women in Lawrence County can compete for college scholarships and valuable life skills training through the Distinguished Young Women (DYW) program.
The week-long program culminates in a competition on Saturday, Oct. 26th, at the PAC at Bedford North Lawrence High School (BNL). Practices will begin on Sunday, Oct. 20th. Interested students can register online at https://distinguishedyw.org/indiana/lawrence-county-in.
For those facing registration difficulties, it is advised to contact their school administration. School officials will then connect students with the program chair for further assistance.
Informational meetings to learn more about DYW will be held on Aug. 30th at Mitchell High School (MHS) and Sept. 9th at BNL, both specifically for interested senior women.
Participants will compete in various categories, with scholarship money awarded towards college tuition and/or room and board. Categories include scholastics, interviews, creative and performing arts, fitness, and self-expression. Additional awards will be presented for second runner-up, first runner-up, Lawrence County’s Distinguished Young Woman, and spirit of DYW.
The 2023 DYW winner, Madalyn Spires, is a testament to the program’s success. Madalyn, now a sophomore, competed in the Indiana DYW program in February 2024 and achieved awards in Fitness while finishing as the state’s second runner-up. She will continue her involvement with the program by attending public events and assisting the chair and board throughout this year.
DYW, formerly known as Junior Miss, combines scholarship opportunities with essential life skills training designed to prepare young women for life after high school. The program boasts over $1 billion in scholarships nationally and is entirely free to enter. DYW operates in all 50 states and Washington D.C., with high school seniors participating during their senior year.
Participants are evaluated in five categories: scholastics (25%), interview (25%), talent (20%), fitness (15%), and self-expression (15%). Local program winners advance to the state level, with state winners ultimately competing in the National Finals held in Mobile, Alabama, the following June.
Beyond the competition, the DYW Life Skills program provides valuable resources and workshops to enhance skills like interviewing, public speaking, and self-confidence building.
