Distinguished Young Women to compete at Wright Center

Twenty-one rising seniors in Jefferson County, two of whom are from Homewood, will compete for college scholarships in the 2013 Distinguished Young Women’s program at Samford University Wright Center on July 20 and 21. Distinguished Young Women, formerly known as Junior Miss, is a national scholarship program available to rising seniors each year.

In addition to providing scholarships, Distinguished Young Women encourages continued education and also helps girls with self-esteem. It also teaches them to speak in public, interview, perform on stage and build relationships. It encourages and showcases excellence in academics and fitness, and the program creates opportunities to inspire the lives of others.

“The girls discover a lot about themselves,” Competition Chairman Eddie Macksoud said. “The scholarships are the tangible part, but the real big one is self- confidence. It’s a growing experience.”

Macksoud said participants look back on the program and remember it fondly.

“They gain myriads of friends, and a lot of the girls end up being college roommates or in each other’s weddings,” he said.

Homewood resident and John Carroll Catholic High School student Elizabeth Miles participated in the Little Sisters program for Distinguished Young Women last year, and her big sister, Gina Maiola from Vestavia Hills, ended up winning the competition.

“I got to see how much fun she had doing it and it made me really want to participate this year,” Miles said.

Miles loved having the chance to learn more about the program, to experience it first-hand and to decide how interested she was. She even got to introduce Maiola’s talent last year.

“I got a behind-the-scenes look,” Miles said. “Gina told me about how much fun rehearsals were. The girls didn’t want to leave, and they got so close.”

Miles has danced with the Dale Serrano Dance Studios for 11 years and has been on John Carroll’s dance team for the past three years. She said since this will be her first pageant, she has been working hard to prepare.

“It’s a great opportunity. I’m excited to meet people too,” she said. “I really want to meet young girls with my same goals and morals. That’s what I’m really looking forward to.”

Homewood High School student Megan McClung will also compete in the program.

For the competition, Distinguished Young Women’s participants compete in five categories: interview, scholastics, talent, fitness and self-expression.

State winners participate in the National Finals competition in Mobile in June after they graduate from high school. Macksoud said that the Jefferson County program is the only county program in the U.S. to have had two national representatives, Tyrenda Williams and Carrie Colvin.

The preliminaries will be Friday, July 20 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 21 at 1 p.m. Finals will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets for each preliminary are $15 in advance or at the door and $30 for the finals. Tickets will be available at the door one hour prior to each event. For more information, call 868-8686.

Members of the Class of 2014 who are interested in participating in next years’ program may visit www.distinguishedyw.org or email jefferson@distinguishedyw.org.