Distinguished Young Women of Alabama participants representing 45 counties across the state arrived in Montgomery Sunday afternoon ahead of the 65th annual program to be held at Frazer United Methodist Church this weekend.
These high school senior girls will compete in several categories on and off stage for a chance to represent Alabama in the national program. The first preliminary is Friday, Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m.; the second preliminary is Saturday, Jan. 22 at 1 p.m.; and the finals are Saturday at 7 p.m.
“We are pleased to welcome these amazing young women to Montgomery as they compete for scholarships and an opportunity to represent the state at the national level,” said state Chairman Michael Jones. “And equally as important, we are excited to see these participants expand their horizons by establishing new friendships that will last a lifetime. This group represents the best of what Alabama’s future looks like and it is a bright future ahead.”
The girls and their parents were welcomed by the Distinguished Young Women of Alabama state committee members, as well as their host families. The host families house the girls during their week in Montgomery. The week will be filled with rehearsals, as well as visits from former participants of the program like Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, U.S. Senate candidate Katie Britt, and Elizabeth Huntley, among others.
The participants will also have lunch with the Kiwanis Club, visit the zoo and stop by the Cattleman’s Association.
“I truly can’t express how much Distinguished Young Women has impacted me, growing my confidence and preparing me for the rest of my life – college and beyond,” said Alabama Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama 2021 Mary Helen Miller. “The program challenged me to consider, at the deepest level, who I truly am, and I learned how to stand proudly in my values, my talent, my speaking skills and so on. Every participant on the stage this weekend is going to shine in their own unique way, because they have put in so much time and effort into challenging themselves to reach their fullest potential. I couldn’t be more excited to see them celebrated!”
Participants and their official photos can be found online.
