Distinguished Young Women awards Class of 2020 candidates

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(Photos by Heather Mann/The Cullman Tribune)

HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Since 1960, Cullman County’s Junior Miss program has aided the national Junior Miss program in awarding millions of dollars in scholarships to high school girls. Now known as the Distinguished Young Women program, representatives from each state compete nationally to become the Distinguished Young Woman of America and tour the country promoting the program’s Be Your Best Self platform. However, before the state representatives can be sent to the National Finals, they must be chosen from representatives from each county in the state, and Cullman County’s state representative for 2020 was crowned Saturday afternoon.

The judging standards for the selection process are comprised of five different categories: 

  • Scholastic Achievement (25%) – the judges review and evaluate the contestants’ transcripts of grades in core classes, college prep classes, electives and scores on scholastic tests and college entrance exams 
  • Judges’ Interview (25%) – contestants have a ten-minute interview and discussion with the panel of judges in which the judges look for perception, a sense of values, clarity of expression, concern for others and ability in human relations
  • Talent (20%) – contestants are judged on originality, technical ability, appropriateness of selection and costume and stage presentation
  • Self-Expression (15%) – contestants are judged on their elements of grace, poise under pressure, ability to communicate effectively, grooming and naturalness of posture and carriage; this portion includes a question that the contestants must prepare an answer for, and this program’s question was “Does social media bring people together or drive them apart?”
  • Fitness (15%) – contestants perform a choreographed fitness routine and are judged on coordination, stamina, agility, posture and carriage without regard to physique or athleticism

 

While all of these are considered for the winner and first runner-up, awards are also given out for the girls who top each category. Additionally, two more awards are given for Spirit and the best Be Your Best Self essay. This year’s Distinguished Young Woman of Cullman County will compete at the state level in Montgomery on January 10-18, 2020. The state winner will travel to the National Finals in Mobile, AL, in June 2020.

Persons of note for the county program included emcees Laura Evans and Madeline McNutt, choreographer Jessica Patterson, Nohealani Naehu from Factory Dance Productions (who provided a special entertainment feature before the intermission), the judges (listed below), and Abigail Long, the 2019 Distinguished Young Woman of Cullman County. Almost all persons of note have been previous contestants or winners of Junior Miss/DYW programs. Each of this year’s contestants also brought their DYW “Little Sisters” – friends who they believe could be potential DYW contestants in the future – to help introduce them during the talent portion.

 

THE JUDGES

  • Miranda Hornsby, Birmingham physician
  • Whitley Kelley, genetic counselor at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville
  • Melinda Williams, Learning & Development Specialist at Birmingham insurance brokerage firm McGriff, Seibels & Williams
  • Donna Bagwell, chair of Shelby County DYW program and commercial real estate CPA
  • Amy Tully, Interventional Cardiac Research coordinator for UAB and board member of multiple artistic and scholarship boards in Birmingham
  • Courtney Shields (scholastic judge), University of North Alabama Admissions
  • Taya Beth Sockwell (scholastic judge), University of North Alabama Admissions

 

 

THE CONTESTANTS

Alexia Adair, West Point HS

College choice: University of Alabama

Career goals: Dentistry

Talent: Baton twirling and dancing

Little Sis: Anna Armstrong

 

Lauren Grace Evans, Cullman HS

College choice: Troy University

Career goals: Nurse anesthetist

Talent: Contemporary dance

Little Sis: Ali Burleson

 

August Floyd, Holly Pond HS

College choice: Wallace State Community College / Jacksonville State University

Career goals: High school English and drama teacher

Talent: Singing – “Never Enough” from The Greatest Showman

Little Sis: Lydia Kelso

 

Hanna Hancock, Good Hope HS

College choice: Wallace State Community College

Career goals: Occupational therapy

Talent: Monologue – “Queen Lucy” from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Little Sis: Emma Grace Bailey

 

Kate-Davis Heatherly, Cullman HS

College choice: Auburn University

Career goals: Dermatology – physician assistant

Talent: Acro/lyrical-jazz dance

Little Sis: Ashton Henderson

 

Elizabeth Miller, Holly Pond HS

College choice: University of Alabama

Career goals: Pediatrician

Talent: Piano – “Fantasy in D Minor” by Mozart

Little Sis: Ella Claire Beard

 

Miriam Oldacre, West Point HS

College choice: Jacksonville State University

Career goals: Business management and marketing

Talent: Singing – “Rise Up” by Andra Day

Little Sis: Marli Powell

 

Alexis Perry, Good Hope HS

College choice: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Career goals: Occupational therapy

Talent: Baton twirling and dancing

Little Sis: Zoe Jozalin

 

Mariah Wilhite, Cullman HS

College choice: University of North Alabama

Career goals: Broadcast journalist

Talent: Lyrical dance

Little Sis: Mackenzie Henderson

 

THE AWARDS

Each of the monetary awards is a tuition scholarship toward the contestant’s college of choice.

 

Spirit Award: Hanna Hancock

– $150

 

Be Your Best Self Essay Winner: Hanna Hancock

– $250

 

Fitness Winner: Kate-Davis Heatherly

– $350

 

Self-Expression Winner: Lauren Grace Evans

– $350

 

Talent Winner: Kate-Davis Heatherly

– $500

 

Interview Winner: Lauren Grace Evans

– $600

 

Scholastic Achievement Winner: Elizabeth Miller

– $600

– Dual Enrollment tuition scholarship to Wallace State Community College for 2019-20 school year

 

First Runner-Up: Elizabeth Miller

– $1700

 

2020 Distinguished Young Woman of Cullman County: Kate-Davis Heatherly

– $4000

– six-month family membership to Cullman Wellness & Aquatics Center ($475 value)

– photography session from Joelle Brooks Photography for state competition ($250 value)