Sign up for Distinguished Young Women

The Distinguished Young Women Program of Jefferson County is accepting applications from high school girls graduating in 2015 and residing in Jefferson County. The deadline is March 10, and there is no entry fee.

The program, formerly Jefferson County’s Junior Miss, is July 18 and July 19 at Samford University.

Competition categories are fitness, self-expression, interview, scholastics and talent. Last year, more than $13,000 in cash-tuition scholarships and more than $489,000 in college-granted scholarships was awarded at the county level. With a qualifying grade point average and standardized test score, program participants may qualify for a full-tuition or a full-tuition and room-and-board scholarship.

The Jefferson County representative will advance to the Distinguished Young Women Program of Alabama in Montgomery, where she will compete for more $40,000 in cash-tuition scholarships and more than $1,000,000 in college scholarships. The current Distinguished Young Woman of Jefferson County is Sarah Grace McDuff, a senior at Homewood High School.

State winners will compete for 2015 Distinguished Young Woman of America and for a share of more than $125,000 in cash scholarships.

Founded in 1958 in Mobile, Distinguished Young Women is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls. During its 55 years of operation, the program has provided experiences for more than 700,000 young women and has awarded more than $93 million in cash scholarships to young women across the nation.

Visit distinguishedyw.org or contact Chairman Eddie Macksoud at jefferson@distinguishedYW.org or 907-0210.