Nineteen high school senior girls from across Indiana competed for a share of $22,000 in college scholarships last weekend at Havens Auditorium at Indiana University Kokomo.
Middlebury’s Distinguished Young Woman, Alexandra Hochstetler, walked away with the title of Indiana’s Distinguished Young Woman 2013 and $7,000.
In addition, she won preliminary awards in fitness, self-expression, talent, scholastics, and interview. She will go on to compete in the Distinguished Young Women National Finals in Mobile, Ala., in June, where she will have the opportunity to win a share of more than $140,000 in cash scholarships.
Ashley Zeiner of Hamilton County was first runner-up and received a $3,000 scholarship. Jamah Wilkerson of Jackson County was the second runner-up, receiving a $2,000 scholarship. The third runner-up was Madison McArt of Elkhart, and she received a $1,000 scholarship.
The remaining finalists were Tessa Makximenko of Lawrence County, Rachel Stewart of Portage, McKinzie Horoho of Howard County, Haley Foster of Bremen, Sally Scheaffer of Marion County, and Lauren DeSutter of Tri-West. Each finalist was awarded a $500 scholarship.
Preliminary scholastics winners were Hochstetler and Wilkerson, both receiving $500 scholarship awards.
Preliminary interview winners were Hochstetler and Zeiner, both receiving $500 scholarship awards.
Preliminary talent winners were Hochstetler and DeSutter, both receiving $500 scholarship awards.
Preliminary self-expression winners were Hochstetler and McArt, both receiving $500 scholarship awards.
Preliminary fitness winners were Hochstetler and McArt, both receiving $500 scholarship awards.
A special recognition award for the program was presented to Brittani Howell of Clinton County for best exemplifying the spirit of Distinguished Young Women. She won a $500 scholarship for that.
Another special award of $500 was presented to Rachel Stewart of Portage for her essay encouraging the Be Your Best Self mission of Distinguished Young Women.
The 56th annual DYW National Finals are June 27 to 29 at the Mobile Civic Center in Mobile, Ala. For more information about Distinguished Young Women, visit the website at www.distinguishedYW.org.
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