Distinguished Young Women OF Mississippi At-Large


is part of a national scholarship program that promotes and rewards scholastics, leadership and talent in young women. Earn scholarships for higher education, personally develop through the DYW Life Skills Workshops, and make new friends from around the state.


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Photo of Betty (Makayla) Fowler
Betty (Makayla) Fowler
Distinguished Young Woman of Stone County for 2024
Photo of Katherine (Maddie) Hall
Katherine (Maddie) Hall
Distinguished Young Woman of North Rankin County for 2024
Photo of Lillian Burge
Lillian Burge
Distinguished Young Woman of Forrest County for 2024
Photo of Iris Xue
Iris Xue
Distinguished Young Woman of DeSoto County for 2024
Photo of Bella Vick
Bella Vick
Distinguished Young Woman of Clay County for 2024
Photo of Brelyn Muse
Brelyn Muse
Distinguished Young Woman of South Rankin County for 2024
Photo of Presley Arender
Presley Arender
Distinguished Young Women of Jasper County for 2024
Program Information

Class of 2025 Program

Date March 23, 2024

Where:
Lamar School, Meridian MS

Application Deadline: January 7, 2024

Forrest County At Large

Date January 20, 2024

Where:
Oak Grove High School, Hattiesburg, MS

Application Deadline: November 17, 2024

Perry County At Large

Date: March 2, 2024

Where:

Application Deadline: November 20, 2024

Life-Changing Experience

College scholarships are awarded at the state level and millions in college-granted scholarships are available nationally. The state representative will advance to the national program for the opportunity to compete for cash tuition scholarships. To participate, you must be in your junior of high school. Participants are evaluated in the areas of: scholastics, interview, talent, self-expression, and fitness.


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2024 Distinguished Young Woman of Mississippi At-Large

2025 Local Participants


These participants will take part in the up-coming local program.

Participants

2024 Distinguished Young Woman of Stone County

Photo of Betty (Makayla) Fowler
Betty (Makayla) Fowler
From
Wiggins

University Preference
The University of South Alabama

Career Goal
To become a Dermatologist

Achievements:
Gold Award Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi Masquerade National Dance Competition Parade of Stars Award 2022 Beta Competition 2023 1st Place State Performing Arts Dance Beta Competition 2022 2nd Place State Performing Arts Dance WLOX Scholar Athlete 2021 10th Annual Palazzo Youth Leadership Participant Certificate MS State All Lions Band Honorable Mention Dance Girl Scouts Bronze and Silver Awards Stone High Pride Band Leadership Award Banner Award, As

Activites:
All A Banner RollNational Technical Honor Society Community Event PresenterPride of Stone High School Dance Captain and Choreographed Dances Representative Palazzo Youth Summit ParticipantStudent Government Association; Key ClubCenter Stage Dance Competition Team/Taught ClassesGirl Scouts of Greater MS Gold Award Presenter, Recipient and SpeechWLOX Scholar Athlete; Competitive CheerBeta Club Competition Team 1st Place Performing Arts ChoreographedFellowship of Christian Athletes

Additional:
Volunteered Cultural History Program sponsored Stone High Choreographed DanceVolunteered at Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi and updated SignageVolunteered with Stone SPCA/Key Club Animal Food Drive; made cat scratchersVolunteered with Girl Scouts Troop for "Blessings in a Backpack"; nursing homeVolunteered at Center Stage School of Dance as a dance teacher\\\'s assistant

2024 Distinguished Young Woman of North Rankin County

Photo of Katherine (Maddie) Hall
Katherine (Maddie) Hall
From
Flowood

University Preference
Vanderbilt University

Career Goal
Environmental Engineer

Achievements:
HOSA Regionals 2021- 1st place Behavioral HealthScience Olympiad Regionals 2022- 1st place Human A&PScience Olympiad State 2022- 1st place BotanyScience Olympiad State 2022- 1st place Solar PowerScience Olympiad Regionals 2023- 1st place ForestryScience Olympiad Regionals 2023- 2nd place Green GenerationHOSA Regionals 2023- 1st place Behavioral HealthScholastic Art and Writing 2022- 2 Silver Keys PoetryScholastic Art and Writing 2022- Gold Key SculptureScholastic Art and Writing 2023- Silver Key Short Story

Activites:
BandScience OlympiadScience AmbassadorsNational Honors SocietyNational English Honors SocietyBeta ClubFuture Healthcare Professionals

Additional:
I worked as a Jackson Sub Deb from 2021-2022 to help raise money for the MSO.I help with church events and outreach as part of the Lakeland Pres Youth Group.

2024 Distinguished Young Woman of Forrest County

Photo of Lillian Burge
Lillian Burge
From
Hattiesburg

University Preference
University of Southern Mississippi

Career Goal
Interior design

Achievements:
First freshman in Select Chorus special honor roll 9th and 10th grade Most outstanding choir freshman, sophomore, and junior 9th- nutrition and wellness award NHS sophomore officer, NHS vice president 10th grade highest achievement Algebra ll 10th grade highest achievement AP World History 10th grade highest achievement accelerated English ll Scholar Athlete Award 10th gradeVarsity Cheer Leadership Award Varsity Cheer MVP award

Activites:
Cheer Captain Beta Club OfficerStudent Council Treasurer for junior year and President for senior yearSelect Choir OfficerFirst Priority MemberFCA Member NHS Vice President

Additional:
Harvest Ministries Foster Child Program -DBC church camp 2021Active volunteer in church nurseryVarious NHS service projects and donationsVarious Beta Club service projects and donationsFuge Summer Camps painting, construction and yard work -DBC church camp 2022

2024 Distinguished Young Woman of DeSoto County

Photo of Iris Xue
Iris Xue
From
Southaven

University Preference
Harvard University

Career Goal
Economics

Achievements:
2022 Mississippi Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership State Ambassador & HOBY World Leadership Congress Ambassador Scholarship Rhodes College Book Award for Outstanding Leadership and Service Class 1 Girls' Doubles Tennis State Champions Runners-Up;Girls Doubles District Champions & Numerous Other Tennis Awards2023 Mississippi's only Representative for National Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism ConferenceNational French Exam Level I Gold Medal, Ranked #4 Nationally, #2 in Mississippi1st Place National History Day State Contest Research Paper and Special Award for Best Project on Mississippi History Akamai AMC 12 Certificate of Excellence (Top 5 scorer on the American Math Contest 12 in MS/LA Section of the Mathematical Association of America); MS Mu Alpha Theta State Convention 1st Place Ciphering, 1st place Interschool, 3rd Place HustleAP Scholar Award for AP Calculus BC, Chemistry, European History, Psychology, World HistoryPerfect 36 ACT Score (ACT 30+ Club) and PSAT NMSQT Score of 224 Highest Average: Algebra I&II, AP World, Chemistry, Gifted English

Activites:
President of Sophomore and Junior Class Student CouncilEditor-in-Chief of The Vision: MSMS Student NewspaperVarsity Girls Doubles Player for MSMS and DCHS Tennis TeamsPresident of National French Honor SocietyFounder of MSMS Waveathon; DCHS Jagathon Executive Board Event Operations Committee MemberMSMS Tales from the Crypt PerformerMu Alpha Theta & Calculus Committee Head for MSMS Mu Alpha Theta Math TournamentFuture Business Leaders of AmericaSouthaven Mayor's Youth CouncilInteract Club Officer and JA Crown Club

Additional:
Junior Staff for Mississippi Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (3 days every Summer) and Volunteer throughout the year (5 hours/week)Volunteer for MSMS Math Outreach, Math Tutoring, & English Outreach (5 hours per week)Volunteer for St. Jude Children's Hospital (5K Runs and Card Campaigns, 5 hours)Volunteer for Memphis Botanic Garden (7 hours per month, 2020-2022)Volunteer for DeSoto Grace Education Center (1 hour per week, 2020-2022)

2024 Distinguished Young Woman of Clay County

Photo of Bella Vick
Bella Vick
From
West Point

University Preference
Cornell University

Career Goal
Pathology

Achievements:
MAIS Creative Writing Contest 1st Place (2022) MAIS Creative Writing Contest 2nd place (2023) Highest Average Biology (2021) Highest ACT Composite (2021, 2022) Highest Average Art (2022) MAIS Choral Competition Superior Rating (2021, 2022) Highest ACT Science (2021,2022) Highest ACT Math (2021, 2022) Highest ACT Reading (2021, 2022) Highest ACT English (2021, 2022)

Activites:
Northeast Mississippi Youth FoundationMississippi All State Baptist Youth Choir and OrchaestraYear Book Staff (The Acorn)National Honors SocietyAnchor ClubMAIS Creative Writing Contest 1st Place (2021)MAIS Creative Writing Contest 2nd Place (2022)

Additional:
Landscaping/Gardening at Sally Kate Winters Family Services home. (2022)Canned Food drives for West Point Food Pantry for Thanksgiving (2020, 2022)Volunteered and walked dogs at the West Point Animal Shelter (2022). Performed and sang with residents of Dugan Memorial Home (2023).Donated and stuffed eggs for a Community Wide Easter Egg Hunt (2021)

2024 Distinguished Young Woman of South Rankin County

Photo of Brelyn Muse
Brelyn Muse
From
Florence

University Preference
University of Southern Mississippi

Career Goal
Forensic Scientist

Achievements:
Citizenship AwardAll A Honor Roll FHS Varsity Dance team CaptainDance Scholarships from Dupree and Kar CompetitionsHighest Yearly average in GeometryHighest Yearly average in Contemporary HealthClass FavoriteHomecoming Maid 9th, 10th, and 11th gradeAll American in Dance 10th & 11th grade class Beauty

Activites:
FHS Varsity Dance Team Studio Sole CollaboratesStudent Council Class President (Freshman- Junior)Mu Alpha ThetaBetaMedical Science AcademyHOSADiamond GirlsRAKRecently elected Student Body President

Additional:
Vacation Bible School at First Baptist Church FlorenceVolunteer teaching dance classes at Studio SoleVolunteer teaching dance at MDA summer campVolunteer teaching dance at Baptist Children Village

2024 Distinguished Young Women of Jasper County

Photo of Presley Arender
Presley Arender
From
Laurel

University Preference
University of Mississippi

Career Goal
Attorney

Achievements:
HOBY Leadership recipient HOSA Forensic Science award Student Council Secretary 2nd Team All-District in VolleyballRed Devil Award for Softball Selected to participate in Cooperative University Senate Page for 2023 Legislative SessionAdvanced/ Dual Credit Student Advanced score on History Superintendent's List from 2019-2022

Activites:
Varsity Volleyball Varsity CheerVarsity SoftballDiamond GirlStudent CouncilHOSAStudent Chamber of CommerceStarted Bible Study/Small GroupSr. Beta ClubFellowship of Christian Athletes

Additional:
Serve as Vice President of Stringer's Student Chamber of CommerceLead Worship at Church for youth worshipVacation Bible School Operation Christmas ChildAssist Jasper County's Miss Hospitality Co-Director Mayor's Youth Council

2025 Local Participants

Photo of Jaidyn Bryant
Jaidyn Bryant
CityCleveland
University PreferenceUniversity of Southern Mississippi
Career GoalFilmmaker
TalentModern Dance
Photo of Grace Ann Courtney
Grace Ann Courtney
CityWiggins
University PreferenceThe University of Mississippi
Career GoalPlastic Surgeon Specializing In Pediatric Facial Reconstruction
TalentPiano
Photo of Sydney Higdon
Sydney Higdon
CityFlorence
University PreferenceMississippi State University
Career GoalStudy Kinesiology And Be A Physical Therapist.
TalentDancing
Photo of Erial Mays
Erial Mays
CityLouisville
University PreferenceHarvard
Career GoalOb/Gyn
TalentSinging(vocals)
Photo of Cassie  Roberts
Cassie  Roberts
CityLouin
University PreferenceEast Central Community College. University of Mississippi
Career GoalArt History Professor
TalentSinging
Photo of Zenovia Woolie
Zenovia Woolie
CityKosciusko
University PreferenceLee University, Cleveland, Tennessee
Career GoalMajor In Education/Youth Ministry
TalentSinging
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