Members of the Distinguished Young Women of Christian County appeared at Thursday’s Hopkinsville Kiwanis Club meeting to spotlight how the organization works to support young women pursuing higher education.
Organization Chairwoman, Kayleigh Stout shared that the nonprofit was founded in 1958 and has since become a national scholarship program for high school girls.
Yearly, Distinguished Young Women organizations across the country host programs where participants compete in five categories: talent, fitness, academics, self expression and an interview. The winners from the county programs go on to compete at the state level, and state winners will compete in the national program.
Participants in the program receive scholarships based on their performances in each judging category. This year’s competition took place in August and included 10 contestants. Thanks to donations and community support, Stout says they awarded $10,000 worth of scholarships to this year’s participants.
Homeschool student, Zoey Horst was named the Distinguished Young Woman of Christian County at this year’s program. Horst says she looks forward to competing at the state level and following graduation she plans to attend college and pursue a degree for musical theater.
Horst will compete in the state program in January and to support the organization’s mission, the Kiwanis Club presented Stout and Horst with a check to go toward scholarships.
More information about the organization is available at Distinguished Young Women of Christian County on Facebook.