Twenty-nine high school seniors from across the state will compete for more than $35,000 in college scholarships when the 2025 Distinguished Young Women of Mississippi Program gets underway Thursday, July 11, in Meridian.
Now in its 68th year, the Distinguished Young Women Program aims to celebrate and spotlight outstanding achievements of some of the state’s brightest high school women. The three nights of competition at The Evangel Temple will conclude Saturday night.
Doors will open nightly at 6:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, with each show starting promptly at 7:30 p.m.
“We are extremely excited about this year’s program,” Sid Wilkinson, state chairman of the Distinguished Young Women of Mississippi Program, said in a news release. “Distinguished Young Women celebrates the outstanding accomplishments of high school women and offers them cash scholarship opportunities to further their education and to develop their self confidence.”
During the week-long program in Meridian, participants are evaluated on scholastic achievement, fitness, self-expression, talent and interview.
The overall titleholder named to represent the state as the Distinguished Young Woman of Mississippi will go on to compete in the national Distinguished Young Women of 2025 finals to be held next June in Mobile, Alabama. There she will compete for the opportunity to win a share of more than $100,000 in cash scholarship awards, including the $40,000 national title scholarship award.
Distinguished Young Women was founded in 1958 with a mission to empower young women by providing scholarship opportunities and the chance to develop their self confidence and participate in life skills workshops that prepare them for success after high school. They also get the chance to create connections with a nationwide network of young women with similar goals.
Reserved tickets for the 2025 DYW program at the Evangel Temple are available for $65 for a three-night package, and general admission tickets are available for $50 for a three-night package. Individual tickets for Thursday and Friday nights are available for $20 and $25 for Saturday night’s final. Tickets may be obtained by logging onto www.purplepass.com/dywofms25 or by calling 601-480-3438.
Following are brief biographies of the 2025 Distinguished Young Women contestants:
Zee Woolie, Attala County
High School: Kosciusko High School
Career goal: Education and Youth Ministry
College choice: Delta State University
Talent: Vocal presentation, “Gratitude”
Parent: Santana Wollie of Kosciusko
Presley Scarbrough, Choctaw County
High School: Choctaw County High School
Career goal: Kinesiology
College choice: Holmes Community College and Mississippi State University
Talent: Vocal presentation, “Show Me the Way”
Parents: Wayne and Jessica Scarbrough of Ackerman
Paisley Ivey, Clarke County
High School: Clarkdale High School
Career goal: Veterinarian
College choice: Mississippi State University
Talent: Vocal presentation, “Nothing You Can Take From Me”
Parents: Dr. and Mrs. Jacob Ivey of Meridian
Abbie McKissack, George County
High School: George County High School
Career goal: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
College choice: University of South Alabama
Talent: Piano presentation, “Phantom of the Opera”
Parents: Brad and Ashley McKissack of Lucedale
Sadie Breland, Greene County
High School: Greene County High School
Career goal: Algebra Teacher
College choice: University of Southern Mississippi
Talent: Piano presentation, “Great Balls of Fire”
Parents: Charles and Melissa Breland of Leakesville
Ellen Morgan, Hinds County
High School: Jackson Academy High School
Career goal: Veterinary Medicine
College choice: Mississippi State University
Talent: Ballet en Pointe presentation, “Comptine d’un Autre ete: L’Apres-Midi”
Parents: Nick and Laura Morgan of Jackson
Cassie Roberts, Jasper County
High School: Raleigh High School
Career goal: Art History Professor
College choice: East Central Community College and University of Mississippi
Talent: Vocal presentation, “All I Ask”
Parents: Jason and Paula Roberts of Louin
Sara-Kate Welborn, East Jackson County
High School: East Central High School
Career goal: Nurse Practitioner
College choice: Mississippi State University and University of South Alabama
Talent: Tumbling dance presentation, “You Can’t Stop the Beat”
Parents: Greg and Denise Welborn of Moss Point
Vanessa Herbert, West Jackson County
High School: Ocean Springs High School
Career goal: Pediatric Radiologist
College choice: University of Alabama
Talent: Tap dance presentation, “Sing”
Parents: Justin and Kristina Herbert of Ocean Springs
Anne Trest, Jones County
High School: West Jones High School
Career goal: Physical Therapist
College choice: University of Southern Mississippi
Talent: Vocal presentation, “Don’t Rain on My Parade”
Parents: Michael and Dawn Trest of Ellisville
Ava Randle, Lafayette County
High School: Oxford High School
Career goal: Dietician
College choice: Baylor University
Talent: Violin presentation, “The Star-Spangled Banner”
Parents: Eric and Melanie Randle of Oxford
Katy Weir, Lamar County
High School: Oak Grove High School
Career goal: Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgeon
College choice: University of Alabama
Talent: Ballet en Pointe presentation, “Kitri’s Act 1 Variation”
Parents: Jim and Nancy Weir of Hattiesburg
Maddie Clayton, Lauderdale County
High School: Lamar High School
Career goal: Criminal Justice and Law
College choice: University of Mississippi
Talent: Vocal presentation, “Don’t Rain on My Parade”
Parents: Jason and Dr. Danielle Clayton of Meridian
Salma Kamal, Lee County
High School: Tupelo High School
Career goal: Mechanical and Industrial Engineer
College choice: Mississippi State University
Talent: Monologue presentation, “If”
Parents: The late El Habib and Najat Bani of Tupelo
Vahita Anand, Madison County
High School: St. Andrews Episcopal High School
Career goal: Physician
College choice: Emory University
Talent: Flute presentation, “Badinerie from Orchestral Suite No. 2”
Parents: Dr. Ashish and Dr. Varsha Manucha Anand of Madison
Maggie Kate Rogers, Marion County
High School: Columbia Academy High School
Career goal: Architecture
College choice: Mississippi State University
Talent: Contemporary dance presentation, “Invisible”
Parents: Danny and Kim Rogers of Columbia
Marlee Washington, Neshoba County
High School: Neshoba Central High School
Career goal: Pediatrics
College choice: Spelman College
Talent: Acro dance presentation, “Proud Mary”
Parents: Mangold and Melonie Washington of Philadelphia
Emily Terrell, Newton County
High School: Newton County High School
Career goal: Speech Language Pathologist
College choice: University of Southern Mississippi
Talent: Jazz dance presentation, “Knock on Wood”
Parents: Adam and Bethany Terrell of Union
Mary Amelia Clemens, Pascagoula
High School: Resurrection Catholic High School
Career goal: Social Worker
College choice: Mississippi State University
Talent: Contemporary dance presentation, “Praying”
Parents: Geoffrey and Eve Clemens of Pascagoula
Adleigh Fricke, Pearl River County
High School: Pearl River Central High School
Career goal: Labor and Delivery Nurse
College choice: University of Southern Mississippi
Talent: Lyrical dance presentation, “She Used to Be Mine”
Parents: Lindsey Berghman of Carriere
Allie Windham, Perry County
High School: Perry Central High School
Career goal: Orthodontist
College choice: University of Southern Mississippi
Talent: Jazz dance presentation, “Great Balls of Fire”
Parents: Jeff and Jennifer Windham of Beaumont
Lauren Shows, Petal
High School: Petal High School
Career goal: Sports Agent or Sports Psychologist
College choice: Undecided
Talent: Vocal presentation, “Anyone”
Parents: Jeremy Shows and Emily Kinsey of Petal
Sydney Higdon, Rankin County
High School: Florence High School
Career goal: Physical Therapist
College choice: Mississippi State University
Talent: Jazz dance presentation, “We Made It”
Parents: Scott and Jamie Higdon of Florence
Chloe Woodard, Simpson County
High School: Mendenhall High School
Career goal: High School Algebra Teacher
College choice: Xavier University of Louisiana
Talent: Tap dance presentation, “Blame It on the Boogie”
Parents: Christopher and Pamela Woodard of New Hebron
Mallory Plunk, Smith County
High School: Raleigh High School
Career goal: Lawyer
College choice: University of Mississippi
Talent: Vocal presentation, “Stupid Cupid”
Parents: Joel and Sara Plunk of Mount Olive
Maggie Martin, Starkville
High School: Starkville Academy High School
Career goal: Medicine
College choice: Auburn University
Talent: Hip Hop dance presentation, “Tick Tick Boom”
Parents: Dr. Andrew and Anna Katherine Martin of Starkville
Grace Ann Courtney, Stone County
High School: Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science High School
Career goal: Plastic Surgeon Specializing in Pediatric Facial Reconstruction
College choice: University of Mississippi
Talent: Piano presentation, “Clair de Lune”
Parents: Sean and Rebecca Courtney of Wiggins
Mary Kate Stokley, Wayne County
High School: Wayne Academy High School
Career goal: Pre-med with a focus on Pediatric Medicine
College choice: Auburn University
Talent:Vocal presentation, “Another Day of Sun”
Parents: Todd Stokley and Kim Turner of Waynesboro
Erial Mays, Winston County
High School: Noxapater Attendance Center High School
Career goal: OB-GYN
College choice: Harvard University
Talent:Vocal presentation, “I Will Always Love You”
Parents: Eric Mays and Lakeshia Miller of Louisville
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