13 girls to participate in DYW program next week

DYW (43)A local tradition for more than 50 years, the Whitehall Distinguished Young Women program returns to the Whitehall stage next weekend.

The 51st event will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, at Whitehall High School.

Over the past half-century, 615 young women from Whitehall have participated in the program. This year, 13 girls are taking part in the event. They are: Rachel Aubin, Oshen Beayon, Samantha Briggs, Paige Chaplin, Ashley Davis, Malia DeLorme, Riley Eagan, Kelsey Farley, Mackenzie Fiorini, Cariana Jones, Bryanna Millard, Taryn Tracy and Madison Winters.

Those participants go through a six-week program, meeting at the school twice a week in preparation for next week’s show.

On the night of the event, a panel of five judges, consisting of former contestants and past and present community members, will evaluate each girl’s abilities in scholastics, an interview, a fitness routine, a talent and self expression.

The talent portion of the event is selected by each participant and in the past has included dancing, singing, dramatic monologues, and more.

The self expression portion is typically a question chosen randomly from several questions. The evening also features a group performance and a speech and performance from the previous year’s winner, which this year will be Rebecca Lavin.

The interview and scholastic portions of the program are normally determined prior to the event.

Cheryl Putorti, one of the local chairpersons of the event, said the success of the local Distinguished Young Women is a result of the generous support of the local individuals, businesses and organizations who donate money that is distributed to participants in the form of scholarships.

She said organizers will accept donations through Oct. 16. All donors are noted on the official program booklet distributed to patrons the night of the event.

Anyone who would like to contribute can make checks payable to Whitehall Junior Miss Committee and send and them to Beth Molinero, PO Box 263, Whitehall, N.Y. 12887.

The Distinguished Young Women program is a scholastic competition for high school senior girls. It seeks to recognize, reward, and encourage excellence by focusing attention on the constructive achievements of outstanding high school girls through the presentation of scholarships.

The national program, originally known as Jr. Miss, was launched in1958 in Mobile, Ala. and is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls. More than 700,000 girls have participated in the program nationally.

Winners in each category will receive scholarships awards, along with the overall Distinguished Young Woman award and the first- and second runners up.

Tickets will be available at the door the night of the event.