Hailey Pushis and Katelyn Kaplan, Distinguished Young Women of South Lowndes County and Starkville, respectively, will be among 34 Mississippi high school seniors competing for more than $28,700 in college scholarships when the 2023 Distinguished Young Women of Mississippi Program gets under way July 14, in Meridian.
The state program, now in its 66th year, celebrates and spotlights outstanding achievements of the state’s best and brightest high school girls.
The three nights of competition at The Evangel Temple concludes July 16. The doors open nightly at 6:30 p.m. and each show starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. for the three-night event.
Reserved tickets for the 2023 Distinguished Young Women Program are available for $65 for a three-night package. General admission tickets are available for $50 for a three night package, or may be purchased for individual evenings: $20, Thursday; $20, Friday; and $25, Saturday. Tickets went on sale June 27, and may be obtained by logging on www.purplepass.com/DYWMS22 or calling 601-480-3438.
“We are extremely excited about this year’s program,” said Sid Wilkinson, state chairman of the Distinguished Young Women of Mississippi Program. “This program celebrates the high achievements of today’s young women and offers them cash scholarship opportunities to further their education.”
Pushis, the daughter of Neil and Jeanne Pushis of Columbus, attends Heritage Academy. Her academic accomplishments, membership and hobbies include two-time MAIS State Science Fair Winner, Lowndes Young Leaders Member, recipient of Brown University’s Advocate of the Year Award, author of 4 Mississippi state proclamations and invited by Governor Bryant to the capital.
She plans to attend the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa to pursue a career in Medical Device Sales and Marketing.
Kaplan, the daughter of Barbara and Evan Kaplan of Starkville, attends Starkville High School. Her academic accomplishments, membership and hobbies include National Honor Society, Student Council Representative and Press Liaison, Reach Club, Key Club and Business Law Award. She plans to attend Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, to pursue a career as an Astrophysicist for NASA.
During the week-long program in Meridian, participants are evaluated on scholastic achievement, fitness, self-expression, talent and interview.
Pushis has chosen a Jazz Dance presentation of “Great Balls of Fire” for her talent. Kaplan has chosen a dance presentation of “Natural Woman” for her talent.
The person selected as Distinguished Young Woman of Mississippi will compete in the Distinguished Young Women for 2023 finals in June 2023, held 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 $50,000 national title scholarship award.
Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women is a free program that encourages participants to reach their full individual potential.
Its mission is to empower young women by providing over $1 billion in scholarship opportunities, developing their self-confidence and participating in our Life Skills Workshops that prepare them for success after high school.
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