Distinguished Young Women OF Mississippi


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 Sadie Perkins
Sadie Perkins
Distinguished Young Woman of Mississippi for 2024
State Program Information

Class of 2026 Program

July 17-19, 2025

Where:
Location Evangel Temple
3611 Hwy 145, Meridian, MS, United States, Mississippi

Tickets:
General Admission - $20 for Preliminaries on July 17 & 18 at 7:00 p.m.
General Admission $25 for Finals on July 19 at 7:00p.m.
Reserved -$65 for 3 nights.

www.purplepass.com/dywofms

DONATE: https://account.venmo.com/u/DYW_MS

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

Photo of Sadie Perkins
Sadie Perkins
FromHattiesburg
University PreferenceUniversity of Alabama
Career GoalOccupational Therapist specializing in Special Needs

2024 Distinguished Young Woman of Mississippi

Photo of Sadie Perkins
Sadie Perkins
From
Hattiesburg

University Preference
University of Alabama

Career Goal
Occupational Therapist specializing in Special Needs

Achievements:
Miss Oak Grove High School Hall of FameSophomore Class Favorite CPR Certified Best of Streetz PreProfessional team Miss Oak Grove Middle School Pride Of Oak Grove Freshman Homecoming MaidCitizenship AwardMiss Mississippi featured dancer

Activites:
Student Body President of over 1800 Students DanceSouth PreProfessional Company Tribe Special Needs Organization Oak Grove High School Dance Team Captain Red Cross Club Junior and Senior representativeBeta ClubJunior Auxiliary Crown Club TreasurerDanceSouth Elite company Freshman Sophomore and Junior Class Reporter Mu Alpha Theta

Additional:
Packaged boxes of food for the hungry in Mississippi with Extra TableCreated Confidence Kits for young women's hygiene needsPackaged diapers to be distributed to those in needRed Cross Garage Sale volunteer to benefit Hurricane Ian victimsCollected 733 can goods at my Highschool for the local Food Pantry

2025 State Participants

Photo of Vahita Anand
Vahita Anand
CityMadison
University PreferenceEmory
Career GoalPhysician
TalentMusical Instrument: Flute
Photo of Sadie Breland
Sadie Breland
CityLeakesville
University PreferenceUniversity of Southern Mississippi
Career GoalAlgebra Teacher
TalentPiano
Photo of Madelyn Clayton
Madelyn Clayton
CityMeridian
University PreferenceUniversity of Mississippi
Career GoalLaw And Criminal Justice
TalentVocal
Photo of Mary Amelia Clemens
Mary Amelia Clemens
CityPascagoula
University PreferenceMississippi State University
Career GoalSocial Worker And Freelance Makeup Artist
TalentContemporary Jazz
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 Adleigh Fricke
Adleigh Fricke
CityCarriere
University PreferenceUniversity of Southern Mississippi
Career GoalLabor And Delivery Nurse
TalentContemporary Dance
Photo of Vanessa Herbert
Vanessa Herbert
CityOcean Springs
University PreferenceLouisiana State University
Career GoalMajor In Biochemistry For Pre Med Track To Get Into Medical School For Radiology And Anesthesiology
TalentTap Dancing
Photo of Sydney Higdon
Sydney Higdon
CityFlorence
University PreferenceMississippi State University
Career GoalStudy Kinesiology And Be A Physical Therapist.
TalentJazz Dance
Photo of Paisley Ivey
Paisley Ivey
CityMeridian
University PreferenceMississippi State University
Career GoalVeterinarian
TalentVocal
Photo of Salma Kamal
Salma Kamal
CityTupelo
University PreferenceMississippi State University
Career GoalMechanical Engineer, Industrial Engineer
TalentReading
Photo of Maggie Martin
Maggie Martin
CityStarkville
University PreferenceAuburn University
Career GoalMedicine
TalentModern /Hip Hop Dance
Photo of Erial Mays
Erial Mays
CityLouisville
University PreferenceHarvard
Career GoalOb/Gyn
TalentVocal
Photo of Abbie  McKissack
Abbie  McKissack
CityLucedale
University PreferenceUniversity of South Alabama
Career Goal Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
TalentPiano
Photo of Ellen Morgan
Ellen Morgan
CityJackson
University PreferenceMississippi State University
Career GoalVeterinarian
TalentContemporary Ballet En Pointe
Photo of Mallory Plunk
Mallory Plunk
CityMount Olive
University PreferenceJones College and The University of Mississippi
Career GoalLawyer
TalentVocal Performance
Photo of Ava Randle
Ava Randle
CityOxford
University PreferenceBaylor University
Career GoalDietician
TalentViolin
Photo of Cassie  Roberts
Cassie  Roberts
CityLouin
University PreferenceEast Central Community College. University of Mississippi
Career GoalArt History Professor
TalentVocal
Photo of Maggie Rogers
Maggie Rogers
CityColumbia
University PreferenceMississippi State
Career GoalArchitect
TalentContemporary Dance
Photo of Presley Scarbrough
Presley Scarbrough
CityAckerman
University PreferenceMS Gulf Coast Community College; Mississippi State University
Career GoalI Have Committed To Play Softball For Ms Gulf Coast Community College. My Long Term Goals Include Attending Mississippi State University And Majoring In Kinesiology.
TalentSinging And Playing The Ukulele
Photo of Lauren Shows
Lauren Shows
CityPetal
University PreferenceIn State
Career GoalTo Become A Sports Psychologist
TalentVocal
Photo of Mary Kate Stokley
Mary Kate Stokley
CityWaynesboro
University PreferenceAuburn University
Career GoalPursue A Pre Med Degree From Auburn And Then Attend Medical School With A Focus On Pediatric Medicine
TalentMusical Rendition With Dance
Photo of Emily  Terrell
Emily  Terrell
CityUnion
University PreferenceThe University of Southern Mississippi
Career GoalSpeech Language Pathologist
TalentDance
Photo of Anne Trest
Anne Trest
CityEllisville
University PreferenceUSM, Physical Therapy School
Career GoalPhysical Therapist (Specialized In Dancers)
TalentVocal
Photo of Marlee Washington
Marlee Washington
CityPhiladelphia
University PreferenceSpelman College or Tougaloo College
Career GoalPediatrics
TalentAcro Dance Routine
Photo of Katherine Weir
Katherine Weir
CityHattiesburg
University PreferenceThe University of Alabama
Career GoalI Plan To Go To Medical School And Become A Plastic Surgeon!
TalentBallet
Photo of Sara-Kate Welborn
Sara-Kate Welborn
CityMoss Point
University PreferenceMississippi State University/University of South Alabama
Career GoalNurse Practitioner
TalentTumbling Routine
Photo of Allie Windham
Allie Windham
CityBeaumont
University PreferenceUniversity of Southern Mississippi
Career GoalOpen An Orthodontic Practice
TalentDance
Photo of Chloe Woodard
Chloe Woodard
CityNew Hebron
University PreferenceXavier University of Louisiana
Career GoalTeacher Of High School Algebra
TalentTap Dance
Photo of Zenovia Woolie
Zenovia Woolie
CityKosciusko
University PreferenceDelta State University
Career GoalMajor In Education/Youth Ministry
TalentVocal
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