Katie Ward of Chattanooga is not afflicted by triskaidekaphobia also known as fear of the number 13.
She was contestant number 13 of 20 at this week’s 2013 Distinguished Young Women of Tennessee program and on Saturday night at the Fine Arts Center at Bradley Central High School in Cleveland, she was the luckiest one as the Notre Dame High School senior emerged as the winner receiving a silver medallion, scholarships totaling $5,400 and becoming the state representative at next June’s national finals in Mobile.
Miss Ward, who resembles actress Jennifer Garner, succeeds the 2012 winner Lexee Hill of Dayton, who will be starting her freshman year at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville next month.
Ashley Heald of Cleveland was the first alternate followed by Kristen Clark of Cocke County. Gabriella Broussard of Jackson, who competed with casts on her left arm and leg as a result of an automobile accident, was voted by the contestants as the recipient of the Spirit Award.
Miss Ward, who relocated to Chattanooga from Memphis just over a year ago, was a double preliminary winner in talent for her vocal rendition of “Astonished” from Little Women and in self-expression. The first Notre Dame student to win the title in the program’s 55 year history is a member of The Shamrock Players Theatre Troupe, the Irish Charm dance squad and the Mass Choir. She attends St. Peter and Paul’s Basilica.
She hopes to attend either Elon or Belmont University where she plans to major in Political Science, Theatre Studies or Communications.
Miss Heald, who is homeschooled, was awarded $2,600 in scholarships and was a triple preliminary winner in interview, scholastics and fitness. A member of the Tennessee Youth Ballet, she is still deciding where she will pursue her post-secondary education.
Miss Clark, a student at Cocke County High School who plans to become a professional ballerina, was a double preliminary winner in talent and fitness. She performed a classical pointe to the Gamzatti variation from LaBayadere. Miss Clark, who celebrated her 16th birthday earlier in the week, received $1,400 in scholarships.
Soddy-Daisy’s Alexandra Disterdick received $600 in preliminary awards in fitness and self-expression McMinn County’s Taylor McMahan received the same amount as a preliminary winner in both interview and scholastics. Yee Won Liew of Rhea County was awarded a $200 scholarship for self-expression.
State co-chairs Charles and Traci Fant and show producer Tom Jenkins announced they would be stepping down from their posts after five years due to increased family and job obligations.
Final Results Distinguished Young Woman of Tennessee 2013
Distinguished Young Woman of Tennessee 2013 – Katie Ward, Distinguished Young Woman of Chattanooga ($5,000 scholarship)
First Alternate – Ashley Heald, Distinguished Young Woman of Cleveland ($2,000 scholarship)
Second Alternate - Kristen Clark, Distinguished Young Woman of Cocke County ($1,000 scholarship)
Spirit Award - Gabriella Broussard, Distinguished Young Woman of Madison County ($500 scholarship)
Preliminary Awards ($200 to each winner)
Fitness:
Ashley Heald, Cleveland
Kristen Clark, Cocke County
Alexandra Disterdick, Soddy-Daisy
Interview:
Ashley Heald, Cleveland
Kaitlyn Bunn, Cumberland Valley
Taylor McMahan, McMinn County
Scholastics:
Ashley Heald, Cleveland
Kaitlyn Bunn, Cumberland Valley
Taylor McMahan, McMinn County
Self-Expression
Katie Ward, Chattanooga
Yee Won Liew, Rhea County
Alexandra Disterdick, Soddy-Daisy
Talent
Katie Ward, Chattanooga
Kristen Clark, Cocke County
Kurtisha Norris, Loudon County
Audience Choice
Kara Brummitt, Loudon
The newly chosen 2013 Distinguished Young Woman of Tennessee Katie Ward of Chattanooga meets with the 2012 Distinguished Young Woman of America Christina Maxwell of Asheville, North Carolina after the state program finals Saturday night at Bradley Central Fine Arts Center in Cleveland. Miss Maxwell, who succeeded Tennessee's Katye Brock of Tullahoma as the national winner last month, made her first appearance at a state program since her victory. Miss Maxwell, who received a standing ovation for her performance of the classic "At Last", will be attending the University of Michigan where she will major in Musical Theatre.
- Photo2 by Wendy King