photo by Norris Carden of Carden Photography
Chattanooga’s Katie Ward will conclude her year of service as the 2013 Tennessee Distinguished Young Woman on Saturday night when she places the silver medallion of achievement on the 2014 recipient at the climax of the two day program at The Dixon Center on the Lee University campus.
The eighteen contestants, over half of whom are from the Chattanooga region, will compete in the preliminaries on Friday prior to the Saturday finals. The young women are judged on scholastics, self-expression, talent and interview. The program starts at 7PM both nights and two day tickets are $40 while individual night tickets are $25.
The 2014 winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship and will represent the state at the nationals in Mobile next June. She will also promote the “Be Your Best Self” program statewide which encourages young people to be healthy, involved, studious, ambitious and responsible.
Ms. Ward, who became the first Notre Dame High School student to win the state title in the program’s 55 year history last July, recently returned from the nationals. Although she didn’t place in the top 10, her diary entry “Abundance” was featured in the Mobile Press-Register. She will be embarking on her collegiate studies at Belmont University in Nashville next month where she plans to major in either Political Science or Public Relations.
While at Notre Dame, Ms. Ward was the President of the National Honor Society, a Green and Gold Ambassador and a member of both the Irish Charms dance team and the Shamrock Players Theatre Troupe.
The Tennessee program has been among the most successful in recent years with Tullahomans Katye Brock winning the national title in 2011 while 2008 titleholder Chandler Lawson was Miss Tennessee 2012 and a top 10 finalist at Miss America 2013.
Distinguished Young Woman of Tennessee 2014 candidates:
Marion County – Summer Lee Calhoun, South Pittsburg High School
Talent – Piano Solo, “Prelude”
Tullahoma – Kalah Elantra Vance, Tullahoma High School
Talent – Gymnastics/Dance, Medley “Too Legit to Quit” & “U Can’t Touch This”
Loudon County – Savannah Maikaum Moua, Loudon High School
Talent – Vocal, “I Will Always Love You”
McMinn County – Daelyn Kaelene Waldroup, McMinn Central High School
Talent – Theatrical Dance, “Are You Ready for a Miracle?”
Chattanooga – Ashley Boles
Talent – Ballet, “Don Quixote – Kitri Variation”
Cumberland Valley – Courtney Samantha Miller, Tullahoma High School
Talent – Acrobatic Dance Routine, “Hot Honey Rag”
Sevier County – McKenzie Janay Roberts, Sevier County High School
Talent – Musical Theatre Pointe Dance, “Forget About the Boy”
North Chattanooga – Jennifer Lynn Parker, Girls Preparatory School
Talent – Vocal, “Gia il sol dal Gange”
Cleveland – Laura Katherine Evans, Bradley Central High School
Talent – Violin Solo, “Czardas”
Jefferson County – Lillian Louise Johnson, Jefferson County High School
Talent – Jazz Dance, “Wild Dances”
East Hamilton County – Jessica Renee Cable, Ooltewah High School
Talent – Dance/Cheer/Tumble Routine, “The Dog Days Are Over”
Soddy-Daisy – Lauren Paige Bureau, Soddy-Daisy High School
Talent – Ballet en Pointe, “La Esmeralda”
Signal Mountain – Kimberly Anne Youngblood, Signal Mountain High School
Talent – Monologue, “Perfectly Frank”
Lenoir City – Rachael Michelle Jones, Lenoir City High School
Talent – Tap Dance, “Don’t Stop Believing”
Collierville – Elaine Nichole Smith, Houston High School
Talent – Vocal, “Don’t Cry Out Loud”
Rhea County – Rebecca Scott Hilleary, Rhea County High School
Talent – Classical Ballet, “Stars and Stripes Forever”
Music City – Adair Rae Tishler, Franklin Road Academy
Talent – Vocal, “Gimme, Gimme”
Hamilton County – Peyton Danielle Jocsing, Signal Mountain High School
Talent – Monologue, “30 Reasons Not To Be In A Play”
photo by Norris Carden of Carden Photography