Kaneohe, Hawaii teen named Distinguished Young Woman of Hawaii

Statewide scholarship program awarded $17,000 in cash scholarships to participants

Mobile, Ala. (December 23, 2011) - On December 11, Jenna Frowein of Kaneohe, Hawaii was named the Distinguished Young Woman of Hawaii and awarded $6,000 in cash scholarships during a statewide scholarship program for high school girls held at the Kamehameha Auditorium in Honolulu, Hawaii.
 
Frowein was one of 8 high school senior girls from Hawaii who competed to represent the state as the Distinguished Young Woman of Hawaii for 2012. Other award recipients included: Hannah Matsunaga of Honolulu (1st Runner-up, Interview Award, Scholastics Award, Self-Expression Award) and Carissa Kano of Kailua (2nd Runner-up, Interview Award, Self-Expression Award). Participants were evaluated in the categories of Scholastics (20%), Interview (25%), Fitness (15%), Self-Expression (15%) and Talent (25%).

Throughout the next year, Frowein will represent Hawaii at various public events and serve as a role model to young people by spreading the program’s national outreach message of “Be Your Best Self.” The outreach program is designed to encourage self-esteem and excellence in all young people through its five principles: Be Healthy, Be Involved, Be Studious, Be Ambitious, and Be Responsible.

Frowein is the daughter of Terri Needels and Ulrich Frowein and is a senior at Punahou School. Frowein’s achievements include: HITs Gymnastics Team Captain; Advanced Pre-Calculus Honors Excellence Award; French Honors Excellence Award; Social Studies Excellence Award; Chemistry Honors Excellence Award; Child Care Provider; Gymnastics: 4x Junior Olympic Nationals Medalist; U. of Hawaii Engineering Department Summer Intern; Punahou Sustainable Architecture Guide Volunteer. In addition, Frowein’s activities include: National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist; National Honor Society; AP Physics B Teacher's Assistant & HS Math Tutor; Punahou School Community Service Luke Leader; HITs Gymnastics Team Community Service Coordinator; First Presbyterian Church Hon. Youth Group Member; Punahou Carnival Booth Co-Chair & Prom Committee; HITs Gymnastics Team Athlete of the Year; Gymnastics: 2011 Junior Olympic National Champion.


The 55th National Finals will take place on June 28, 29, and 30, 2012, in Mobile, Alabama. Frowein will travel to Mobile, Alabama along with 49 other state representatives to participate in personal development activities and community service projects before competing for the opportunity to become the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2012 and for a share of more than $130,000 in cash scholarships. Tennessee’s Katye Brock, who is attending the University of Tennessee-Knoxville this fall, won the 2011 overall award.

For more information on Distinguished Young Women of Hawaii, please contact Lani Kaaa at 808-383-5522 Hawaii@DistinguishedYW.org.

About Distinguished Young Women
Founded in 1958 in Mobile, Alabama, Distinguished Young Women is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls. During its 54 years of operation, the program has provided life-changing experiences for more than 700,000 young women. Last year Distinguished Young Women provided more than $108 million in cash and college scholarship opportunities to program participants at the local, state and national levels. Previously known as America’s Junior Miss, the program announced its new name in June 2010.

The mission of Distinguished Young Women is to positively impact the lives of young women by providing a transformative experience that promotes and rewards scholarship, leadership and talent. National sponsors include the City of Mobile, Mobile County, Eastern Shore Toyota, Encore Rehabilitation, SPANX, Mobile Gas: A Sempra Company, Alabama Power Foundation, Regions Bank and Master Boat Builders.

For more information about Distinguished Young Women, contact Stephanie Bradford, National Headquarters Communications Director (251-622-5335, Stephanie@DistinguishedYW.org) or visit www.DistinguishedYW.org.
 
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