Dayton teen named Distinguished Young Woman of Tennessee

Statewide scholarship program awarded $10,000 in cash scholarships to participants

Mobile, Ala. (July 25, 2011) - On July 23, Lexee Hill of Dayton was named the Distinguished Young Woman of Tennessee and awarded $6,000 in cash scholarships during a statewide scholarship program for high school girls held at the Dixon Center on Lee University’s campus. Hill advanced to the state competition after being selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Rhea County, where she received $3,600 in scholarship awards.

Hill was one of 23 high school senior girls from Tennessee who competed to represent the state as the Distinguished Young Woman of Tennessee for 2012. Other award recipients included: Ariana Kim of Cleveland (First Alternate, Talent Preliminary Award, Fitness Preliminary Award) and Madeline Johnson of Dandridge (Second Alternate, Overall Talent Award). Participants were evaluated in the categories of Scholastics (20%), Interview (25%), Fitness (15%), Self-Expression (15%) and Talent (25%).

“We knew there were just so many talented and extremely intelligent girls,” said Michelle Hill, Hill’s mother. “We were just thrilled to hear her name to be recognized for anything.”

Throughout the next year, Hill will represent Tennessee 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.”

Hill is the daughter of Michelle and Stacey Hill and will be a senior at Rhea County High School this fall. Hill’s achievements include: Girls State House of Representatives Member; Girls State Delegate; National Youth Leadership Conference Participant; UCA Pin-It Forward Award Recipient; Most School Spirit; Varsity Cheerleading Captain. In addition, Hill’s activities include: Varsity Cheerleading; Yearbook Staff Member-Sports Section Editor; Competitive Cheerleading; Waitress; Volunteer English Tutor.

Hill is Distinguished Young Women of Rhea County’s first participant to win the overall award at the state competition since the local program got its start 40 years ago.

The 55th National Finals will take place on June 28, 29, and 30, 2012, in Mobile, Alabama. Hill 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 $140,000 in cash scholarships. Tennessee’s Katye Brock, who will attend the University of Tennessee-Knoxville this fall, won the 2011 overall award.

For more information on Distinguished Young Women of Tennessee, please contact Traci Fant at 423-559-0430 Tennessee@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, 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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