Anna Catherine Smith, third from left, is competing this week in the Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama scholarship program. The DYW program was formerly known as Junior Miss.

High School senior girls from across Alabama will join together in Montgomery for the Distinguished Young Women of Alabama program to be held January 9th through the finals on Jan. 17 at Frazer United Methodist Church.  Participants will compete for $41,000 in cash scholarships and over $2 million in college granted scholarships, and the opportunity to represent the State as the Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama for 2015.

Anna Catherine Smith from Russellville High School is competing this week in the DYW competition.

The young women competing will be evaluated by a panel of five judges in the following categories:  Scholastics, Interview, Fitness, Self-Expression, and Talent.  The participant selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama will advance to the National level at the 58th Distinguished Young Women National Finals in Mobile, Alabama in June of 2015, where she will join with 49 other state representatives in competing for cash scholarships and the opportunity to represent the program as the Distinguished Young Woman of America.

Founded in 1958 in Mobile, Alabama, Distinguished Young Women is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls. During its 57 years of operation, the program has provided life-changing experiences for more than 730,000 young women. Last year, Distinguished Young Women provided more than $367 million in cash and college scholarship opportunities to program participants at the local, state and national level. 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, Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, The State of Alabama, Alabama Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils, Alabama Power Foundation, Encore Rehabilitation, Wintzell’s Oyster House, Master Boat Builders, Regions Financial Corporation, and Alabama Media Group.