Oakdale's Distinguished Young Women's Program Empowers Teenage Girls

        For nearly forty years, the Oakdale Soroptimist Club has encouraged local high school girls to try new experiences through the Distinguished Young Women program. Fundamental to this long-standing tradition is confidence that lasts: contestants leave not just with awards, but bearing a sense of self-assurance that impacts every part of their lives. Along the way, they also build friendships and learn to celebrate one another’s strengths. Girls interested in joining or learning more about the program can visit the Distinguished Young Women website or contact the Oakdale Soroptimist Club for sign-up details. Taking part is a great way for students to challenge themselves and discover new opportunities.

Distinguished Young Women began in 1958 in Mobile, Alabama, and has grown to become the nation’s largest and oldest scholarship program for high school girls. Today, more than 700,000 young women have participated all across the country—a number that would fill a football stadium several times over. For context, DYW awards over $1 billion in scholarship opportunities each year, more than some well-known scholarship foundations combined. The program is open to young women who are currently high school juniors and who live or attend school in the Oakdale area. DYW evaluates participants in five categories: scholastic achievement, interview, self-expression, fitness, and talent, focusing on scholarship, leadership, and talent. The holistic process values not just grades, but also how girls express themselves and function under pressure.

But DYW is more than just a competition. Through its “Be Your Best Self” initiative, the program motivates girls to be role models, get involved in their communities, and live with integrity. For example, this year, participant Audrey Clark volunteered her time to coach Magnolia Elementary's 6th-grade basketball program and to volunteer for many events. Fellow participant Mikayla Seymour volunteered her time with several non-profit organizations. Many girls walk away with scholarships, lasting friendships, and a real sense of who they are and what they can achieve.

Audrey Clark earned the distinction of Oakdale’s Distinguished Young Woman of 2027 and received the program’s top honor this year. She was joined by an impressive group of participants, including Isabella Camorlinga, Mikayla Seymour, Claire Tolboe, and Peyton O’Neal, as well as several other dedicated classmates. To prepare, each young woman spent months juggling schoolwork and other commitments while attending rehearsals, interviews, and talent routines.

For many, the journey held equal value to the outcome. Claire Tolboe, recognized for her athleticism, reflected, “You learn a lot about yourself and create strong bonds with other girls.” She recalled how spending weeks preparing and long hours together led to a real friendship. “Getting ready for the event and putting on our makeup was a really fun experience,” she added.

Peyton O’Neal placed among the top five and also claimed the Self-Expression award. She described how the program pushed her boundaries: “The biggest thing I got out of DYW is being organized. It was a super busy program, and I had to keep on top of everything, especially since I was juggling cheerleading tryouts,” she explained. Peyton emphasized how encouragement from the other girls left a strong impression. “My favorite part was the sisterhood between all the girls, even the Has-Beens. We made connections I never expected.” Those friendships gave her the encouragement to push herself, whether she was performing in front of a crowd or simply facing everyday challenges.

In the weeks before the event, the girls spent time in practices, workshops, and group activities. Along the way, they picked up skills they’ll use in everyday life, like working with others, speaking up, finding solutions, and staying organized. All the group practices and projects brought the girls together and taught them how to handle real challenges as a team. These are the kinds of skills that come in handy in college and later in life on the job. Because of her hard work and dedication, Audrey Clark will represent Oakdale as this year’s Distinguished Young Woman at the next stage of the program.

Audrey shared how much she learned from being part of the program. “Being in DYW taught me the most about public speaking and how to stay calm in stressful situations,” she said. She admitted that public speaking used to feel daunting, but now she feels much more comfortable addressing an audience. For Audrey, the skills and confidence she built through DYW are things she knows will help her both on stage and later in her career. “I’d tell anyone thinking about it to push themselves out of their comfort zone and give it a shot. You can make friends and earn scholarships while preparing for life after high school.”

If you’re a high school junior, consider joining the Distinguished Young Women program this fall. It’s a chance to learn new skills, meet great people, and challenge yourself in ways you might not expect. You’ll make friends and memories that last long after the event. Sign up and see just how far you can go.

As Audrey advances to the next level of Distinguished Young Women, her family, friends, and the entire Oakdale community take pride in her accomplishments. She now has the opportunity to display the poise and confidence she has always carried, and to continue to grow through the program.

Parents and organizers regularly praise DYW for developing confidence that lasts well after the event itself. In fact, surveys from recent years show that over 90 percent of Distinguished Young Women alumni report feeling better prepared for upcoming academic and career challenges, and nearly 70 percent of participants receive some form of college scholarship as a result of their involvement in the program. They hope to see more young women take the opportunity to discover their abilities, contribute to their communities, and be recognized for their hard work. For every participant, DYW proves that this adventure is not simply a competition. It is the beginning of self-growth in leadership, service, and discovery.

Sources:

Information for this article was supplied by the Oakdale Soroptimist Club via handouts and their Instagram @soroptimist_of_oakdale.  Additional details were gathered from interviews with program participants.

Distinguished Young Women official website