Mallory Nielsen, a 2016 graduate of Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes, Delaware, will travel to Mobile, Alabama this Sunday with the hopes of winning thousands of dollars in cash scholarships and the opportunity to represent the program as the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2016.
Mallory Neilsen
Niesen is one of 51 representatives in the 59th Distinguished Young Women National Finals, which will be held June 23, 24 and 25 at the Mobile Civic Center Theater.
Distinguished Young Women, previously known as America’s Junior Miss, was founded in 1958 and is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls. During its 59 years of operation, the program has provided life-changing experiences for more than 745,000 young women and more than $104 million in cash scholarships and $1.1 billion college granted scholarship opportunities annually to program participants, according to the program.
“We are delighted to welcome fifty-one of the most talented and gifted young women to Mobile to compete in the 59th National Finals of Distinguished Young Women,” said Pam Patterson, executive director for Distinguished Young Women. “For 59 years the Mobile community has welcomed thousands of young women into our homes and hearts. Mobile is the place that is born to celebrate and the Arrivals Ceremony will begin the celebration of the successes of these 51 individuals.”
If selected as the program’s overall winner, Nielsen will spend the next year representing Distinguished Young Women across the country and promoting the program’s national outreach initiative of “Be Your Best Self,” which is designed to combat major issues, as well as encourage young people to take an active interest in their communities through service.
To view the live webcast of the Distinguished Young Women National Finals, visit www.DistinguishedYW.org June 23 – 25 at 7 p.m. CST. To see photos of participants during their time in Mobile, visit www.fpvision.com.
