Faulk is 1st alternate
By SHERRY DIGMON
News Staff Writer
In a field of 15, Mary Thompson Lancaster of Atmore was named Escambia County’s 2019 Distinguished Young Woman Saturday, July 28.
Mary Thompson attends Escambia Academy. She’s the daughter of Steve and Mary Beth Lancaster. In receiving this honor, Mary Thompson carries on a family tradition – her great-aunt, Ann Floyd Green, was the 1964 Junior Miss and her mother, Mary Beth Lancaster, was named the 1988 Junior Miss. (The program has since been changed to Distinguished Young Women.)
Vying for this year’s title were Chelsea Black, Flomaton High School; Kristen Carden, Flomaton High School; McKenzie Faulk, Flomaton High School; Sarah Grace Gerety, T.R. Miller High School; Christiara Jones, Escambia County High School; Mary Thompson Lancaster, Escambia Academy; Mary Grace Milligan, T.R. Miller High School; Alexus Qualls, T.R. Miller High School; Johnika Roberts, Escambia County High School; Janiyah Rogers, Escambia County High School; Olivia Simmons, Escambia County High School; Maria Solomon, T.R. Miller High School; Cassie Watson. T.R. Miller High School; Bentley Webb, T.R. Miller High School; and Anna White, T.R. Miller High School.
Judging and awards
Participants were judged based on scholastics, interview, talent, fitness, and self-expression. The following awards were presented.
Spirit of DYW: Mary Thompson Lancaster
Be Your Best Self Essay Contest: Mary Grace Milligan
Fitness: Mary Thompson Lancaster
1st Alternate Fitness: McKenzie Faulk
Self-Expression: McKenzie Faulk
1st Alternate Self-Expression: Bentley Webb
Talent: McKenzie Faulk
1st Alternate Talent: Olivia Simmons and Mary Thompson Lancaster
Interview: Mary Thompson Lancaster
1st Alternate: Mary Grace Milligan
Scholastics: Mary Grace Milligan
1st Alternate Scholastics: Bentley Webb
2nd Alternate to DYW: Bentley Webb
1st Alternate to DYW: McKenzie Faulk
2019 DYW: Mary Thompson Lancaster
College granted scholarships
Distinguished Young Women is a scholarship program, and judging from the list of scholarships listed below, the program is true to its purpose.
College granted scholarships are presented to participants of the DYW programs based on their current high school grade point average and college entrance exam score. Upon completion of their senior year of high school and meeting all of the respective college entrance requirements, these awards will be validated.
In addition to the scholarships listed below, Coastal Alabama Community College awarded cash tuition to participants receiving awards, as well as full tuition and fees for the second alternate, first alternate and Distinguished Young Woman. The University of North Alabama and University of Alabama at Birmingham also awarded scholarships to the young lady named Distinguished Young Woman.
University of Mobile
University Merit Award
Totaling $20,000 over 8 consecutive semesters:
Cassie Watson
Dean’s Merit Award
Totaling $28,000 over 8 consecutive semesters:
McKenzie Faulk
Kristen Carden
Founder’s Merit Award
Totaling $36,000 over 8 consecutive semesters:
Olivia Simmons
Maria Solomon
Johnika Roberts
Christiara Jones
Alexus Qualls
Presidential Merit Award
Totaling $44,000 over 8 consecutive semesters:
Anna Grace White
Mary Thompson Lancaster
Sarah Grace Gerety
Chelsea Black
Bentley Webb
Mary Grace Milligan
Faulkner University
$5,500 per year, for a total of $22,000:
McKenzie Faulk
Kristen Carden
Cassie Watson
Maria Solomon
$6,500 per year, for a total of $26,000:
Anna Grace White
Olivia Simmons
$7,500 per year, for a total of $30,000:
Johnika Roberts
Mary Thompson Lancaster
Sarah Grace Gerety
Christiara Jones
Alexus Qualls
$8,500 per year, for a total of $34,000:
Chelsea Black
Mary Grace Milligan
Bentley Webb
Mississippi State University
First step in receiving an Academic Excellence Scholarship
McKenzie Faulk
Janiyah Rogers
Cassie Watson
Academic Excellence Scholarship
in the amount of $1,000 per year renewable for 4 years, totaling $4,000:
Kristen Carden
Anna Grace White
Johnika Roberts
Christiara Jones
Alexus Qualls
Olivia Simmons
Maria Solomon
Academic Excellence Scholarship
$3,000 per year, renewable for four years, for a total of $12,000:
Chelsea Black
Mary Grace Milligan
Bentley Webb
Mary Thompson Lancaster
Sarah Grace Gerety
University of Montevallo
$2,500 per year, renewable for 4 years totaling $10,000:
Johnika Roberts
Christiara Jones
Alexus Qualls
$4,500 per year, renewable for 4 years totaling $18,000:
Chelsea Black
Bentley Webb
Mary Thompson Lancaster
Sarah Grace Gerety
$9,000 per year, renewable for 4 years totaling $36,000:
Mary Grace Milligan
Kudos
A program of this magnitude does not just happen. Kudos to the Escambia County DYW Board of Directors who do make it happen: Suzanne N. Barnett, Chairman; Julie L. Madden, Tabulator; Molly A. Barnett, Judges Chairman; Claudette S. Nix, Scholastic Chairman; Michael D. Rowell, Scholarship Chairman; Maggie E. Rowell, Recruitment, Little Sisters; Frankie and Jan Lanier, Production; James Randal Barnett, Stage Manager; Debra L. Nix, Tickets; Heather Leonard, Choreography.
News photos by Sherry Digmon