Distinguished Young Women of Buncombe County Scholarship Program
Past Representatives 1985-2024

Whether a Junior Miss, Young Woman of the Year, or Distinguished Young Woman, we are proud and honored to have these distinguished women listed among our alumni and as our representatives over the past 40+ years. Each one of them continues to be an outstanding citizen and is involved in their community, continuing the values of this program no matter where they are.

1985-Lisa Marlene Sawyer- Owen High School, Boston University, American University in Washington, DC; owner of fly, Jive, fly LLC and Wild Blue Rodeo, both air show production/promotion companies; professional air show announcer; lives with husband Jerry in Lake Wales, FL. Daughter of Tommy Sawyer and the late Thelma Sawyer of Swannanoa

1986-Marcia Martin-Reynolds High School, Mars Hill University; UNC-Greensboro; Senior Marketing manager for Astellas Pharma, US; two children; lives in Asheville; overall scholastics and fourth finalist at NCJM; daughter of Sally Martin and the late Fred Martin of Asheville

1987-Amy Young-Asheville High School; Yale University; works as a professional actress under the stage name Bellamy Young: Mission: Impossible 3, We Were Soldiers, Scandal, Fantasy Island; North Carolina’s Junior Miss; preliminary honors in scholastic achievement at national program; lives in Los Angeles, CA; daughter of Jane Godwin of Weaverville.
*Ginny Davis-Asheville High School; Princeton University; lives in Boston, MA; daughter of Johnny and Jannie Davis of Asheville

1988-Robin Turner Oswald-Carolina Day School; University of Colorado Boulder with double major; works with Bonesteel Productions in Asheville; lives in Asheville with husband, Ozzie, twin sons Carson and Harrison, and daughter Riley; daughter of Pam and Jim Turner of Asheville.

1989-Heather Whitaker Goldstein- Reynolds High School; Duke University; George Washington University Law School; NCJM, preliminary honors in scholastic achievement and interview at national program; attorney for Van Winkle Law Firm; lives in Asheville with husband, Jeremy and their four sons; daughter of Gary and Marlene Whitaker of Asheville.
*Lisa Raymer Laney-Enka High School; BS in Dance Education from UNC-Greensboro, Masters’ Degree in Educational Leadership and NC Principal license; retired dance teacher with Buncombe County Schools; lives in Haywood Co with husband Chris; two daughters: Kennedy and Reagan; daughter of Tom and Susan Raymer of Asheville.

1990- Brandi Wolfe Henson-Erwin High School; Western Carolina University; former teacher at Estes Elementary; currently a full time mom; lives in Asheville with husband, Todd and their 3 boys; preliminary honors in poise and Interview at the state program; daughter of Kathi Keck

1991- Alyssa Miller Harrison- Reynolds High School; UNC-Greensboro; Liberty University; English teacher and Development Coach at Bingham Academy; lives in Addis Abba, Ethiopia with husband; three sons; preliminary honors in poise, scholastic achievement, interview and fitness at the state program;

1992- Andrea Jones- Reynolds High School; UNC-Chapel Hill; UCLA; completed two year assignment with Teach for America; lives inCarrboro, NC; preliminary honors in scholastic achievement, talent, interview, and third finalist at state program.

1993-Jacqueline Donnelly- Reynolds High School; Barnard College; Duke University; completed clinical psychology program at VA Medical Center in Roanoke, VA; Project manager and Innovations team at MAHEC in Asheville where she lives with her husband and two daughters; preliminary honors in scholastic achievement, poise, and was third finalist at the state program.

1994- Lori Carter Connolly-Erwin High School; Wake Forest University; Executive Diabetes Sales Specialist for AstraZeneca Pharmaceutical; group fitness instructor, lives in Waxhaw, NC with her two daughters; preliminary honors in talent, scholastic achievement, fitness, and was named third finalist; daughter of Tommy and Billy Carter of Asheville

1995- Kimberly Kiser Fussell-Enka High School; NC State University; works for McKinney, and advertising firm in Durham, NC; lives with husband and active in Durham-Orange Junior League; preliminary honors in scholastic achievement at state program; daughter of Margie Kiser White of Black Mountain and the late Sam Kiser of Candler.

1996- Jennifer Lasher Banks- North Buncombe High School; Duke University; works at family’s business, Crest Mountain; lives with husband Zach and their two children in Weaverville; received preliminary honors in scholastic achievement, poise, interview, and was named second finalist at the state program; daughter of Jan and Reese Lasher of Weaverville.

1997- Melissa Edwards- Enka High School; UNC-Chapel Hill; Senior Academic Advisor for Academic Advising program at UNC-Chapel Hill; received preliminary awards in talent and scholastic achievement and was named third finalist at the state program; daughter of Marilyn and Joe Edwards of Candler.

1998-Susanna Shetley-North Buncombe High School, NC State University, Appalachian State University; language arts/social studies instructional coach, freelance writer, blogger at zealousmom.com; writes for The Mountaineer newspaper in Waynesville, lives in Canton with her two boys; daughter of Bill Shetley and the late Mary Shetley of Weaverville

1999- Robin Luse- Erwin High School; Erskine College; teacher’s assistant for autistic class at Ira B Jones Elementary; died in a car accident in 2004; preliminary honors in scholastic achievement at the state program;

2000- Emily Snyder- Reynolds high School; University of Virginia; UNC-Chapel Hill; lives in Asheville, NC with husband and daughters; preliminary honors in scholastic achievement at the state program; daughter of Pam and Birch Snyder of Asheville.

2001- Jennifer Sales Slechter- Reynolds High School; UNC-Chapel Hill; Parker Chiropractic College; owner and chiropractor at WNC Chiropractic; lives with husband and two sons in Asheville; preliminary honors in interview at the state program; daughter of Roger and Lynae Sales of Fairview.

2002- Alisha Hagerling Ear- Asheville High School, the Ohio State University; dance instructor in Asheville; lives with husband Waler, 3 daughters and 1 son in Asheville; was named NCJM, won preliminary awards in all 5 categories; preliminary scholastics and top 16 finalist at national program; daughter of Jackie Hagerling and Mark Hagerling of Asheville.

* Michelle Miller- Asheville High School; Stanford University for Bachelors and Master’s degrees; lives in New York City; worked for J.P.Morgan & Co.; first book, The Underwriting, was released in 2015; daughter of Ann and Steve Miller of Asheville.

2003- Katie Wilson Stewart-Reynolds High School, East Carolina University; was a dancer and instructor at Broadway Dance Center in NYC; Musical Theater instructor at Anderson University; lives in Greenville, SC with husband Jake and sons. Talent and interview preliminary awards and 1st finalist at state program; daughter of Bobby and Becky Wilson of Asheville.

2004- Lauren Patton Imhoff- Owen High School, Elon University; dancer and actor for The Wizard of Oz national tours; theater instructor at Anderson University; works with South Carolina Children’s Theater; lives in Anderson with her husband, Chris and their two daughters; daughter of Ken and Alice Patton of Black Mountain.
2005- Kayla Anderson Hall- Enka High School; NC State University Park Scholar; double major in communications and Women and Gender Studies; works as an Ecommerce Account Representative for Kassatex Fine Linens; lives in Lake Wylie with husband Clay and son. NCJM 3rd finalist, interview, fitness, and scholastics preliminaries; daughter of Michelle and Andy Anderson of Candler.

2006- Windsor Hanger Western- Asheville High School; Harvard University; BA degree in History of Science; Co-Founder, President and Publisher of Her Campus, an online magazine for college women; lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband, Alex, and their two daughters; NCJM first finalist and preliminary awards in interview and scholastics; daughter of Brooke Buckner of Weaverville and Howard Hanger of Asheville.

2007- Rebecca Curtis- AC Reynolds, UNC-Wilmington with dual degrees in International Business and Spanish; lives in Ecuador studying and teaching; received preliminary award in talent at the state program. Daughter of Patti Curtis of Fairview

2008- Mallory Lane Olson- TC Roberson, Elon University degree in communications with double minor in spanish and business administration; former news reporter for WXII-12 in Winston-Salem; lives in Kentucky with husband, Brad, and daughter Tilly where she works in communications for the University of Kentucky. She is the daughter of Lori Lane and Page Lane, both of Arden.
2009- Diane Huang- TC Roberson, University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business and College of Arts and Sciences (dual degrees); lives in New York City; Equity Analyst for Morgan Stanley; preliminary awards in interview, overall scholastics, first finalist and Spirit award at state program. Daughter of Paul and Susan Huang of Arden.

2010- Laura Ellis- Charles D Owen, UNC-Asheville graduate, Masters degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Appalachian State University; PhD in Cellular Biology from University of Arkansas; Irish dancer and instructor; works as a scientist at BioAgilytix; lives in Raleigh with husband Gary; daughter of Judy and Gary Ellis of Swannanoa.

2011- Katie Fiore- Charles D Owen, UNC-Chapel Hill double major in Journalist amd Mass Communications; lives in Nashville, TN; works for Viacom as Associate Producer and Social Media Manager for CMT Hot 20 Countdown; received a fitness award at NCJM. Daughter of Kerri and Dan Fiore of Swannanoa

2012- Christina Maxwell- AC Reynolds, graduated Suma Cum Laude from University of Michigan with BFA in Musical Theatre with a minor in Creative Writing; Executive Director of High Line Nine gallery and pursuing a career in Musical Theater in New York City; Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role New York Musical Festival; DYW of NC, at national program received awards for Self Expression, Talent, Be Your Best Self, and named DYW of America; first person to hold new DYW title on all 3 levels; daughter of Renee and Ken Maxwell of Fletcher.

2013- Briana Birchett-TC Roberson, Elon University; received Fulbright Scholarship to live in Bangalore, India for 9 months to research Hindu lay community relationsips with devadasis; currently studying at London University of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in London, England. received talent and interview awards and named first finalist at the state program. Daughter of Diane Birchett and Ken Birchett, both formerly of Arden.

2014- Grace Kim- Asheville High; graduated Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University majoried in flute performance; JD from Emory University School of Law; currently a Judicial Staff Attorney in the Agusta Circuit Superior Court in Augusta, GA; received preliminary awards in talent, interview, and scholastics at the state program.Daughter of Drs. Paul and Hwa-Jin Kim of Asheville

2015- Kadee Beasley- AC Reynolds, graduate of NC State University double majoring in finance and accounting; Works for PNC Financial in Denver, CO. received awards in all 5 categories at local and state program; named DYW of NC; named First Finalist at national program. Daughter of Kelly and Keith Beasley of Fairview

2016- Kristie Kim- Asheville High, graduated from Duke University with BS in Biology, Chemistry, and Spanish Studies; currently a medical student in Florida; founded Asheville Young Musicians Club, past concertmaster of Asheville-Buncombe Youth Symphony; received preliminary award in scholastics at state program. Daughter of Drs. Paul and Hwa-Jin Kim of Asheville

2017- Leila Yow- TC Roberson,graduated from UNC-Asheville Cum Laude with BA in Economics and minoring in Political Science and Human Rights Studies; currently pursuing an MA in Development Studies at the University of Sussex and Institute of Development Studies; received awards in interview, talent, self expression and was named first finalist at the state program; active in theater program at UNCA.daughter of

2018- Emma Grace Kiser, AC Reynolds; graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with BS in Exercise and Sport Science; currently a medical assistant at Wake Dermatology with plans to apply for Physician’s Assistant School. received awards in interview, talent, self expression, and was named first finalist at the state program. She is the daughter of Stephanie and Kevin Kiser of Candler.

2019- Grace Stanek- graduated from TC Roberson high school; currently a senior at Wake Forest University majoring in Mathematical Business and minoring in Sociology and Statistics. She plans to pursue a career in Business Analytics. At the state program, she received awards scholastics and fitness and was named DYW of NC; was a Top 8 finalist at the national program. She is the daughter of Bernard and Sue Stanek of Asheville.

2020- Renna Voss- graduated from AC Reynolds high school; currently a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill. At the state program, she received a talent award and Spirit Award. She is the daughter of Julie and Ray Voss of Asheville.

2021- Olivia Fernandez- graduated from School of Inquiry and Life Science at Asheville (SILSA) and is currently a sophomore at the Oxford College at Emory University in Atlanta. Earned preliminary awards in all 5 categories locally and received a scholastics award at the state level. She is the daughter of Janelle Fernandez of Asheville and Joe Fernandez of Marietta, GA.

2022- Caroline Kiser- graduated from AC Reynolds High school and is a freshman at NC State University. She received awards in interview and talent at the state level. She is the daughter of Stephanie and Kevin Kiser of Candler.

2023- Oliva Lang-graduated from Nesbitt Discovery Academy and is a sophomore at UNC-Chapel Hill. She received awards in interview and talent at the state level and was named second finalist. She is the daughter of Whit and Janine Lang of Black Mountain.

2024- Peyton Douglas-currently a senior at TC Roberson High School, plans on majoring in biomedical engineering in college. received awards in scholastics, talent, and overall fitness at the state level and was named first finalist. She is the daughter of Laura and Tommy Douglas of Arden.

• First finalist assumed local duties when Buncombe County representative was named North Carolina’s Junior Miss.