Distinguished Young Women OF Maryland


is part of a national scholarship program that promotes and rewards scholastics, leadership and talent in young women. Earn scholarships for higher education, personally develop through the DYW Life Skills Workshops, and make new friends from around the state.


Learn more

Photo of Lily Peng
Lily Peng
Distinguished Young Woman of Maryland for 2024
State Program Information

Now accepting Applications: Class of 2025 Program

Deadline to Apply is January 1 of your junior year

Program to be held at:
Frederick Community College-JBK Theater
7932 Opossumtown Pike
Frederick, MD 21702

The program is always held the last week in July

Tickets:
$10 Adults
*$5 K-12 grade

*Free to any K-12 who bring a donation of unopened Pet Food or feminine Hygiene products for our local shelters

Click to view Class of 2024 Virtual Program Book

Life-Changing Experience
College scholarships are awarded at the state level and millions in college-granted scholarships are available nationally. The state representative will advance to the national program for the opportunity to compete for cash tuition scholarships. To participate, you must be in your junior of high school. Participants are evaluated in the areas of: scholastics, interview, talent, self-expression, and fitness.


Apply Now

2024 Distinguished Young Woman of Maryland

Photo of Lily Peng
Lily Peng
FromColumbia
University PreferenceHarvard
Career GoalInternational Law

2024 Distinguished Young Woman of Maryland

Photo of Lily Peng
Lily Peng
From
Columbia

University Preference
Harvard

Career Goal
International Law

Achievements:
World Champion of the International Public Policy Forum Debate Competition2nd Place at Florida Keys International Music Competition, selected to perform at Carnegie Hall Winner's Gala3-time National Carson ScholarChampion 10+ national/international debate tournamentsCitation of Recognition from MarylandGeneral Assembly for "extraordinary testimony"2-time recipient of the Gold President's Service Volunteering AwardHorizon Foundation Young Advocates AwardMockTrial State ChampionsRanked as high as #1 in the US out of all Public Forum debatersFBLA Nationals 2nd Place Client Service Event

Activites:
World Champion International Competitive Debate, researching vast foreign and domestic policy to formulate arguments and articulate impromptu speeches at 50+ national and international competitions /8 years.Founder of the Gen Z Career Exploration Seminars under the Youth Entrepreneurship and Finance association which I am also a Founding Team Member of. The seminar series hosts industry professionals from Wall Street Investors to Microsoft Computer Architects to offer career advice for 1,500+ youth who attended the seminars to explore different career paths/1 year.Judicial Intern at the Howard County Circuit Court for Judge Stephanie Porter. Assisted a Bailiff in conducting trials, assigned by Law Clerk to design a centralized system to store and file case records, and began independent research project covering the Juvenile Justice System/2 years. Mock Trial, Captain, Lawyer Director, Lawyer, and Expert Witness/ 3 years.Appointed Commissioner on the Howard County AAPI Commission as the sole student on the board. Nominated and elected as the Corresponding Secretary of the Commission for outreach and annual reporting/1 year.Founder and Co-President of Project Lotus, an organization of 50+ youth advocating for Asian American and Pacific Islander cultural celebration and representation/2 years.Future Business Leaders of America, competed at the National Leadership Conference by presenting a proposal on how companies can adapt their protocol and procedures for a post-COVID workplace/3 years.Public Hearing Testimonies in front of state, county, and local legislators/4 years.Public Speaking and Debate Lesson Business, marketed, designed curriculum for, and taught lessons reaching 100+ students/3 years.Viola, Principal Stand in the Howard County Youth Orchestra, Maryland All State Junior Orchestra/6 years.

Additional:
400 hours, Howard County Chinese School Student Government Association, 2 year President, led volunteer opportunities for 1,700+ students, initiated and led dozens of events from a 3 month long food drive, to a cultural Night Out display, to a blanket making drive for a local animal shelter, and more.BranchOut! 54 hours, Marketing Team Lead. Led 100 students while alleviated education gap by designing and marketing testprep appHoward County Autism Society 36 hours, underwent training and designed lessons for special needs children which I tutored.Maryland Youth Speakers, 100 hours, Founder and President of the Middle School Chapter, President and former VP Education of the High School Chapter, led group meet ups for public speaking learningWu Chao Campaign, 15 hours, helping get elected as State Delegate

2024 State Participants

Photo of Grace Adeboyejo
Grace Adeboyejo
CityWaldorf
University PreferenceUniversity of Maryland College Park; Spelman College; Princeton University
Career GoalCybersecurity/Tech Attorney
TalentHarp
Photo of Zena Brantuo
Zena Brantuo
CityWaldorf
University PreferenceStanford, Harvard, Rice
Career GoalDermatologist, Philanthropist
TalentTrumpet
Photo of Christian Brown
Christian Brown
CityHughesville
University PreferenceIvy League
Career GoalCriminal Defense Attorney/Political Figure
Photo of Genna Bucklew
Genna Bucklew
CityWhite Plains
University PreferenceUniversity of Maryland
Career GoalCia Agent
TalentInline Figure Skating
Photo of Natalie Duvall
Natalie Duvall
CityWestminster
University PreferenceHood College, small college
Career GoalTravel With Sand Tray Therapy
TalentCello Playing
Photo of Chidalu Emy-Munonye
Chidalu Emy-Munonye
CityFrederick
University PreferenceEmory
Career GoalProject Manager In Biotech
TalentSpoken Word / Poetry
Photo of Priyanka Gupta
Priyanka Gupta
CityFrederick
University PreferencePrinceton University
Career GoalSoftware Engineer
TalentBollywood Dance
Photo of Kira Hubler
Kira Hubler
CityLa Plata
University PreferenceUniversity of Maryland
Career GoalSupreme Court Justice
TalentMonologue
Photo of Kennedi Jones
Kennedi Jones
CityHuntingtown
University PreferenceNew York University, Columbia University or Johns Hopkins University
Career GoalComputer Science
TalentDance
Photo of Sophia Lennon
Sophia Lennon
CityHuntingtown
University Preference
Career Goal
Photo of Neha Nair
Neha Nair
CityMiddletown
University PreferenceMassachusetts Institute of Technology
Career GoalTheoretical Astrophysicist
TalentPiano Performance
Photo of Sanaa Nayeem
Sanaa Nayeem
CityFrederick
University PreferenceDartmouth
Career GoalLinguistics
TalentChinese Poem/Passage
Photo of Nithya Sai Parepally
Nithya Sai Parepally
CityEllicott City
University PreferenceUniversity of Maryland, College Park
Career GoalAerospace Engineering/Robotics
TalentVeena
Photo of Marissa Italia Pasko
Marissa Italia Pasko
CityWaldorf
University Preference
Career GoalCareer In Pediatric Health Care
TalentPoetry
Photo of Lily Peng
Lily Peng
CityColumbia
University PreferenceHarvard
Career GoalInternational Law
TalentChinese Modern Dance
Photo of Emily Schueftan
Emily Schueftan
CityFrederick
University PreferenceUniversity of Maryland
Career GoalMedical Field Doctor
TalentPresentation
Photo of Shloka Tambat
Shloka Tambat
CityFrederick
University PreferenceUSNA
Career GoalBiology
TalentPublic Speaking
Photo of Isabella Vasquez
Isabella Vasquez
CityFrederick
University PreferenceGeorgetown University, University of Cambridge, Hood College
Career GoalCriminal Lawyer, Corporate Lawyer, International Relations, Political Science
TalentSinging With An Instrument
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