THE LARGEST SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR YOUNG WOMEN.
Since 1958, Distinguished Young Women has provided life-changing experiences for more than 780,000 women across the country and awarded more than $122 million in cash scholarships at the local, state, and national levels.
Our Mission
To empower young women to develop their full, individual potential by providing scholarships, personal development opportunities and a positive peer network
Setting the Stage for
Future Leaders
Distinguished Young Women takes place in all 50 states and Washington D.C., with some states having local programs as well. Depending on the state and local program schedule, young women participate in either their junior or senior year of high school.
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Each year's class of state representatives travel to Mobile, Alabama the June after their high school graduation to take part in the Distinguished Young Women National Finals. The spend two weeks getting to know each other while enjoying events and volunteering in the local community, developing Life Skills for college and beyond, and performing on state to a nation audience.
Our History
Distinguished Young Women was founded in 1958 by the Mobile Jaycees as an outgrowth of its popular Azalea Trail Maid program. Distinguished Young Women, originally called America’s Junior Miss, was created as a way to meet the need for higher education scholarships for young women. Since its creation, more than 780,000 young women have participated and shared in over $122 million in cash tuition scholarships. Today, the national program spans the country with participants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Approximately 2,000 young women participate at the local and state levels each year.