Crestview is well represented for Okaloosa County’s 2015 Distinguished Young Woman program.
Top Five Finalists from Saturday's program are Elizabeth Hinson and Savannah Barefield, Crestview; Lydia Clark, Fort Walton Beach; Jackie Orcutt, Hurlburt Field; and Shannon Claflin, Shalimar.
Lydia Rose Clark, Okaloosa County’s 2015 Distinguished Young Woman, was chosen from a field of 14 high school girls. She is a senior at Choctawhatchee High School.
Okaloosa County’s DYW first alternate is Shannon Claflin, a senior at Choctawhatchee High School. Second alternate is Jackie Orcutt, Hurlburt Field, a senior at Fort Walton Beach High School.
Saturday evening’s program saw total cash scholarships awarded $15,000. In addition, Troy University granted scholarships awarded $355,000.
Eight four-year scholarships to Troy University went to:
•Elizabeth Hinson, Crestview, Crestview High School
•Destiny Keller, Niceville, Collegiate High School
•Erin Murphey, Niceville, Niceville High School
•Taylor Maderazo, Niceville, Niceville High School
•Sabrina Musteric, Fort Walton Beach, Choctawhatchee High School
•Sasha Larson, Fort Walton Beach, Collegiate High School
•Shannon Claflin, Shalimar, Choctawhatchee High School
•Jackie Orcutt, Hurlburt Field, Fort Walton Beach High School
Category winners are:
•Fitness runner-up: Jackie Orcutt, Hurlburt Field; Fitness winner: Lydia Clark, Fort Walton Beach
•Self-Expression runner-up: Elizabeth Hinson, Crestview; Self-Expression winner: Lydia Clark, Fort Walton Beach
•Interview runner-up: Shannon Claflin, Shalimar; Interview winner: Lydia Clark, Fort Walton Beach
•Talent runner-up: Savannah Barefield, Crestview; Talent winner: Lydia Clark, Fort Walton Beach
•Scholastic runner-up: Sabrina Musteric, Fort Walton Beach; Scholastic winner: Jackie Orcutt, Hurlburt Field
The “Natalie Lawson Be Your Best Self” award winner was Jessica Warsheski, Niceville; Destiny Keller, Niceville, and Sasha Larson, Fort Walton Beach, tied for runner-up.
The “Arden Robertson Spirit” award winner was Rachel Hidalgo, Fort Walton Beach. The scholarship award money is donated annually by Okaloosa County’s 2013 DYW, Arden Robertson.
Clark will advance to the DYW State program in Winter Garden, Fla., in January 2015. Natalie Lawson, Okaloosa County and the State of Florida’s DYW for 2014, will present the DYW medallion to her 2015 successor. State winners advance to the prestigious national competition in Mobile, Ala., in June, 2015.
Okaloosa County’s Distinguished Young Woman program brings together female high school seniors to polish their talents and improve their time-management, public speaking and interviewing skills.
It also showcases their physical fitness, academics, grace and stage presence; and encourages them to become more involved in their schools, communities and in local philanthropies.
A volunteer team and board of directors runs the 3-year-old non-profit program.
Contact Okaloosa@distinguishedyw.org to request Clark for speaking engagements at civic clubs and organizations.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview's Barefield, Hinson among top 5 Distinguished Young Women