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Elora Waters took top honors in Saturday evenings finale of the 2023 Distinguished Young Woman of Escambia County event in Flomaton.
The T.R. Miller High School senior would also be the winner in the “Be Your Best Self” essay competition in the program.
Waters was among 14 contestants in the annual event to name a winner in the Escambia County event. She will go on to compete at the state level in January for the 2023 Distinguished Young Woman even set in Montgomery.
Waters has an excellent group of alternates should she be unable to fulfill her new role.
Name as first alternate was Laiken Stone, a W.S. Neal High School senior. Stone was also the winner of the fitness award for the program.
Named as second alternate was Chloe Higdon. Coming in at the third alternate position was Tiffany Gookin from Escambia Academy. All contestants garnered several scholarships as a result of the participation in the program.
Mary Beth Brantley Lancaster served as emcee for Saturday’s event and encouraged audience participation and support for the contests throughout the evening.
Each participant completed several rounds of competition including interviews, talent, fitness and self-expression. Judges also took the scholastic achievements of each lady into account when calculating scores and naming a winner for the evening.
A highlight in the evening was the farewell moments from Sydney Aaron, the 2022 DYW for Escambia County.
Aaron said the program is one that has opened many doors for her and helped her to gain many friends along the way.
“Going to the state competition was the best week of my life,” Aaron said. “You go in nervous but excited and learn so much. I gained 44 new friends that week and we still talk today.”
Aaron recounted the year she spent as DYW for the county including participating in her school’s homecoming parade as the sixth W.S. Neal student to achieve the honor. During her time she also helped to organize the “Read Across America” program for W.S. Neal Elementary School as well as lending her talents to assist in the Super Fun Day Event in the county.
Aaron was also responsible for organizing and hosting the DYW Boot Camp for little girls throughout the county.
Others participating in the scholarship program were Elizabeth Young from Flomaton High School; Abigail Turner from Flomaton High School; Jaila Goodwin from W.. Neal High School; Morgan Paige Jones from W.S. Neal High School; Makenna Anderson from T.R. Miller High School; Harley Wilson from W.S. Neal High School; Alonna Bedsole from W.S. Neal High School; Courtney Cannon from W.S. Neal High School; Ashley Boutwell from Flomaton High School; and Kadence Freeman from Flomaton High School.
Each of the participants had the opportunity to select a “little sister” to assist them through the rehearsal and program events.
Little Sisters included Madison Simpson for Chloe Higdon; AnnaBeth Hawsey for Elizabeth Young; Kenna Alverson for Abigail Turner; KayLeigh Jay for Tiffany Gookin; Edi Walker for Jaila Goodwin; Ashtynn Carden for Elora Waters; Bronwyn Patterson for Morgan Jones; Daniya Lambert for Makenna Anderson; Emily Pettis for Harley Wilson; Madison Dawkins for Alonna Bedsole; Kristen Spinks for Courtney Cannon; Lilly Chavers for Ashley Boutwell; Madison Johnson for Kadence Freeman; and Baylie Wyatt for Laiken Stone.
The Distinguished Darlings for the 2023 event were Mackenzie Jerkins, Abby-Kate Helton, Catherine Brewer, Carlye Wiggins, Aneciya Sallworth, Secily Carter, Nia Nolan, Breely Richardson, Cyleigh Higdon, Madison Brown, Jayda Lindsey and Abbey McMurphy.
Judges for the program were Hanna Salter Huffstutler, Rachel Ellis Lindell, Eric Lidh and Keller Davis. Tara Jones served as the scholastic judge with Maggie Rowell serving as the “Be Your Best Self” essay judge.
Scholarship donors included First National Bank of Atmore, Georgia-Pacific, PHD Realty, Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Southern Pine Electric Cooperative and the 2023 DYW Bootcampers.
Spirt and Has Been sponsors were Gulf Winds Credit Union, Molly Barnett, the Crosby family, the Knowles family, Shelly Lambert, Mary Beth Lancaster, Mary Thompson Lancaster, Dana Rowell, Maggie Rowell and Leah Vickery.
Scholarships awarded to the participants in the 2023 event were:
University of Mobile: Belief in Community Scholarship – $28,000 over 8 consecutive semesters: Courtney Cannon;
Dean’s Merit Award
totaling $40,000 over 8 consecutive semesters: Ashley Boutwell
and Kadence Freeman;
Founder’s Merit Award
totaling $44,000 over 8 consecutive semesters: Morgan Jones, Makenna Anderson, Elizabeth Young, Aloona Bedsole, Abigail Turner and Harley Wilson;
Presidential Merit Award totaling $52,000 over 8 consecutive semesters: Jaila Goodwin; Laiken Stone; Chloe Higdon; Elora Waters and Tiffany Gookin;
Catawba College, Salisbury, North Carolina – Four year renewable of at least $10,000: Chloe Higdon; Elizabeth Young; Abigail Turner; Tiffany Gookin; Jaila Goodwin; Elora Waters
Morgan Jones; Makenna Anaderson; Harley Wilson; Alonna Bedsole; Courtney Cannon; Ashley Boutwell; Kadence Freeman and Laiken Stone;
Mississippi State University – Each of the following has met the first step in receiving an
Academic Excellence Award: Chloe Higdon, Laiken Stone and Elora Waters;
Albion College, Albion, Michigan – Four year, renewable $1,000 scholarship: Chloe Higdon; Elizabeth Young; Abigail Turner; Tiffany Gookin; Jaila Goodwin; Elora Waters
Morgan Jones; Makenna Anaderson; Harley Wilson; Alonna Bedsole; Courtney Cannon; Ashley Boutwell; Kadence Freeman and Laiken Stone;
Hood College, Frederick,Maryland – Four year, renewable half tuition: Chloe Higdon; Elizabeth Young; Abigail Turner; Tiffany Gookin; Jaila Goodwin; Elora Waters; Morgan Jones; Makenna Anaderson; Harley Wilson; Alonna Bedsole; Courtney Cannon; Ashley Boutwell; Kadence Freeman; Laiken Stone
University of Montevallo – Montevallo Academic Leadership Scholarship
$2,500 renewable for 4 years: Kadence Freeman and Ashley Boutwell;
Academic Recognition Scholarship
$4,500 per year, renewable for 4 years: Alonna Bedsole; Harley Wilson; Morgan Jones; Elizabeth Young and Abigail Turner;
Freshman Leadership Scholarship
$6,000 per year, renewable for 4 years: Laiken Stone; Jaila Goodwin; Tiffany Gookin and Chloe Higdon;
University of West Alabama
Livingston, Alabama – Excellence in Academic and/or Leadership
Endeavors: Chloe Higdon; Elizabeth Young; Abigail Turner; Tiffany Gookin; Jaila Goodwin; Elora Waters
Morgan Jones; Makenna Anaderson; Harley Wilson; Alonna Bedsole; Courtney Cannon; Ashley Boutwell; Kadence Freeman and Laiken Stone;
Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio 1835 Founders Scholarship – $24,000, 4 year renewable: Harley Wilson; Laiken Stone; Elora Waters; and Tiffany Gookin;
Marietta Distinction Scholarship – $22,000, 4 year renewable: Chloe Higdon; Morgan Jones; and Jaila Goodwin;
Compass Scholarship
$20,000 4 year renewable: Alonna Bedsole and Abigail Turner;
Each participant also received scholarships from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio for a $2,000 renewable scholarship as well as scholarships from Juanita College, in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.