Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2020
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DISTINGUISHED YOUNG WOMAN OF AMERICA FOR 2020 Kentucky’s Elif Ozyurekoglu was named the Distinguished FUN FACTS: Young Woman of America for 2020, during the 63rd Annual National Finals. • She is a first-generation Turkish American. Elif’s parents both immigrated to Louisville, KY, where Elif and her Elif attended duPont Manual High School. Her academic sister were both born and raised. honors include the US Navy Office of Naval Research Naval Science Award, Regional Science Fair Champion • Elif spent two months in Istanbul, Turkey, conducting in Biomedical Engineering and published research in the psychological research with Syrian refugees. international peer-reviewed journal “The Orthopedist.” • Elif is a Turkish Nationals Swimming Finalist and was Outside of the classroom, Elif is a leader among her peers. able to swim alongside future Olympians during her She is passionate about women’s rights and working to time in Istanbul. empower young women throughout her community. She is on the Steering Committee for Louisville Girls Leadership, a • She is the founder and CEO of her own company. program which provides high school sophomores with skills What started as an at-home hobby due to her passion for the future. She is a member of the Louisville Youth Board for skincare and cosmetics turned into Elif’s very own and founder of US Turkish Youth. natural cosmetics line, “Elyph Cosmetics.” Elif has been trained in classical piano since the age of • Elif loves baking! She says, “although I won’t be going five. She has always been passionate about music and the on Cupcake Wars anytime soon, I like to spend time performing arts. Elif is also a competitive swimmer. She not with my sister making fun treats in the kitchen.” only holds state and regional swimming titles in Kentucky, but also competed at the national level in Turkey. • The first movie Elif ever watched in a movie theatre, In the fall, Elif will attend Columbia University in the CP and favorite to this day, was “Shrek 2.” Growing up, Davis Scholars Program to study biomedical engineering. she affectionately referred to the theatre as “Shrek’s She hopes to pursue a career in reconstructive plastic house” and even spoke about it in her National Finals surgery. Elif believes “the way we see ourselves is so interview. important” and hopes to spread confidence by working with internal and external scarring. • She can sing the alphabet backwards! Winning more than $33,000 in cash scholarships and a gold medallion, Elif will represent the Class of 2020 as the Distinguished Young Woman of America during this year. LEFT TO RIGHT, CLOCKWISE: Elif ready for her interview; participating in the digital self- expression category; performing “Fantaisie Impromptu,” which she learned specifically for National Finals; showing off her home state of Kentucky; participating in the fitness category during National Finals. Distinguished Young Women is grateful to all of our national sponsors who make each year’s program possible through their generous contributions toward scholarships and the ongoing operation of the nationwide program. STATES CLUB SPIRIT CLUB CLUB 100 The businesses and individuals in The businesses and individuals in Club 100 is a community of alumnae the States Club sponsor a state’s the Spirit Club sponsor a state’s who invest $1,000 or more each year representative during National Finals. representative during National Finals. to build a solid foundation for the The members of this elite group have Members of this group have generously program. Our goal is to find 100 graciously contributed $5,000 each. contributed $2,500 and we appreciate alumnae who share our mission. We appreciate their financial support their support. Want to learn more about the club and their dedication to the success of and the benefits of membership? this program. Jessica and Bill Barrick Contact Kendra at Lori Jo and Paul Carbonneau [email protected]. AJM Scholarship Foundation Hargrove Engineers + Constructors The Better Skin Co. Kendra and Michael Haskins Amanda Biles, 1995 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama McKinney Petroleum Equipment Tim and Shigeko Bork Captain Teresa E. Elders Foundation Thompson Engineering, Inc. in honor of Skye Bork, 2017 Cisco and Pamela Codina Lori Jo Carbonneau, 1986 Delaney Development, Inc. Nicole Chafitz Orr, 1991 Distinguished Young Women Past Shalisha Francis-Feusner, 1995 Presidents Marsha Grady, 1982 Encore Rehabilitation Ashley Halfman Hopp, 1993 Evonik Industries Kendra Haskins, 1991 Dee and Jim Gambill in honor of Bruce Triftshauser Joy and Jimmy Grodnick Leigh Knosher, 1981 The Hearin-Chandler Foundation Aimee Parker, 1999 The Howard Wealth Management Andrea Plummer Guardenier, 1996 Group of Stifel Pamela and Victor Renard Phil and Liz Kaiser in honor of Nicole Renard, 2013 Arlene Mitchell Maureen Sullivan Collins, 1960 Mobile County Commission Pam and Eric Patterson Norvelle and Teresa Smith Maureen Sullivan Collins Distinguished Young Women was founded in 1958 by the Throughout the years, Distinguished Young Women has Mobile (AL) Jaycees as an outgrowth of its popular Azalea continued to attract the nation’s best and brightest. More Trail Maid program. Originally called America’s Junior Miss, than 775,000 young women have participated in the program Distinguished Young Women was created as a way to meet the at the local, state and national levels. Journalist and anchor need for higher education scholarships for young women. Diane Sawyer (1963), Journalist Deborah Norville (1975), Will & Grace actress Debra Messing (1986), CNN anchor Robin While continuing to address the need for scholarships, Meade (1987) and violinist and best-selling author Lindsey Distinguished Young Women also saw an opportunity to help Stirling (2005) are a few of the program’s celebrity faces. prepare young women for success in life after high school. Distinguished Young Women is proud to have helped these Many skills that help individuals be successful—how to women on their road to success and is equally proud of the conduct a business interview, believing that your opinions are thousands of other past participants who have achieved worthy of recognition and how to speak with confidence and success through a vast number of careers, such as Dr. Linda effectively convey your thoughts—are not taught in school. Rutledge Delbridge (1973), vice-president at IBM; Marlo Our Life Skills Workshops begin this education. Plus, to ensure Graves (1990), Shuttle Integration Group Engineer for Boeing; the greatest impact possible, participation in our program is pediatrician Dr. Susan Davidson (1998); and Sruthi Palaniappan always free, allowing young women of all backgrounds to be (2016), the youngest delegate to the 2016 Democratic able to reap the benefits of participation. National Convention and student body President at Harvard. Distinguished Young Women is proud to be the oldest and Distinguished Young Women continues because of the largest scholarship program in the nation for college-bound hard work and dedication of more than 10,000 volunteers high school senior girls. Since 1958, the program has awarded throughout the nation. These individuals devote countless more than $112 million in cash scholarships at local, state, hours to planning, funding and executing local, state and and national programs. In addition to cash scholarships, national programs. A board of directors including civic, Distinguished Young Women participants are eligible for business and professional leaders governs the national college-granted scholarships from over 100 colleges and nonprofit corporation. These volunteers are committed to universities across the country. Almost $1 billion in college providing opportunities to young women who have achieved scholarship opportunities were provided to the Class of 2020, excellence in their high school careers. Thanks to dedicated some of which included full tuition plus room and board. Many volunteers and support from the Mobile community, participants leave the program with scholarships, but all walk Distinguished Young Women continues to impact the lives of away from the experience with life skills to help them interview thousands of young women across the country. for jobs, develop healthy relationships and have increased confidence. LEFT TO RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM: 1. Phyllis Whitenack (WV) was the first national representative in 1958. 2. The Class of 1963 takes part in the Youth Fitness. In the center is Diane Sawyer, Kentucky and America’s Junior Miss for that year. 3. The Tonight Show’s Ed McMahon served as host of the program in 1980. 4. Kim Smith (NC) was the first America’s Junior Miss to receive a medallion instead of a crown in 1981. 5. Tyrenda Williams, America’s Junior Miss for 1997, spreads the message of the Be Your Best Self. 6. The Class of 2001 Has Beens perform. 7. Madison Leonard of Idaho was named the first Distinguished Young Women of America in 2010. 8. A participant in the local Charleston County (SC) program takes part in a Life Skills Workshop in 2015. The Distinguished Alumnae is a sisterhood of more than 775,000 women who have participated in Distinguished Young Women or Junior Miss programs at any level—local, state or national—since the program’s origin. They are passionate about this program! HOW TO STAY INVOLVED JOIN US ON FACEBOOK In February 2019, the Distinguished Network launched providing an online space for alumnae of all ages to network and connect. Join the private Facebook page by searching “The Distinguished Network.” JOIN US IN PERSON Past participants stay connected through newsletters, alumnae clubs, volunteering and social media. We currently have Alumnae Clubs in Atlanta, the Bay Area, Boston, Mobile, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia and Washington DC. Alumnae can receive information about getting connected by emailing [email protected]. After a fully digital 2020 National Finals program, we’ve seen it all! The message and impact of Distinguished Young Women CAN be spread, no matter the circumstances.