Dora Guo Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2019
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DORA GUO DISTINGUISHED YOUNG WOMAN OF AMERICA FOR 2019 ILLINOIS’ DORA GUO WAS NAMED THE DISTINGUISHED FUN FACTS: YOUNG WOMAN OF AMERICA FOR 2019, DURING THE 62ND NATIONAL FINALS IN MOBILE, ALABAMA. • She is a first-generation Chinese American. Dora’s parents both immigrated to the United States and met Dora attended Adlai E. Stevenson High School. Her in the northern-Chicago area, where they then raised academic honors include Gold Honor Roll, National Honor Dora and her two siblings. Society, the Ambassador Award for Volunteer Service and the Chinese-American Association in Greater Chicago Youth • Dora has competed twice at the Overseas Taoli Cup, an Leadership Award. international version of the World Taoli Cup, where she Outside of the classroom, Dora is a leader among her peers. has been able to meet other Chinese folk dancers from all over the world. She is a passionate activist for change and acceptance. Dora was the President of Catalyst, a substance abuse prevention • Dora loves PanAsian cuisine and one day hopes to “eat club at her school, and an instrumental member of Fostering her way through Asia.” Intercultural Respect and Empowerment, or F.I.R.E., a racial advocacy group which was developed in order to being • Through her involvement in Catalyst, Dora was able to more awareness to the conversation of race in education. help pass the Tobacco 21 bill in Illinois. Her legislative work addressed the vaping epidemic in high schools. Dora has been trained in ballet and Chinese folk dance since the age of twelve. She developed her love for Chinese • Dora thinks social media can be used as a force for dance through a cultural dance studio close to her home. good! “People are always talking... whether that She enjoys the difficulty of Chinese folk dance, which has be memes and dance moves or social issues, the brought her to international competitions. connections are everywhere.” In the fall, Dora will attend Yale University with plans to • Things that never fail to make Dora laugh: the DYW pursue a career in educational administration. She plans chaperone “Moms,” Key & Peele and her friends to one day be involved in change and transparency in quoting Vines. education in order to truly “flip the switch” on how our current system works. • What inspires Dora? “Right now it is most definitely Winning more than $32,000 in cash scholarships and a gold the 49 other state medallion, Dora will represent the Class of 2019 as the representatives who Distinguished Young Woman of America during this year. stood beside me.” LEFT TO RIGHT: Dora having fun at the 70’s-themed Girl Scout Party; in the fitness routine; performing her talent, a traditional Chinese fan dance; at Bellingrath Gardens; enjoying the Saucy Q’s Rib Eating Contest; accepting her finalist award from Barbara Barrington Jones. NATIONAL SPONSORS 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. SPONSORS STATES CLUB SPIRIT CLUB CLUB 100 Club 100 is a community of alumnae who e businesses and individuals in the States e businesses and individuals in the Spirit invest $1,000 or more each year to build Club sponsor a state’s representative during Club sponsor a state’s representative during a solid foundation for the program. Our National Finals. e members of this elite National Finals. Members of this group goal is to nd 100 alumnae who share our group have graciously contributed $5,000 have generously contributed $2,500 and we mission. Want to learn more about the club each. We appreciate their nancial support appreciate their support. and the benets of membership? and their dedication to the success of this AJM Scholarship Foundation Board Contact Kendra at program. Wellington and Bonnie Coffeen [email protected]. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Distinguished Young Women State Lisa and Mark Burnette Programs Tim & Shigeko Bork Captain Teresa Elders Foundation Harbor Communications in honor of their daughter Skye, 2017 Cisco and Pamela Codina Hargrove Engineers + Constructors Andrea Plummer Guardenier, 1996 Delaney Development, Inc. McKinney Petroleum Equipment Alex Grady, 2014 Distinguished Young Women Past Thompson Engineering, Inc. Marsha Grady, 1982 Presidents Ashley Halfman Hopp, 1993 EGM Kendra Haskins, 1991 Dee and Jim Gambill in memory of Bruce Triftshauser Marsha Grady and Alex Grady Lisa Lawley Burnette, 1987 Joy and Jimmy Grodnick Nicole Orr, 1991 The Hearin-Chandler Foundation Aimee E. Parker, O.D., 1999 The Howard Wealth Management Amanda (Biles) Reeves, 1995 Group of Stifel in honor of the Class of 1995 Phil and Liz Kaiser Pamela & Victor Renard Kristen Amy McElhaney and Jared Irby in honor of their daughter Nicole, 2013 Arlene Mitchell Pauline Ryan, 1984 Mobile County Commission in memory of Joan Bruno, former Pam and Eric Patterson New Jersey State Chairman Norvelle and Teresa Smith Maureen Sullivan Collins, 1960 Maureen Sullivan Collins LEFT TO RIGHT: States Club Sponsor Marsha Grady with her state representatives Rachel Jakovac (MT) and Grace Zhang (AZ); Joy Mitchell Grodnick and Arlene Mitchell with their state representatives Dora Guo (IL), Esofi Nunyi (ND) and Carsyn Leigh Barbary (SC); and Paul Klotz of Thompson Engineering enjoys getting to know the Class of 2019. BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT PAST PRESIDENT CLAY OMAINSKY BETH THOMAS PHIL KAISER Wintzell’s Oyster House Alabama Power Company Retired, Gayfers/Maison Blanche ROBERT REEVES VP OPERATIONS/GOVERNANCE PAST PRESIDENT State Chair Representative MICHON TRENT PAUL KLOTZ City of Mobile Thompson Engineering PAULINE RYAN Verik Bio, Red Sky Partners VP FINANCE LEIGH KNOSHER JOHN N. FERGUSON Wilkins Miller EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Wells Fargo Advisors PENNEY SMITH KATHY LATTA VP MARKETING CREATH TOWNSEND FRANCISCO CODINA PAST PRESIDENT Retired, Ford Motor Co/Dealer Tire FAYE OLENSKY DAVID TURNER WALA Fox 10 BancorpSouth SECRETARY DEANNA GRAHAM MAGGIE E. OLIVER T. BRAGG VAN ANTWERP JR. Evonik Corporation Mobile Chamber of Commerce Mitchell McLeod Pugh & Williams, Inc. LAUREN BARKIN BARBARA BARRINGTON JONES Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation ROB DIEHL Trustmark Bank MARSHA GRADY Alph Chi Omega Foundation, Inc. PAST PRESIDENT JOY GRODNICK ASHLEY HALFMAN HOPP Printpack, Inc. PAT HEGWOOD SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION PRESIDENT ROBERT CAMPBELL PHIL KAISER ERIC PATTERSON Lamar Advertising Company Retired, Gayfers/Maison Blanche Retired, Alabama Power Company Established soon JEFF HOWARD FORREST LATTA after the program, VICE PRESIDENT The Howard Wealth Management Burr Forman the Foundation KENNY CROW Group of Stifel oversees the Crow, Shields & Bailey PC distribution of most TOM CLEMENT scholarships at RUSTY ALLMAN Summer Classics all 3 levels. Retired, ServisFirst Bank DISTINGUISHED ALUMNAE The Distinguished Alumnae is a sisterhood of more than 770,000 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 and updates, alumnae reunions and clubs, volunteering and social media. We currently have Alumnae Clubs in Atlanta, the Bay Area, Boston, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia and Washington DC. Alumnae can receive information about getting connected by emailing [email protected]. PROGRAM HISTORY Distinguished Young Women was founded in 1958 by the Distinguished Young Women is proud to be the oldest and Mobile (AL) Jaycees as an outgrowth of its popular Azalea largest scholarship program in the nation for college-bound Trail Maid program. Originally called America’s Junior Miss, high school senior girls. Since 1958, the program has awarded Distinguished Young Women was created as a way to meet the more than $110 million in cash scholarships at local, state, and need for higher education scholarships for young women. national programs. To the Class of 2019, Distinguished Young Women has awarded $2 million in cash tuition scholarships at While continuing to address the need for scholarships, the local, state and national levels. Distinguished Young Women also saw an opportunity to help prepare young women for success in life after high school. LEFT TO RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM: 1. Phyllis Whitenack (WV) was the first Many skills that help individuals be successful—how to national representative in 1958. 2. The Class of 1963 takes part in the Youth conduct a business interview, believing that your opinions are 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 worthy of recognition and how to speak with confidence and in 1980. 4. Kim Smith (NC) was the first America’s Junior Miss to receive a effectively convey your thoughts—are not taught in school. medallion instead of a crown in 1981. 5. Tyrenda Williams, America’s Junior Our Life Skills Workshops begin this education. Plus, to ensure Miss for 1997, spreads the message of the Be Your Best Self. 6. The Class of the greatest impact possible, participation in our program is 2001 Has Beens perform. 7. Madison Leonard of Idaho was named the