Months of practice and preparation culminated Saturday, August 30 with the selection of Allen County-Scottsville High School senior JoyDale Williams as Allen County’s Distinguished Young Woman. Williams is the 52nd young lady to hold the title of Distinguished Young Woman (DYW) or the former program title of Junior Miss.
The DYW program selects an overall titleholder “from a group of winners.” Senior Claire Clay was selected as First Alternate with senior Katelyn Ausbrooks named Second Alternate. Seniors Raelynn Donovan and Addison Law also participated in the scholarship program.
As Allen County’s DYW, Williams earns a $1,000 cash scholarship and her choice of scholarships offered by Campbellsville University ($3,000 per year), Kentucky Wesleyan College ($3,000 per year), Lindsey Wilson ($3,500 per year), or the Galen College of Nursing ($4,000).
Clay receives a $700 cash scholarship and her choice of scholarships---Campbellsville ($2,500 per year), Kentucky Wesleyan ($2,500 per year), and Galen College ($3,000). Ausbrooks was awarded a $500 cash scholarship and her choice of scholarships from Campbellsville ($2,000 per year) or Kentucky Wesleyan ($2,000 per year).
Category award winners included Ausbrooks in the Scholastic area. The award carries with it a $500 cash scholarship and her choice of scholarships from Campbellsville ($3,000 per year), Lindsey Wilson ($3,500 per year), or Galen College ($3,000).
The winner of the Todd Gibbs Memorial Interview Award (sponsored by the Allen County Homemakers) was Clay. She receives a $500 cash scholarship.
The DYW program includes winners in talent, fitness, and self-expression. Williams took first ($400 cash scholarship) with Ausbrooks earning second place ($100 cash scholarship) in talent. Clay was first ($250 cash scholarship) in fitness with Williams second ($100 cash scholarship). Clay placed first in self-expression ($250 cash scholarship) with Donovan second ($100 cash scholarship).
The local DYW also presented the Community Service Award ($100 cash scholarship) to Clay. Williams was selected by her peer participants for the Elmer Bashore Spirit of Junior Miss Award ($250 cash scholarship sponsored by Dell Hall). The Be Your Best Self award (100 cash scholarship sponsored by the Gillenwater family) went to Law.
Lindsey Wilson University also presented $1,000 scholarships to participants who elect to attend their college apart from scholarships also presented to the DYW winner and/or scholastic winner (s).
The Allen County DYW program handed out $4,850 dollars in cash scholarships. The scholarships are made possible through local business, organization, and individual contributors.
Williams is the 17-year old daughter of Robbie and Pam Williams. She will represent Allen County at the 2026 state DYW program in Lexington in January.