By Haley Mitchell Godwin

Young women from across Alabama gathered in Montgomery last week to compete for the prestigious title of Distinguished Young Woman (DYW) of Alabama. Jessica Bodiford, daughter of Lee Don and Jocelyn Bodiford, proudly represented Crenshaw County in the competition. 

Highland Home School counselor Cody Walters commended Bodiford for her dedication and passion.

“Jessica represented our community with incredible poise, dedication, and talent,” Walters said. “She exemplifies the qualities that DYW stands for, and her hard work and commitment truly shines.”

The 43 contestants arrived at Frazer Church on Jan. 19 for a week of intensive preparations leading up to the competition. Preliminaries took place on Friday with the finals held Saturday.

Though her journey ended at the state level, Bodiford was awarded a $1,500 cash scholarship, along with a full-tuition scholarship to Lurleen B. Wallace (LBW) Community College valued at $3,000 for her success at the county level. 

Her achievements earned her a place in the state program, where she competed for additional scholarship opportunities and the statewide title. In honor of her accomplishments, a send-off celebration was hosted on Jan. 8 at the Crenshaw County Cultural Center in Luverne, where community members gathered to celebrate her achievements and extend their support.

The DYW program, a national scholarship initiative, emphasizes leadership, talent and academic excellence. Throughout the week, contestants participated in a variety of activities across the capital city including a luncheon at the Cattleman’s Association. Representatives from Troy University engaged with participants during a presentation given Friday, emphasizing the importance of dedication to academics and active involvement. 

Dr. KeLeigh Pritchett shared insights from her own academic journey and encouraged each participant to strive for the goals they set for themselves. 

Bodiford, who aspires to a career in the medical field, expressed her gratitude for the opportunities provided by the Distinguished Young Women program.

“First off, I would like to thank Emily Anne Morgan for all that she does for DYW,” Bodiford said. “Without her, there would be no Crenshaw County DYW and this great opportunity would not exist. Also, I would like to thank all our sponsors for keeping the program going.”

As Crenshaw County’s Distinguished Young Woman, Bodiford actively engaged in community service initiatives. She distributed literacy bags to students throughout the county, served as an ambassador for the Governor’s Candlelight Tour, and participated in various initiatives focused on fostering leadership and education.

The annual scholarship competition not only rewards academic and talent-based achievements but also fosters lifelong friendships, scholarship opportunities for higher education and personal growth through DYW Life Skills Workshops.

Mobile County’s representative, Shayla Holloway, was named Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama and will now prepare to represent the state at the national finals in Mobile this June.

Distinguished Young Women, formerly known as America’s Junior Miss, was founded in 1958 and remains the oldest and largest national nonprofit dedicated to providing scholarship opportunities to high school senior girls. For more information, visit https://distinguishedyw.org/alabama. 

Photos courtesy of DYW