Patel will compete in the finals in Alabama.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: Earlier this year, Neerja Patel was named the 2015 Distinguished Young Woman of Vermont. Come June 25, the graduate of South Burlington High School will get the chance to compete for the title of Distinguished Young Woman of America and a share of $150,000 in scholarships at the 58th National Finals in Mobile, Alabama.
Last year the program — which is the largest and oldest scholarship program for high school girls and was previously known as America’s Junior Miss — provided more than $400 million in cash and college scholarship opportunities to participants at the local, state and national level, according to Burlington Free Press.
Patel, an Indian American, will be subjected to five categories of evaluation, including scholastics, interview, fitness, talent, and self-expression, according to a news release issued June 10.
The winner of the competition, which is to be held at the Mobile Civic Center Theatre, will spend the next year traversing the country representing Distinguished Young Women through various appearances and promoting the program’s national outreach initiative, “Be Your Best Self” — a program designed to address major issues facing children today such as obesity and high school dropout rates.
Young people who agree to accept the Be Your Best Self challenge complete pledge cards as a personal commitment to live by the program’s five principals.
“Be healthy, be involved, be studious, be ambitious and be responsible are the five elements that help define what it truly means to Be Your Best Self and are the principles upon which the outreach program is based,” according to an official statement from Distinguished Young Women made in April.