NEWS RELEASE

Edie Clark, a senior at Boyle County High School, was named the Distinguished Young Woman of Boyle County for 2023 on Aug. 13 at Danville High School. She is the daughter of Josh and Lori-Anne Clark. Edie competed with nine other participants from both Danville and Boyle County high schools in the areas of Scholastics (25%), Interview (25%), Talent (20%), Self Expression (15%) and Fitness (15%).

The participants were awarded a total of over $22,000 in cash scholarships to be used at the college of their choice. Clark earned a total of $7,300, which included a talent award for singing “Wide Open Spaces” by “The Chicks” while accompanying herself on guitar. She will represent Boyle County at the State DYW program on Jan. 13-14, which will take place at The Singletary Center for Performing Arts on UK’s campus.

The program, formerly known as Junior Miss, is in its second year in Boyle County and is led by director Donna Majors and assistant director Jessie Majors. Previous representatives had to qualify for state through an At Large program but now that Boyle County has a local program, a representative will be chosen each year. Sign ups will be in the spring for next year’s class and are open to all junior girls living in Boyle County.

Awards for the Class of 2023 included:

• Edie Clark: DYW of Boyle County-$5,500,Overall Scholastics-$400, Overall Talent- $400, Overall Interview-$400, Self Expression Runner Up-$300, Spirit of DYW-$300

• Carly Durham: 1st Runner Up-$4,000, Overall Self Expression-$400, Interview Runner Up $300, Scholastics Runner Up-$300

• Mia Stivers: 2nd Runner Up-$3,000, Fitness Runner Up-$300, Talent Runner Up-$300, Spirit of DYW-$300

• Macey Grace Terrell: 3rd Runner Up-$2,000

• Cameron White: 4th Runner Up-$1,000

• Alex King: All Heart Award-$300

• Emma Baum: All heart Award-$300

• Maggie Smith: Character Counts Award-$1,500, Spirit of DYW-$300

• Anna Pruyear: Overall Fitness-$400, Spirit of DYW-$300, Friends and Family, 2nd Place-$300

• Taylor Warren: Friends and Family, 1st place- $400

The DYW program weighs heavily on scholastic achievement, leadership and talent as well as community service and mentoring to younger students through the Be Your Best Self program.

Each participant invited an elementary-age girl to participate in the self-expression portion of the program as well as to be involved in an onstage ”Big Sister, Little Sister” dance. The “ Little Sisters” participating in the program this year were: Emma Fields, daughter of Julie and Brad Fields; Hadley Phillips, daughter of Dustin and Amber Phillips; Harper Parrett, daughter of Jessica Barnes and Nathan Parrett; Ella Holt, daughter of Heather and Jimmy Holt; Simms Dedman, daughter of Dixon and Elizabeth Dedman; Annabelle Grigson, daughter of David and Kelly Grigson; Emily Elizabeth Thornberry, daughter of Frank and Melanie Thornberry; Kate Cooper, daughter of Keith and Robin Cooper; Austyn Sawtelle-daughter of Kelly and Jonathan Sawtelle; Kaitlin Griffith, daughter of Kelly and Anne Griffith. Little Sisters that were unable to participate in the Saturday night program were Addie Mae Riley, daughter of Christeen and Jason Riley;and Lydia Bartleson, daughter of Jennifer Hawn and Chad Bartleson.