Chilton County High School senior Hope Short was selected as the 2015 Chilton County Distinguished Young Woman on July 12.

Short will now represent Chilton County in the state competition in January 2015, which will be held in Montgomery.

“I was very surprised to hear that I won,” Short said. “Although I was surprised, I was very grateful for it.”

The 58-year-old program is a national scholarship program that encourages high school seniors to develop their full potential.

“The program is great because it provides you with scholarship money for college,” Short said. “You get to have a great time and make new friends while earning money for college.”

This year’s program had five contestants from Chilton County who participated in a talent portion, a physical fitness portion, an interview and self-expression.

During the self-expression portion, judges evaluated each contestant on grace, poise, demeanor, carriage, posture and speaking ability.

The girls were also given 20 seconds to answer an on-stage question.

Although Short said it was nerve-wracking knowing she had to answer a question on stage in front of the audience, she tried to go over her answer to the question each day leading up to the program.

“We knew ahead of time what question we would be asked, so I just practiced giving my answer throughout the week,” Short said.

According to the DYW website, the first America’s Junior Miss program was held in Mobile in 1958 with representatives from 18 states.

“It was a modest beginning with the contestants, orchestra and stage crew outnumbering the audience,” the website states.

However, supporters from the local community provided $10,000 in cash scholarships to the contestants.

Throughout the years, America’s Junior Miss has attracted celebrities including Diane Sawyer, Deborah Norville and Debra Messing.

In the spring of 2010, it was decided that America’s Junior Miss would receive a “facelift” to maintain relevancy with today’s young woman and to help in attracting new support for the program.

In 2010, the program was changed from Junior Miss to Distinguished Young Women.

Short said she wanted to participate in DYW due to the possibility of earning scholarship money for college.

“I loved everything about my experience,” Short said. “I am thankful for all of the support that I have had for the experience. It was just a lot of fun.”

Although Short said she is still undecided as to where she will attend college in 2015, she is interested in Birmingham Southern College.

Short was awarded $2,100 in scholarships during the program on Saturday, which was held at Chilton County High School.

Short is the daughter of Kimberly Rhodes and Kenny Short.

For more information about next year’s program, contact Chilton@distinguishedyw.org.