Ashley Parker was named the 2013 Distinguished Young Woman of Chilton County on July 14.

Parker was one of six rising high school seniors in Chilton County who competed in this year’s program for scholarship money and the chance to be DYW’s local representative for a year.

Parker also won the scholastic, talent and physical fitness portions of the program.

Other winners were: Kelly Nord, Spirit of DYW; Lexi Tippett, interview; Kandice Cleckler, self-expression; Lexi Tippett, second alternate; and Kandice Cleckler, first alternate.

“It was fantastic,” said Leslee Deavers, Chilton County chairwoman of DYW. “We had more participants overall. That was our biggest thing this year.”

Deavers described the program entertainment as “fantastic,” too, with a routine by Chilton Dance and Twirl and singing by Maddie Barrington, Selena Price and Kalee Culpepper.

“We hope for it to grow every year hereafter,” Deavers said of the program. “We would like to encourage girls to go ahead and prepare for next year. We’re already preparing for next year.”

Formerly America’s Junior Miss, DYW is a national scholarship program – held for more than 50 years – that fosters scholastics, physical fitness, leadership, self-expression and communication skills.

Girls who will be high school seniors in 2013 and graduating in 2014 can sign up online to compete in the 2014 program, which will be the second Saturday in July.

For more information about the Distinguished Young Women Program, email chilton@distinguishedyw.org or visit distinguishedyw.org.