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The Escambia County Distinguished Young Women program held their finale event for the 2022 title Saturday night in Flomaton.

Sydney Aaron, daughter of Jerry and Stacy Aaron, was the title winner in the event. Taking honors in several categories, the W.S. Neal High School Student will now represent the county in the state DYW program in June 2022.

Sarah Hartley, a student at T.R. Miller High School, was named first alternate.

Madison Lambeth, a student at Flomaton High School, was named second alternate.

The program this year also gave contestants from the 2021 program a chance to be on stage.

Olivia Blackmon, 2021 DYW for Escambia County, joined this years contestants on stage in several performances.

Also performing on stage was Hannah Mallory, the 2021 DYW talent winner.

Board of Directors are Suzanne Barnett and Molly Barnett – chairwomen; Tara Johns – scholastics chairwoman; Ann Nichols – choreography; Debra Nix, tabulator; Claude Nix Jr – judges chairman; Maggie Rowell – community outreach and correspondence; and Claudeete Nix, Sonya Ellis, Morgan Moorer and Danda Rowell – stage managers.

Each contestant chose a “Little Sister” for assistance during the program offering them the opportunity to get a first-hand look at the DYW program in Escambia County.

Lauren Thompson was the little sister for Sarah Hartley, Harley Wilson was the little sister for Sydney Aaron and Courtney Cannon was little sister for Madison Lambeth.

Judges for this year’s program were former Junior Miss/DYW winners. Those judges were Janice Turner Smith – 1965 winner; Cile Smith Byrd – 1999 winner; Rachel Ellis Lindell – 2007 winner; and Caitlyn Luttrell Grimme – 2008 winner.

Distinguished Young Women is a national scholarship program that inspires high school girls to develop their full, individual potential through a fun, transformative experience that culminates in a celebratory showcase of their accomplisments. the program has provided life-changing experiences for more than 780,000 young women and more than $116 million in cash scholarships have been awarded at local, state and national levels combined.