Participants

Distinguished Young Women participants come from all walks of life, but they have one common characteristic: the desire to succeed. Each young woman receives valuable life experience through participation in the program including relationship skills, self-confidence, and a sense of achievement. The goal of Distinguished Young Women is to ensure that everyone who participates in the program at any level has an enjoyable and memorable experience.

Below is a list of participants for the upcoming 2014 Distinguished Young Women of South Carolina program. Want to participate? Apply now!



Michelle Troup

Distinguished Young Woman of Anderson County

Parents: Earl & Lisa Troup
College Preference: University of Georgia
Career Goals: Medicine
Talent: Piano Solo (Solfeggietto, by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach)

Payton Burgess

Distinguished Young Woman of Blacksburg

Parents: Joe & Nikki Vance
College Preference: University of South Carolina
Career Goals: Dentist/5-K Teacher
Talent: Hip Hop Dance (1,2, Step , by Cierra )

Jenna-Grace Singleton

Distinguished Young Woman of Conway

Parents: Royce & Karen Singleton
College Preference: Clemson University
Career Goals: Speech Pathologist in Elementary Schools
Talent: Vocal Solo (Gold, by Britt Nicole)

Cara Pugh

Distinguished Young Woman of East Charleston

Parents: Willis & Charlisa Pugh
College Preference: Vanderbilt University/ Furman University
Career Goals: Law/ Medical Field/ Communications
Talent: Dramatic Vocal Presentation (On My Own, by Les Miserables )

MaryAnn Huff

Distinguished Young Woman of Gaffney

Lucy Stevens

Distinguished Young Woman of Greenwood City

Parents: Walter & Margaret Stevens
College Preference: Clemson, Furman, Wofford
Career Goals: Physical Therapy, Physicians Assistant
Talent: Tap Dance (Jai Ho, by A.R. Rahman)

Virginia Forrester

Distinguished Young Woman of Greenwood County

Parents: Harrison & Stacey Forrester
College Preference: Vanderbilt University, USC, Clemson
Career Goals: Communications Journalism
Talent: Ballroom Jazz (Conga/ Rhythm is Gonna Get You mashup , by Gloria Estefan)

Allison Bratcher

Distinguished Young Woman of Horry County

Parents: William & Sandra Bratcher
College Preference: Charleston Southern University
Career Goals: Major Music Therapy, Minor Special Education
Talent: Vocal Solo ("Almost There" from The Princess and the Frog, by Composed by Randy Newman)

Caroline Neeves

Distinguished Young Woman of Myrtle Beach

Parents: Steven & Whitney Neeves
College Preference: Anderson University
Career Goals: Performance Career
Talent: Tap Dance ("Trashin' the Camp" by N'sync & Phil Collins, by Choreographed by Laura Branfuhr)

Olivia Oates

Distinguished Young Woman of North Aiken County

Parents: Kenneth & Sharon Oates
College Preference: University of South Carolina
Career Goals: Broadcast Journalism
Talent: Vocal Presentation (soft pop) (Thousand Years, by Christina Perri)

Caitlyn Anderson

Distinguished Young Woman of North Charleston

Parents: Connie Kersey
College Preference: Columbia College, Winthrop, or USC
Career Goals: Dance Education, Nursing, or Business
Talent: Contemporary/Jazz Dance (Radioactive, by Imagine Dragons)

Tressa Lawley

Distinguished Young Woman of North Dorchester

Parents: Stanley & Sandy Lawley
College Preference: College of Charleston/University of South Carolina
Career Goals: Career in International Business

Lauren Williams

Distinguished Young Woman of North Edgefield

Parents: Brian & Donna Williams
College Preference: University of South Carolina
Career Goals: Pharmacy
Talent: Piano Solo (Medley of "When I Look at You" and "Solfeggietto", by Miley Cyrus and C.P.E. Bach)

Shannon Mahoney

Distinguished Young Woman of North Lexington

College Preference: University of South Carolina
Career Goals: Elementary Education/ Spanish
Talent: Vocal Presentation (Classical) (Danza, danza, by Francesco Durante)

Peyton Beane

Distinguished Young Woman of Pickens County

Parents: Scott Beane & Cresada Buchanan-Beane
College Preference: NC State University
Career Goals: Middle School Science Teacher/ Masters
Talent: Vocal Presentation (Once Upon A Dream, by Frank Wildhorn)

Mary Catherine Keith

Distinguished Young Woman of Richland County

Parents: Roy & Monica Keith
College Preference: Anderson University
Career Goals: P.A or Neonatal Nursing
Talent: Violin

Allison Burrell

Distinguished Young Woman of South Aiken County

Parents: Charles & Alisa Burrell
College Preference: Vanderbilt, Univ. of SC, Clemson, Auburn
Career Goals: Medicine
Talent: Jazz Dance (Everlasting Love, by Gloria Estefan)

Angie Weeks

Distinguished Young Woman of South Dorchester

Parents: Paul & Theresa Weeks
College Preference: University of South Carolina
Career Goals: to become a Pharmacist
Talent: Clarinet (Stachaser by Andrew Balent)

Kalei Bowser

Distinguished Young Woman of South Edgefield

Parents: Scott & Angela Bowser
College Preference: Anderson University
Career Goals: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Talent: Clog Dance Routine (Who I Am by Jessica Andrews, by Mamie McAbee and Kalei Bowser)

Sierra Putnam

Distinguished Young Woman of South Lexington

Parents: Monty Putnam & Kellie Putnam-Miller
College Preference: University of Pennsylvania, Duke, Vanderbilt
Career Goals: Biomedical researcher
Talent: Vocal presentation of a poem memorized (The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost )

Hazel Hudson

Distinguished Young Woman of Sumter County

Parents: Steven & Meri Hudson
College Preference: Clemson University, University of South Carolina
Career Goals: medicine
Talent: Vocal (Like My Mother Does, by Lauren Alaina)

Dylan Thorp

Distinguished Young Woman of West Charleston

Parents: John Thorp & Cindy Hubbard
College Preference: Wofford College- Biology/Pre-Med Studies
Career Goals: Neurosurgeon
Talent: Gymnastics (Elements, by electric violinist Lindsey Stirling)