The Triton Distinguished Young Woman Board of Directors is proud to announce the seven young ladies who will vie to become the 53rd Distinguished Young Woman of Triton. Tickets to the scholarship program, to be held on Saturday, October 8, 2016, can be purchased from the contestants or at the door for $6. Triton’s Performing Arts Center will open at 6:30pm with the program starting at 7:00.
The 2016 contestants are:
Contestant #1
Katie Ann Hepler is the daughter of Devon and Dawn Hepler of Bourbon. Katie plans to attend Purdue University to pursue a career as an athletic trainer. Her activities include FFA President, NHS President, Science Club, Spirit Club, Senior Leadership, KYLA, 4H, Art Club, volleyball, and track. She has volunteered her time by packing food for Feed my Starving Children, helping with the school blood drive, participating in Operation Christmas Child through FFA, and serving in her church’s nursery. Other interests include taking care of her 4H show animals on her family’s farm, staying fit for pole vaulting season, and watching movies with family and friends. Katie will be performing a yogance routine to Good Feeling for her talent.
Contestant #2
Raney Michelle Sinkey is the daughter of Shelli Dickson of Warsaw. She plans to to become a certified personal trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Her activities have included SAD, Trojan Readers, youth group, cheer squad, and tennis. She enjoys staying fit by wake surfing, wake boarding and helping those that are not physically able. Other interests include singing, shopping, reading, writing, traveling, and painting. Raney will be dancing to Baby One More Time for her talent.
Contestant #3
Lexie Rae Albright is the daughter of Jamie Albright of Plymouth and Lorie Albright of Bourbon. Her future plans are to attend Kennesaw State University to study elementary education and work as a dance instructor at a local studio. Her activities include Senior Leadership, FFA, Fellowship of Christian Students, Spanish Club, attending Plymouth Community Church, and interning as a vocational teacher at Triton Elementary. She has volunteered her time at the Plymouth Neighborhood Center, Operation Christmas Child, FFA Toy Show, and through Student Council. In her spare time she enjoys learning new skills in dance, playing rugby, reading famous quotes, attending concerts with family and friends, and discovering new music. Lexie will perform a contemporary dance to Read All About It for her talent.
Contestant #4
Hannah Christine Woodard is the daughter of Calvin and Beth Woodard of Etna Green. Her future plans are to attend Ball State to pursue a degree in zoology. Her activities include NHS, Hoosier Girls State, KYLA, Senior Leadership, Spanish Club, Science Club, DECA, Spirit Club, prom committee, and softball. She has volunteered her time by calling bingo at the Bourbon Senior Living Center, collecting pajamas for the Warsaw Foster Care Foundation, packing food for Feed My Starving Children, and serving meals at the Plymouth Heminger House. She enjoys spending time with family and friends at concerts, shopping malls, beaches, and softball games. Hannah will perform a dance to a mix of hit songs for her talent.
Contestant #5
Kaylene Mae Slabaugh is the daughter of Dennis and Anna Slabaugh of Bourbon. Her future plans are to attend a local college to pursue a nursing degree. Her activities include FFA, Fellowship of Christian Students, Trojan Readers, church youth group, tennis, and wrestling manager. She has volunteered her time by traveling on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, providing after school tutoring, childcare, and helping serve concessions at school athletic events. She also enjoys reading, traveling, attending church, playing and watching sports with family and friends. Kaylene will perform a puppet skit to Follow The Yellow Brick Road/We’re Off To See The Wizard for her talent.
Contestant #6
Michaela Best is the daughter of Jonah and Monica Best of Bourbon. Her future plans are to receive her cosmetology license and further her education by obtaining a business degree in hopes of opening her own salon. Her activities have included KYLA, Key Club, Spanish Club, Art Club, church, cross country, and track. She has volunteered her time by running her churches sound board, helping in the school office, being involved in Triton’s Cub Scout Pack, being a camp counselor at Cub Scout day camp, packing food for Feed My Starving Children, and collecting items for the local food pantry. She also enjoys riding dirt bikes and four wheelers with family, relaxing to music, spending time with her dog, and performing in plays. Michaela will be singing for her talent.
Contestant #7
Siera Sauer is the daughter of David Sauer of Bourbon and MaryAnn Senff of Etna Green. She plans to attend Indiana University to pursue a nursing degree. Her activities include NHS, Fellowship of Christian Students, Yearbook, Art Club, Spirit Club, volleyball, and tennis. She has volunteered her time by traveling on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, helping with Blessings in a Backpack, collecting items for the Letter Carrier’s Food Drive, and helping serve concessions at school athletic events. She also enjoys her internship at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, helping with church activities, mission work, hiking, and playing tennis. Siera will be signing What Makes You Beautiful for her talent.
Since it’s beginning, Junior Miss, now known as Distinguished Young Women, has awarded high school seniors scholarships for their academic and on stage performances. Each contestant is judged in five categories: scholastic achievement, talent, interview, fitness, and self-expression. Before the show a third party tallies each contestants scholastic score based on their GPA, SAT, and level of class difficulty. The day of the show a panel of judges will spend 10 minutes conducting a personal interview with each contestant. During the show the audience is able to enjoy the 90-second talents, fitness routine, and self-expression portion of judging.
After all the scores have been tallied during a short intermission, the Triton DYW Board along with numerous local sponsors will award $3,700 in scholarships. Preliminary awards include scholastic achievement, fitness, self-expression, talent, Spirit of Junior Miss, and for the first time an interview award that will honor our late, long time chairman, and the 1975 DYW of Triton, Mrs. Tammy (McIntyre) Sauer. A special presentation will also be made to honor Sauer, the 1969 DYW of Triton Mrs. Cynthia Ann (Askins) Keller, and the 2013 DYW of Triton Miss Breanna Sue Lemler all who passed since the 2016 program. Triton’s 2016 DYW, Alexis Miller, will return to perform a talent, take a final walk, and announce the 2017 winner.
The winner of Triton’s DYW will join other senior girls from across the state to compete for Indiana’s Distinguished Young Women in Kokomo the week of February 12, 2017. The journey will continue for the winner of the state competition at the 60th annual America’s Distinguished Young Women Finals in Mobile, Alabama on June 29, 30 and July 1, 2017. National sponsors include Mobile County, City of Mobile, Wintzell’s Oyster House, Alabama Power Foundation, Master Boat Builders, Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Encore Rehabilitation, Regions Financial Corporation, the State of Alabama Tourism Department and Alabama RC&D Council. For more information about Distinguished Young Women, visit www.DistinguishedYW.org. Follow Distinguished Young Women on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Founded in 1958 in Mobile, Alabama, Distinguished Young Women is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls. During its 59 years of operation, the program has provided life-changing experiences for more than 745,000 young women. Last year, Distinguished Young Women provided more than $1.1 billion in cash and college scholarship opportunities to program participants at the local, state and national level. Previously known as America’s Junior Miss, the program announced its new name in June 2010. The mission of Distinguished Young Women is to positively impact the lives of young women by providing a transformative experience that promotes and rewards scholarship, leadership and talent.
Triton Junior Miss Board: Kristen Younis (co-chair), Whitney Ballinger (co-chair), Kevin Boyer, Reed Monesmith, Orion Lemler, and Kayleigh Andrews
