The Triton Distinguished Young Woman Board of Directors are proud to introduce the seven young ladies who will vie for $4,900 in college scholarships and the opportunity to represent the community as the 57th Distinguished Young Woman of Triton.
Due to restrictions, a limited number of tickets to the October 10th scholarship program are being sold. Tickets are $6 each and can only be purchased in advance from the participants. Mask wearing and social distancing will be enforced in order to comply with school, county, and
state health department guidelines. We are very fortunate to be able to hold a program this year and need everyone attending to comply with health department orders. For those who are unable to attend, there will be a free live stream available at www.tritontrojans.org when the
program starts at 7 pm EDT.
The seven young women competing will be evaluated by a panel of judges in the following categories: Scholastics (25%), Interview (25%), Talent (20%), Fitness (15%), and Self-Expression (15%). The winner of Triton’s DYW will join other high school senior girls from
across the state to compete for Indiana’s Distinguished Young Women in Kokomo. The state competition will be held during the week of February 7, 2021. The journey will continue for the winner of the state competition at the 64th annual America’s Distinguished Young Women. Finals where she will join 51 other representatives from across the country in competing for cash scholarships and the opportunity to represent the program as the Distinguished Young Woman of America.
The 2021 participants are…
#1 – Ivy Powell is the daughter of Melea and Brandon Hoffer of Bourbon. Ivy plans to study optometry at IU Bloomington and become an officer in the United States Air Force. Her activities include Triton FFA Chapter Treasurer, Varsity Cheerleading, 10 year Marshall
County 4-H Member, Varsity Boys’ Basketball Manager, Varsity Tennis, Art Club, Helping Hands Anti-Bullying, Teens As Teachers
Camp Counselor, and Spirit Club. Ivy is currently interning at Bremen Family Eye Care. She has volunteered her time to the American Red
Cross, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the Indiana State Fair Youth Activity Center. In her spare time she enjoys sports, showing
livestock, and participating in FFA. Ivy will be performing a memorial tribute as her on stage talent.
#2 – Jaela Faulkner is the daughter of Justina and Joel Faulkner of Bourbon. Jaela plans to attend Butler University where she will major
in pediatric occupational therapy. Her activities include National Honor Society, Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy, Hoosier Girls State
Delegate, Science Club, Student Council, Prom Committee, Varsity Cheerleading, Varsity Basketball, Varsity Track and Field, and Varsity
Volleyball. She has volunteered her time to Jacob Berger’s Memorial Race, her church’s nursery, Triton Jr. High Robotics Competition,
Feed My Starving Children, and Triton Girls Basketball Camp. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, exercising, attending her church’s
youth group, competitive running, and caring for children. Jaela will be performing a tumbling routine, swing dance mix as her on stage talent.
#3 – Abbey Viers of Tippecanoe is the daughter of Jamey and Don Baker and Brent Viers. Abbey plans to study business management
and interior design at Indiana Wesleyan University. Throughout high school, Abbey has participated in Varsity Volleyball, Varsity
Basketball, Varsity Track, Varsity Softball, Art Club, Spirit Club, Spanish Club, FFA, Marshall County Dairy Judging, and 4-H. She has
volunteered her time to Shop with a Cop, Triton Concessions, Warsaw Community Church, Bre’s Run, and Triton’s Office Staff. In her spare
time, she enjoys horseback riding, dairy judging, 4-H, volleyball, and art. Abbey will be playing the drums to Beyonce’s “Halo” as her on
stage talent.
#4 – Madeline Ritchison is the daughter of Christen and Jason Ritchison of Bourbon. Madeline plans to attend the University of Notre
Dame to study pre-pharmacy or accounting. She has participated in DECA, Spirit Club, National Honor Society, Indiana University Kelley
Business Young Women’s Institute, Senior Squad, Student Council, 4-H, Varsity Golf, Varsity Tennis, and Kosciusko Youth Leadership
Academy. She has volunteered her time to Girls’ Night In, Color Run, Bourbon Public Library, and her church’s nursery and food pantry. In
her spare time, she enjoys sports, taking college courses, reading, cake decorating, being outdoors, and watching movies with her dad.
Madeline will be performing a science experiment as her on stage talent.
#5 – Jaelyn Bules is the daughter of Tina and Jeremy Bules of Bourbon. Jaelyn plans to study nursing at Purdue University. She has
participated in Varsity Basketball, Varsity Volleyball, Varsity Softball, Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy, Spanish Club, Spirit Club, Art
Club, National Honor Society, Student Council, and Fellowship of Christian Students. She has volunteered her time to the Camp Creek
Church of the Brethren, Triton’s Robotic Competition, Triton’s Blood Drive, Feed My Starving Children, and Fort Wayne Lutheran Hospital.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, turkey hunting, sand volleyball, and going on family vacations. Jaelyn will be singing and playing the
piano to Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years” for her on stage talent.
#6 – Hadassah Chupp is the daughter of Heather and Alvin Chupp of Bourbon. Hadassah plans to attend Indiana University South Bend to
become a high school math teacher. She has participated in Yearbook, Student Council, Senior Squad, National Honor Society, Art
Club, Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy, Fellowship of Christian Students, Spirit Club, and represents Triton as a non-voting member
of the Bourbon Town Council. She has also volunteered her time to Memorial Hospital, her church’s nursery, Blue & Gold After School,
and the Triton Robotics Competition. In her spare time, she enjoys caring for her elderly neighbors, crocheting, managing the boys
basketball team, photography, babysitting, teaching, singing, and traveling. Hadassah will be singing and playing the guitar to “Truth I’m
Standing On” by Leanna Crawford” for her on stage talent.
#7 – Haley Carson is the daughter of Kim and Jeff Carson of Etna Green. Haley plans to study elementary education at Grace College or
Cornerstone University. She has participated in Fellowship of Christian Students, Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy, Spanish
Club, Art Club, Spirit Club, Jr. Church Leader, National Honors Society, Bible Memory Ministry, Senior Squad, and Helping Hands.
She has volunteered her time to Project Proud and numerous church service projects. In her spare time, she enjoys coloring, painting,
photography, walking, swinging, raising chickens, and tending to her horses. Haley will be singing Hillsong Worship’s “King of Kings” for her
on stage talent.
Distinguished Women of Triton is a not for profit organization, with 100 percent of ticket sales and donations from the community going towards the scholarship fund and program’s sustaining fees.
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 (25%), interview (25%), talent
(20%), fitness (15%), and self-expression (15%). Prior to the show a third party tallies each contestant’s 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, a 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 $4,900 in scholarships. Preliminary awards include scholastic achievement, fitness, self-expression, talent, Spirit of Junior Miss, and interview.
Triton’s 2020 DYW, Whytnie Miller, will return to perform a talent, share her experience, take a final walk, and announce the 2021 winner.
Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women is a free program that encourages participants to reach their full individual potential. Our mission is to empower young women by providing over $1 billion in scholarship opportunities, developing their self-confidence and participating in our Life Skills Workshops that prepare them for success after high school. National sponsors include Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Mobile County, City of Mobile, Alabama Power Foundation, Master Boat Builders, Encore Rehabilitation, Shoe Station, Gant Travel Management, Wellington and Bonnie Coffeen, Regions Financial Corporation, Jostens and Alabama Media Group.
