7 vying for 2018 DYW
Published 12:18 pm Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Emily Rice
Kayden Hatchett
2017 Clark County Distinguished Young Woman Lacee Duncan
Caroline Handshoe
Lyric Campbell
Natalie Keeton
Madison Plowman
Sophie Duncan
The 2018 Distinguished Young Woman of Clark County will be named Friday at George Rogers Clark High School when seven soon-to-be seniors vie for the title.
The DYW program will be at 7 p.m. Friday at George Rogers Clark High School. Tickets can be purchased for $10 today through Thursday at the school from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased the day of the program for $12.
Contestants will compete in five categories, with each accounting for a different percentage of their overall score. Categories include talent, 20 percent; fitness, 15 percent; self-expression, 15 percent; scholastics, 25 percent; and interview 25 percent.
Before the girls step on stage Friday evening, 50 percent of their overall score, from scholastics and interview, will already be established.
They will compete in the fitness, talent and self-expression categories before a panel of five judges and an audience.
The program began as Junior Miss in Clark County in 1977. Since its establishment, it has produced several state award recipients and a national title winner, Michelle Rodgers, in 2009.
Lacee Duncan, the daughter of Brackstan and Tonya Duncan and a recent graduate of George Rogers Clark High School, was named Clark County’s 2017 Distinguished Young Woman at the program last year. Duncan also won individual awards in self-expression and talent, for which she performed a baseball-themed clogging routine. She competed in the state program in January.
This year’s contestants include:
— Kayden Grace Hatchett is the daughter of Tim Hatchett and Melissa Hatchett. Sara Johnson will act as her big sister and Elizabeth Coates will be her little sister. She will perform piano and vocal for her talent. Her honors and activities include 2017 Governor’s Scholar, Youth Salute, youth group mission trips, homeless shelter service, Beta Club, Cardinal Nets, Student Y, hiking and running. She is undecided on her college but plans to pursue a career as a pediatric physician’s assistant.
— Lyric Jade Campbell is the daughter of Stephen and Laura Campbell. Brittnee Franklin will act as her big sister and Taytum Mastin will be her little sister. She will clog for her talent. Her honors and activities include Youth Salute, three time National Champion clogger, Cardinal Nets, contestant on America’s Got Talent, BCTC movie night volunteer, Justice Elementary School New Beginnings, Jesus Prom volunteer and missionary work. She plans to attend Eastern Kentucky University and pursue a career as an FBI profiler.
— Natalie Parker Keeton is the daughter of Wayne and Donna Keeton. Breauna Simpson will act as her big sister and Halle Johnson will be her little sister. Her talent will be a vocal performance. Her honors and activities include the gifted/talented program, Youth Salute, honor roll, mentor at Beacon of Hope, Relay for Life, KYA, Cardinal Nets, hiking and running. She plans to attend Eastern Kentucky University and pursue a career as a pharmaceutical sales representative.
— Sophie AnnaBelle Duncan is the daughter of Brackstan and Tonya Duncan. Kacie Underwood will act as her big sister and Octavia AnnaLeigh Duncan will be her little sister. She will clog for her talent. Her honors and activities include Health Occupations Students of America, three-time National Champion clogger, National Honor Society, Young Republicans, Clark County Advisory Council, Clark County Homeless Coalition volunteer, modeling and tutoring. She plans to attend the University of Kentucky and pursue a career in nursing.
— Caroline Elizabeth Handshoe is the daughter of Amy and Ron Handshoe. Delancy Ferrucci will act as her big sister and Janeway Howard will be her little sister. Her talent will be vocal performance. Her honors and activities including National Honor Society, Poetry Out Loud winner, Beta Club, GRC swim team, GRC Green Club, poetry recitation and analysis, Calvary Christian daycare and blood drive donations. She plans to attend George Washington University and pursue a career as a criminal investigator for the FBI.
— Emily Ann Rice is the daughter of Mike and Lindsay Rice. Jan Winburn will act as her big sister and Cooper Moore will be her little sister. She will clog for her talent. Her honors and activities include National Honor Society, three-time National Champion clogger, featured editor of Smoke Signals, dance instructor at Studio One, CCA Youth Leadership Council, Beta Club, EKU NOW program and Bornlearning Academy volunteer. She plans to attend the University of Kentucky and pursue a career in public relations.
— Madison Nicole Plowman is the daughter of Gary and Christina Plowman. Taylor Plowman will act as her big sister and Kinsley Centers will be her little sister. Her talent will be a vocal and drama performance. Her honors and activities include Beta Club, Fine Arts Cohort, Winchester Players Community Theatre, National Honor Society, Talent Search, president of Senior Smiles, Leeds Center for the Arts and Green Club. She plans to attend Transylvania University or New York University and pursue a career as an actor, director and/or fine arts teacher.
About Whitney Leggett
Whitney Leggett is managing editor of The Winchester Sun and Winchester Living magazine. To contact her, email whitney.leggett@winchestersun.com or call 859-759-0049.
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