Distinguished dame: Caroline Handshoe named Clark County’s 2018 DYW

Published 10:58 am Monday, June 12, 2017

Caroline Handshoe, 17, the daughter of Amy and Ron Handshoe, was named the 2018 Clark County Distinguished Young Woman at the program Friday night.

She was handed the DYW medallion from 2017 Clark County Distinguished Young Woman Lacee Duncan, the daughter of Tonya and Brackstan Duncan and a 2017 graduate of George Rogers Clark High School. 

DYW is a non-profit scholarship program created in 1958. It is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls, providing more than $106 million in cash scholarships. The program focuses on helping young girls develop life skills, like interviewing skills, public speaking and making positive choices. 

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Along with the title, Handshoe won an individual preliminary award for interview and the Fara Fox Tyree Spirit Award, which is voted on by the other contestants. She was also named runner-up in the scholastics category. With the various awards, Handshoe earned $1,300 in cash scholarships during the program. 

She will also represent the local program at the state competition in January. 

“I’m flabbergasted,” Handshoe said after the program. “I was in tears when they called my name. Winning was so unexpected and overwhelming.” 

This year, the DYW committee celebrated the 40th anniversary of the local scholarship program, which began under the helm of Fara Tyree in 1977 as Junior Miss. 

Since its establishment, it has produced several state award recipients and a national title winner, Michelle Rodgers, in 2009. Past winners were recognized in the finale of the program.

Contestants competed in five categories, with each accounting for a different percentage of their overall score. Categories included talent, 20 percent; fitness, 15 percent; self-expression, 15 percent; scholastics, 25 percent; and interview 25 percent.

Before the girls stepped on stage Friday evening, 50 percent of their overall score, from scholastics and interview, was already established.

Contestants, who are all incoming seniors at George Rogers Clark High School, competed in fitness, talent and self-expression before a panel of five judges and an audience. 

Other winners were: 

— Fitness ($50 scholarship each donated by Clark Regional Medical Center): Natalie Keeton and Sophie Duncan

— Talent ($50 scholarship each donated by Scobee Funeral Home): Sophie Duncan and Emily Rice

— Self expression ($50 scholarship each donated by Scobee Funeral Home: Kayden Hatchett and Sophie Duncan

— Interview ($50 scholarship each donated by Clark County Alumni): Madison Plowman and Handshoe, $50 scholarship each. 

— Donna Fuller Passion Award: Madison Plowman, $100 scholarship. 

— Be Your Best Self Award (essay contest sponsored by Winchester Rotary Club): Emily Rice, $150 scholarship; and Sophie Duncan, $300 scholarship. 

— Fara Fox Tyree Spirit Award ($100 scholarship donated by Tyree and voted on by other contestants): Handshoe 

— Clark County DYW Committee Award ($50 scholarship): Lyric Campbell

— Overall scholastic winner ($300 scholarship donated by Central Bank): Kayden Hatchett

— Second runner-up ($200 scholarship donated by Central Bank): Emily Rice

— First runner-up ($400 scholarship donated by DT Hood Properties): Sophie Duncan.

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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