Caroline Cuccinelli, the daughter of Paul and Michelle Cuccinelli, was named the 2020 Clark County Distinguished Young Woman Saturday night at the 42nd annual local program.

She was handed the medallion by the 2019 Clark County DYW Haley Snell.

In addition to her local title, Cuccinelli won awards in talent and self-expression.

For her local title, she was awarded a $1,500 cash scholarship by the Winchester Elks Lodge No. 2816.

Cuccinelli will represent the local program at the state competition in January. Kentucky DYW hosts its program in Lexington, and there, Cuccinelli will compete for a chance to be named the 2020 Kentucky Distinguished Young Woman as well as an opportunity to win additional scholarships.

Cuccinelli is also involved in the GRC swim team, National Honor Society, FCA Club and is a member of the Smoke Signals student newspaper staff. She is a Governor’s Scholar and was honored by Central Kentucky Youth Salute at the top student from GRC as junior. She was also junior class president.

Clark County’s DYW organization is part of a national nonprofit scholarship program that promotes and rewards scholarship, leadership and talent in young women, according to the DYW website.

DYW was created in 1958 and is the oldest and largest national scholarship program for high school girls, providing more than $106 million in cash scholarships nationwide.

The program focuses on helping young girls develop life skills, like interviewing skills, public speaking and making positive choices. It emphasizes being healthy, involved, studious, ambitious and responsible. It’s all about being “your best self.”

DYW awards cash scholarships at the local level and millions of dollars in college-granted scholarships are available.

Before the participants took the stage, judges had already scored them on 50 percent of the competition — interview and scholastic performance.

In total, 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.Other awards included:

— Self expression (Sponsored by Central Bank): Caroline Cuccinelli, Carlee Franklin and Brianna Stout.

— Talent (sponsored by Scobee Funeral Home): Caroline Cuccinelli, Brianna Stout and Liza Holley

— Fitness (sponsored by Clark Regional Medical Center): Sarah Johnson, Liza Holley, Brianna Stout and Channing Taulbee

— Scholastics (sponsored by Friends of DYW): Carrie Cockerham, runner-up; Abbigail Baber, runner-up; and Carlee Franklin, overall winner.

— Be Your Best Self (sponsored by Clark County DYW Committee): Abbigail Baber, runner-up; and Brianna Stout, overall winner.

— Fara Fox Tyree Spirit Award (voted on by contestants): Charity Bowen

— 110 percent Committee Award (sponsored by Clark County DYW Committee)): Jessica Brooks and Felicia Rapp

— Donna Fuller Passion Award: Taylor Plowman.

Saturday’s program was emceed by Michelle Rodgers, who 2009’s Clark County, Kentucky and America’s Junior Miss.