Distinguished dame: Caroline Handshoe named Clark County’s 2018 DYW
Published 10:58 am Monday, June 12, 2017
Madison Plowman performs a scene from the musical “Into the Woods” for her talent.
Clark County’s 2018 Distinguished Young Woman Caroline Handshoe, left, receives her medallion from 2017 DYW Lacee Duncan after winning the local program Friday night. (Photo by Whitney Leggett)
Emily Rice, second runner-up; 2018 Clark County DYW Caroline Handsoe; and Sophie Duncan, first runner-up.
A tearful Caroline Handshoe smiles after being named Distinguished Young Woman.
Confetti falls around 2018 DYW Caroline Handshoe.
Past program winners, from left, Lacee Duncan (2017), Shelby Gilkerson (2016), Laura Griffith (2015), Haley Tye (2013), Rebecca Caywood Prater (1991), Jami C Rogers (1990), Tawana Walters Palmer (1989), Brenda Hudson Caudill (1988), Shannon Gillum Dodd (1984) and Lisa Stone (1979), Clark County’s first Junior Miss. (Photos by Whitney Leggett)
Clark County’s 2018 DYW Caroline Handshoe gets a congratulatory kiss from her mother, Amy, as her father, Ron, looks on. (Photos by Whitney Leggett)
Handshoe gets a group hug from other contestants.
DYW participants, from left, Kayden Hatchett, Emily Rice, Lyric Campbell, Caroline Handshoe, Natalie Keeton, Madison Plowman and Sophie Duncan.
2017 DYW Lacee Duncan performs a clogging routine with her real little sisters, from left, Tiara, Octavia and Neisha Duncan, to Tina Turner’s “Rolling on the River.”
Natalie Keeton, Madison Plowman and Sophie Duncan during self-expression.
Madison Plowman recieved the Donna Fuller Passion Award.
Clark County's 2018 Distinguished Young Woman Caroline Handshoe shares a moment with Lisa Stone, Clark County's first Junior Miss.
2018 DYW Caroline Handshoe gets a hug from committee Chairwoman Donna Fuller.
2018 DYW Caroline Handshoe poses for a photo with Janeway Howard, who was her little sister in the program.
Kayden Hatchett plays piano and sings “A Whole New World,” for her talent.
Natalie Keeton sings “I Hope You Dance” for her talent.
DYW Caroline Handshoe performs "O Del Mio Dolce" for her talent.
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.
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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