Adleigh Fricke, 17, from Carriere, will represent Pearl River County in the Distinguished Young Woman (DYW) competition. A Pearl River Central High School senior, Fricke plans to attend the University of Southern Mississippi to pursue a degree in Nursing, specializing in Labor and Delivery.

In preparation for the competition, Fricke has been participating in mock interviews, staying informed on local and state politics, and honing her talent. As her talent, Fricke will perform a contemporary dance, her favorite style, in the competition.

“The biggest hurdle is preparing for the on-stage portion because when you go on stage, you are by yourself, and you have to be confident in yourself,” Fricke said. “I’m most looking forward to meeting the other girls and making friends.”

Lindsay Berghman, Fricke’s mother, shared that they have followed the DYW program since Adleigh was a little girl. “I always wanted her to do it because she was always smart and talented and had a perfect chance to win. But I made sure it was something she wanted to do. I told her that whether she wins or not, she will see growth in herself,” Berghman said.

Reflecting on her journey, Fricke mentioned, “One thing I wish I had done from the start is live in the moment. Sometimes, I took it too seriously and didn’t enjoy it fully.”

Distinguished Young Women is the oldest and largest scholarship program for high school girls. Last year, the program offered over $1 billion in cash tuition and college-granted scholarships nationwide. Scholarships are available in two ways: cash tuition scholarships, which can be used at any accredited institution of higher learning, and college-granted scholarships.