Picayune's Myah Harper to compete at Distinguished Young Woman state program

Myah Eryn Harper, Distinguished Young Woman of Pearl River County, will be one of 30 Mississippi high school seniors competing for more than $28,900 in college scholarships when the 2019 Distinguished Young Women of Mississippi Program gets under way Thursday, July 12, in Meridian.

The state program, which is held in Meridian, Mississippi, is now in its 62th year celebrating and spotlighting outstanding achievements of the state’s best and brightest high school girls. The three nights of competition in The Evangel Temple Church concludes on Saturday, July 14. Curtain is 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; 8 p.m. Saturday.

Reserved tickets for the 2019 Distinguished Young Women Program are available for $60 for a three-night package. General admission tickets are available for individual evening: $15, Thursday; $15, Friday, and $20, for the finals on Saturday. Tickets may be purchased by calling (601) 480-3438. All major credit cards are welcome.

"We are extremely excited about this year’s program," said Sid Wilkinson, State Chairman of the Distinguished Young Women of Mississippi Program. "This program celebrates what is right with today’s young people and offers them cash scholarship opportunities to further their education."

Myah, the daughter of Thomas and Jeri Ann McCorkle of Picayune, attends Picayune Memorial High School. Academic accomplishments, membership and hobbies include the following: National Honor Society Mu Alpha Theta Beta Club Civic Women’s Club Dunkin’ Darlings She plans to attend University of Mississippi to pursue a career as a Civil Rights Attorney.

During the week-long program in Meridian, Junior Miss contestants are evaluated on scholastic achievement, fitness, self-expression, talent and interview. Harper has chosen a Lyrical Dance presentation of "Piece by Piece" for her talent.

If selected as Distinguished Young Woman of Mississippi, Myah will compete in the Distinguished Young Woman for 2019 finals in June of 2019, held in Mobile, Alabama. There she will compete for the opportunity to win a share of more than $100,000 in cash scholarship awards, including the $50,000 national title scholarship award.

Distinguished Young Women, formerly America’s Junior Miss, was founded in 1958 as a way to reward the accomplishments of high school girls seeking to pursue higher education. This organization is the oldest and largest scholarship program for young women. More than 6,500 high school girls participate each year. Past AJM participants include Diane Sawyer, Debra Messing, Deborah Norville, Julie Moran, the late Mary Frann, Kim Basinger, and Kathie Lee Gifford.

DWY’s national sponsors include Mobile County and the City of Mobile, Master Boat Builders Inc., Alabama Power Foundation, Encore Rehabilitation, Regions Financial Corporation, Evonik, Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Wintzell’s Oyster House, Jostens, and Alabama Media Group.

The 61st annual Distinguished Young Women National Finals will be held in Mobile, Alabama, in June of 2018.