Participants
Distinguished Young Women participants come from all walks of life, but they have one thing in common: the desire to succeed. Below are the Distinguished Young Women of Mississippi participants for the Class of 2023.
Want to participate? Apply now!
Makenzie Sanders
Choctaw County
City: Weir
College Preference: Mississippi State University
Career Goals: Education
Talent: Acrobatic Dance ("Way Down We Go", by Kaleo)
Calen Richardson
Clarke County
City: Enterprise
College Preference: Mississippi State University
Career Goals: Elementary Education
Talent: Jazz Dance ("A Little Party Never Killed Nobody", by Fergie)
Caitlin McCullough
East Jackson County (Mississippi)
City: Moss Point
College Preference: Mississippi State Univ. & Columbia Univ. Law
Career Goals: International Sexual & Domestic Violence Attorney
Talent: Singing ("Warrior", by Demi Lovato)
Maura McLaughlin
Forrest County
City: Hattiesburg
College Preference: Texas A&M, Auburn, or LSU
Career Goals: Chemical Engineer
Talent: Writing (Short Story (Reality), by Maura McLauglin)
Semyra Reus
George County
City: Lucedale
College Preference: Southern Miss
Career Goals: Marine Biology
Talent: Pointe (Rainbow, by Liz Huett)
Britton Dunnam
Greene County
City: Richton
College Preference: Jones College
Career Goals: Physical Therapist
Talent: Vocal Performance
Madeline Henderson
Harrison County
City: Biloxi
College Preference: Harvard, Stanford
Career Goals: Fashion Designer, Performance Pianist, Real Estate
Talent: Piano Performance
Alena Trotter
Hinds County
City: Bolton
College Preference: Mississippi College
Career Goals: Orthopedic Surgeon
Talent: Trumpet solo (Yesterday by The Beatles, by Self transcribed and organized piece)
Micah Hill
Jones County
City: Laurel
College Preference: Howard University
Career Goals: Start nonprofit org for minorities in STEM
Talent: Singing (Vocal) (I Know Where I've Been, by Queen Latifah)
Keira Serrano
Lafayette County
City: Oxford
College Preference: University of Mississippi
Career Goals: OB-GYN Nurse Practitioner
Talent: Dance
Sophie Pitts
Lamar County
City: Hattiesburg
College Preference: University of Mississippi
Career Goals: Physical Therapist or Physician Assistant
Talent: Lyrical Dance (Never Enough by Loren Allred, by Brittain Whitfield )
Ava Temple
Lauderdale County, Mississippi
City: Marion
College Preference: Mississippi State University
Career Goals: Stock Broker
Talent: Lyrical Dance (Somewhere Over The Rainbow, by )
Ryleigh Crocker
Leake County
City: Carthage
College Preference: Mississippi State University
Career Goals: Engineer
Talent: Dance (Contemporary, by )
Lauren Tate
Lee County
City: Belden
College Preference: University of Mississippi
Career Goals: Dermatologist
Talent: Singing (Rainbow, by Kacey Musgraves)
Marisa Davidson
Madison County
City: RIDGELAND
College Preference: In-state: University of Mississippi
Career Goals: career in engineering, business, or healthcare
Talent: Song ("Astonishing", by Little Women)
Sandra Thomas
Marion County
City: Columbia
College Preference: University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign
Career Goals: Electrical Engineer
Talent: Poetry/ Spoken Word (Climate of Opinion , by Sandra Thomas )
Harley Hobby
Neshoba County
City: Philadelphia
College Preference: Mississippi State University
Career Goals: Entrepreneur
Talent: Piano (Solfeggietto, by C.P.E. Bach)
Ryann Gorgas
Newton County
City: Decatur
College Preference: University of Mississippi & UMMC
Career Goals: Pediatric Dentistry
Talent: Monologue (You\'re a good man, Charlie Brown, by Clark Gesner and John Gordon)
Jaycee Kelly
North Covington County
City: Seminary
College Preference: Mississippi State University
Career Goals: I would like to major in Communications/Journalism
Talent: Broadway Vocal (I Enjoy Being a Girl, by Rodgers and Hammerstein )
Bailey Cooper
North Desoto County
City: Olive Branch
College Preference: Ole Miss
Career Goals: Attorney
Talent: Dance (Lyrical, by Hannah Bobo)
Kennedy Williams
Pascagoula
City: Pascagoula
College Preference: University of South Alabama
Career Goals: trauma surgeon/OBGYN ICU
Talent: Dance (Daughter By: Sleeping at Last , by Maile Picou )
Leah Cacioppo
Pearl River County
City: Carriere
College Preference: Louisiana State University
Career Goals: Occupational Therapist
Talent: Dance (Weary Traveler, by Jordan St. Cyr)
Laci Pitts
Petal DYW
City: Petal
College Preference: University of Mississippi
Career Goals: Legal representative for athletes
Talent: Piano (Prelude No. 1, by Carolyn Miller)
Madelyn Berry
Rankin County
City: Brandon
College Preference: Duke University
Career Goals: Research Engineer
Talent: Musical Performance (Flute) (Flute Concertino Op. 107 in D Major, by Cecile Chaminade )
Alex Bierman
Scott County
City: Morton
College Preference: Mississippi State University
Career Goals: My career goal is to be a doctor.
Talent: Dance Routine (Uca Dance Remix, by UCA Dance Remix)
Isabella (Bella) Broadhead
Simpson County
City: Mendenhall
College Preference: The University of Southern Mississippi
Career Goals: Marine Biologist
Talent: Vocal (Oceans, by Hillsong United)
Haidyn Houston
Smith County
City: Forest
College Preference: The University of Southern Mississippi
Career Goals: Forensic Science and Criminal Justice
Talent: Lyrical Dance (Love Lifted Me by Travis Cottrell, by )
Caroline Sibley
South Covington County
City: Sumrall
College Preference: Vanderbilt or Mississippi State University
Career Goals: Anesthesiologist
Talent: Dance Solo, Specialty: Jazz
Peyton Williamson
South Desoto County
City: Hernando
College Preference: Mississippi College
Career Goals: Medicine
Talent: Singing
Hailey Pushis
South Lowndes County
City: Columbus
College Preference: University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
Career Goals: Medical Device Sales Representative
Talent: Jazz Dance (Great Balls of Fire, by Jerry Lee Lewis)
Katelyn Kaplan
Starkville
City: Starkville
College Preference: Northwestern University
Career Goals: Astrophysicist
Talent: Dance (Natural Woman, by Jennifer Hudson)
Nakiyah McInnis
Wayne County
City: Waynesboro
College Preference: Mississippi State University
Career Goals: Chemical Engineer
Talent: Poetry (Unity, by Daya Nandan)
Elizabeth McArthur
West Jackson County (Mississippi)
City: Gautier
College Preference:
Career Goals: Dcotor of Physical Therapy or a dance teacher
Talent: Musical Theater/Jazz Dance
Sadie Stevenson
Winston County
City: Louisville
College Preference: Mississippi State University
Career Goals: Radiation Oncologist
Talent: Piano solo (Impromptu Op.28, No.3 in C sharp minor, by Hugo Reinhold)
