An orientation meeting for the Distinguished Young Women of Butler and Lowndes Counties will be held May 1 at the Ritz Theatre in Greenville.

Rising seniors interested in competing in the scholarship pageant, as well as rising juniors interested in being a Little Sister, should attend.

Distinguished Young Woman (DYW) is a scholarship program that was founded in 1958 in Mobile. It is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls, and has awarded more than $93 million in cash scholarships at the local, state and national levels since its creation.

In addition to cash scholarships, Distinguished Young Women participants are eligible for college-granted scholarships from almost 200 colleges and universities. According to the DYW website, more than $108 million in college scholarship opportunities were provided to DYW participants last year, some of which included full tuition, room, and board.

Contestants will compete in five categories: scholastics, interview, talent, fitness and self-expression.

Last year for the first time, Butler and Lowndes Counties held their contests on the same night in the same venue. Both counties selected a winner.

Mary Hannah Miller was Butler County’s Distinguished Young Woman, while Mary Claire Carlton was named Lowndes County’s Distinguished Young Woman.

Orientation for this year’s program, which will be held July 30, will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Those interested in participating are asked to bring a parent.

For more information call Starla Jones at (334) 301-5403.