Seventeen participants are preparing for the 2011-2012 Distinguished Young Women of Dallas County Scholarship Program to be held Saturday, Aug. 27 — beginning at 6:30 p.m. — at Selma Pickard Auditorium. Advance tickets are on sale by the participants and will be available at the door for $10.

Dallas County’s program will adopt the new name, becoming Distinguished Young Women of Dallas County formally called Dallas County Junior Miss with this year’s program for the high school girls’ class of 2012.

The Selma Civitan Club sponsors the Dallas County Scholarship Program.

The program committee is composed of a local support team of former contestants and Selma Civitan members.

Lisa Baker is choreographer and Kay Bryson English, former Dallas County Junior Miss for 1978, will be “ Mistress of Ceremonies.” The 2011 program will be the 36th yeat for the Dallas County program that began in 1976.

The Distinguished Young Women of Dallas County Scholarship Program offers high school senior women interested in earning money for college an opportunity to earn scholarships by participating. The program also has nine girls entering their junior year who will participate as a “Little Sister” in preparation for entering as a contestant in the 2012 program.

Taylour Nichol Talbot

HIGH SCHOOL: Dallas County High School

CAREER GOALS: Veterinary

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: Beta Club • National Honor Society • Cheerleader, 3 years / Head Cheerleader 2 years • McConnell Twins dancer, 12 years/ Instructor 3 years • 2011 Dallas County Junior Miss Little Sister • Danced with Montgomery Ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

TALENT: Classical Ballet en pointe

SELECTION: The Sugar Plum Fairy, a variation from the Nutcracker by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

PARENTS: Layne and Bobbi Jo Talbot

Ashlee’ Nicole Washington

HIGH SCHOOL: Selma High School

CAREER GOALS: Computer Engineer

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: Volleyball • Track • Safe School Council • Junior Choir at Mt. Olive #2 Baptist Church • Praise Team at Mt. Olive #2 Baptist Church • Prep Squad • Senior Culturama • Talent Search • Y.O. Youth Outreach at Mt. Olive #2 Baptist Church • Praise Dance at Mt. Olive #2 Baptist Church

TALENT: Vocal

SELECTION: Someone Like You by Adele

PARENT: Aesha Washington

Ashley Caroline Moore

HIGH SCHOOL: John T. Morgan Academy

CAREER GOALS: Pediatric Oncology or Accounting

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: National Honors Society (11th,12th) • First Baptist Church Youth, Choir, Drama • Cheerleader (9th, 11th, 12th)

• McConnell Twins dancer -14 years, Instructor- 3 years  • Jr./Sr. Beta Club (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th) • Track (9th, 10th) • Computer Team (11th) • French

Club (10th, 11th) • Diamond Dolls (9th) • Track Helper (11th)

TALENT: Acrobatic Dance

SELECTION: Tribute to Auburn and Alabama Nat’l Championships (Compilation)

TALENT: Acrobatic Dance

SELECTION: Tribute to Auburn and Alabama Nat’l Championships (Compilation)

PARENTS: Jon and Debbie Moore

Oriel Marianna Maul

HIGH SCHOOL: Selma High School

CAREER GOALS: Nurse Anesthetist

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: Church Choir • Church Praise Dance Team • Church Junior Usher Board • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Culturama Girls Group • Selma High School Choir • Youth Leadership • Future Leaders of Tomorrow • McConnell Twins dancer – 9 years/ instructor – 3 years • National Honor Society • Student Government Association

TALENT: Tap Dance

SELECTION: I’ve Got to be a Rug Cutter by Duke Ellington’s ‘Sophisticated Ladies’

PARENTS: Marvin and Tammy Maul

Kalli Reeves Jones

HIGH SCHOOL: John T. Morgan Academy

CAREER GOALS: Doctor of Anesthesia

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: Fellowship of Christian Athletes • Sr. High Beta Club • Cheerleading (Head- 9th and 12th grade) • MACO • Basketball (Captain- 9th and 11th grade) • Volleyball (Captain- 9th grade) • Softball (Captain- 9th grade) • Track • French Club • Choir

TALENT: Instrumental – Harp

SELECTION: My Heart Will Go On by James Horner

PARENTS: Paul and Brenda Jones

Alexis Perlesia Kimbrough

HIGH SCHOOL: Selma High School

CAREER GOALS: Athletic Trainer

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: National Honor Society Member (11th-12th) • Student Government member (Asst. Secretary 10th) • Future Business Leaders of America (Asst. Secretary) • Boy Scouts of America member (11th) • Library Club (Vice President)

• Varsity Track (9th) • Varsity Cheerleading (11th)

• National Society of Black Engineers (9th-11th)

• Football Athletic Trainer (9th-11th)

TALENT: Praise Dance, ‘He Wants it All’ by Forever Jones

PARENTS: Charles and Rena Kimbrough

Aleysha Deion Monae Bailey

HIGH SCHOOL: Selma Early College High School

CAREER GOALS: Neonatology

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: Selma High Cheer Squad • Senior Culturama Step Team • Future Business Leaders of America – Vice President • Grace Fellowship Praise Dance Team • Grace Fellowship Youth Choir

TALENT: Cheer Dance

SELECTION: Hip hop music arrangement by Various Artists

PARENTS: Alpha and Debora Bailey

Catherine Cammille Skelton

HIGH SCHOOL: John T. Morgan Academy

CAREER GOALS: Accountant

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: Morgan Academy Christian Association • Member Elkdale Baptist Church • Jr. High and Varsity Cheerleader/Sec –

Jr. High • McConnell Twins dancer – 12 years • Track Team • Fellowship of Christian Athletes • Spanish Club • Danced with Montgomery Ballet in Sleeping Beauty • Danced with Montgomery Ballet in The Nutcracker • Auburn University Leadership Conference • 2011 Dallas County Junior Miss Little Sister

TALENT: Classical Ballet

SELECTION: La Cygne Noire a variation from Swan Lake by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

PARENTS: Charlie and Leslie Skelton

Sarah Elizabeth Frasier

HIGH SCHOOL: John T. Morgan Academy

CAREER GOALS: Dentistry

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: National Honors Society and Senior/Junior Beta Club • Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Pointe (14 years) • Orrville Baptist Youth Group • MACO (Morgan Academy Christian Organization) •

Track Team • Football Team Water Girl • Relay for Life Co-Captain • Spanish Club • Auburn Youth Leadership Conference • Selma/Dallas County Youth Leadership

TALENT: Tap Dance

SELECTION: Heaven Hops, from Broadway’s Anything Goes by Cole Porter

PARENTS: Mark and Pamela Frasier

Shakeria Veshia Hayes

HIGH SCHOOL: Selma High Early College

CAREER GOALS: Human Resources or Accounting

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: Majorette Captain • National Honor Society

TALENT: Baton Twirling

PARENTS: Eddie Gudvan and Tyfonya Hayes

Rachel Victoria Gomes

HIGH SCHOOL: John Tyler Morgan Academy

CAREER GOALS: Doctor Specializing in Sports Medicine

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: Church Youth Activities • Beta Club • Morgan Academy Track Team 9th, 10th, 11th • Morgan Academy Basketball Team 9th, 10th, 11th • Morgan Academy Volleyball Team 9th and 10th • MACO (Morgan Academy Christian Organization) • Junior Miss Little Sister • Spanish Club • School Drama Club • Cheerleader 9th

TALENT: Vocal

SELECTION: Reflection by Matthew Wilder and David Zippel

PARENTS: Roy and Brenda Gomes

Demanda Tyera Smith

HIGH SCHOOL: Selma High School

CAREER GOALS: Fashion Designer/ Model

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: Selma High School Choir • SGA • FBLA • National Honor Society • Future Leaders Youth Ambassador’s • Tech Teen • SHS Robotics Team • SHS Volleyball Team • Modeling, Pageants & Dance • Senior Culturama

TALENT: Lyrical Dance

SELECTION: Happy by Leona Lewis, Self-choreographed with assistance from Courtney Washington

PARENTS: Terry and Diane Davis

Evelyn Elizabeth Stewart

HIGH SCHOOL: John T. Morgan Academy

CAREER GOALS: Dietetics & Sports Medicine

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: Cheerleading • Track

• Soccer • McConnell Twins dancer – 13 years • CSUMC Youth Group • CSUMC Vacation Bible School • Mission Trip to New Orleans • Animal Shelter Volunteer • SCC Golf Tournament Score Card assistant • FCA- Fellowship of Christian Athletes

TALENT: Cheer & Tumbling Dance

SELECTION: A compilation of well-known pop songs

PARENTS: Jon and Shannon Stewart

Sobeoyone Southall

HIGH SCHOOL: Selma Early College High School

CAREER GOALS: Christian Life Coach

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: Member of National Honor Society • US Tennis Association (USTA) Ranked Competitor • Girls’ Captain/#1-Seed of Selma High Tennis Team • Secretary/Member of Selma High School Choir

TALENT: Vocal

SELECTION: I Feel Pretty/Unpretty by Lia Michele and Diane Argon

PARENTS: Albert and Jacqueline Southall

Jasmine Nicole Peeples

HIGH SCHOOL: Selma Early College High School

CAREER GOALS: Entrepreneurship

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: Selma High Lady Saints Varsity Basketball Team • Selma High Boy Scouts

TALENT: Monologue

SELECTION: The Divorce by Brian Heath

PARENTS: Willie and Joyce Peeples

Caitlyn Elizabeth Harris

HIGH SCHOOL: Dallas County High School

CAREER GOALS: Nutrition Science/Dietetics

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: Member of Drama Team at Ocmulgee Baptist Church • Beta Club President • Vice-President of National Honor Society • Member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes • McConnell Twins dancer – 13 years • Co-captain of Varsity Cheerleading Squad • 2011 Jr. Miss Little Sister • 2010 Miss DCHS • Special Olympics Volunteer – 3 years • Beta Club State Vice-President, Participant • 2011 Dallas County Junior Miss Little Sister • Danced with Montgomery Ballet – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

TALENT: Tap Dance

SELECTION: Putting on the Ritz, inspired by Fred Astaire

PARENTS: Jeffrey and Carol Harris

Jessica Marie Shannon

HIGH SCHOOL: Selma High School

CAREER GOALS: Physical Therapy

ACTIVITIES/HONORS: Selma Dallas County Youth Leadership • Future Leaders of Tomorrow • Selma High School Cheerleader • Senior Culturama of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority • Selma High School Choir • Shiloh Baptist Church Choir • Shiloh Baptist Church Usher • McConnell Twins dancer – 14 years

TALENT: Lyrical Pointe Dance

SELECTION: My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion

PARENTS: Jesse and Tracey Shannon