Saturday, April 23, nominees for the 2005 Girl of the Year will be honored at a luncheon in the hospitality room of First Presbyterian Church. This is the 25th anniversary of Delta Kappa Gamma sponsored program, which was initiated to select and recognize outstanding young women who are high school senior students.

A number of previous winners of Girl of the Year are expected to be present, according to Beth Taylor, who is chairing the program.

Immediately after the luncheon, guests and candidates will walk across the street to First Baptist Church sanctuary where the Girl of the Year 2005 will be selected and announced.

The candidates are:

Jaleesa Marsha Albadani, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Lee and Carl Washington, is a student at Central Christian. Her career ambition is to be a pediatrician. She plans to attend Auburn University. She is a member of Beta Club and Student Government Association, is listed on the National Honor Roll and the National Society of High School Scholars. She volunteers at a local nursing home and tutors elementary school students.

Rachael Austin, the daughter of Benny and Vickie Austin, is a student at Morgan Academy. Her career ambition is that of corporate attorney. The University of Alabama is her college of choice. She is president of the National Honor Society, vice president of the senior class and vice president of the Interact Club. She was named the Most Talented in the Who’s Who contest (she is a pianist) and was chosen as an All-Star cheerleader in the Alabama Independent School Contest.

Robyn Denise Carter, the daughter of Angernette and Robert Carter, is a student at Selma High School. Her career ambition is industrial engineering and the University of Alabama is her college choice. She is president of Selma High School Marching Band, Team Design winner in the UA American Society of Engineers competition and first place winner in the Academic Challenge for Excellence Competition

in Mechanical Drawing and Drafting. She is the founder of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church RITECH Gospel Aerobics summer program and co-founder of Echoing the Memory Club.

Laurie “Kate” Cothran, the daughter of Lauri and Jeff Cothran, is a student at Morgan Academy. Her career ambition is to be a dentist/orthodontist and her college choice is the University of Alabama. She is vice president of the National Honor Society, president of the Senior Beta Club, was chosen for the National Young Leaders Conference, has been selected as a Blount Scholar at the University of Alabama and has been accepted to Honors College at the University of Alabama.

Adrienne Denise Cunningham, the daughter of Eugene and Catherine Griffin, is a student at Keith High School. Her career ambition is that of forensic investigator and her college choice is Concordia. She is senior class president, secretary of the National Honor Society, social activity leader of Jobs for Alabama Graduates, historian/reporter of Future Business Leaders of America and is listed in Who’s Who Among American High School Students.

Alicia Dawn Dunkin is the daughter of Dennis and Beth Dunkin and a student at Dallas County High School. She plans to attend the University of South Alabama. She was selected Pepsi/WHBB/WDXX Dixie Girl for 2006. She is recipient of the Presidential Scholarship Award, is a member of BETA Club, National Honor Society and the Dance Team. She is also Staff Editor of the Annual.

Catherine Martin Gilmer, daughter of Catherine and Mel Gilmer, is a student at Morgan Academy. Her career ambition is Elementary Education/Communications and her college choice is Auburn University. She is a member of National Honor Society, Senior Beta Club, State Oratorical Team, State Math Team and she is Fast pitch softball team catcher for Morgan.

DeShadiya La’Joy Hatcher, the daughter of Dorothy M. Hatcher Cowan and Stacy Cowan Sr., is a student at Keith High School. She plans to major in physical therapy or education at Alabama State University. She is president of the National Honor Society, president of Future Business Leaders of American, captain of the cheerleader squad, treasurer of Jobs for Alabama Graduates and a member of the Student Government Association.

Katania Jackson, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Jackson, is a student at Southside High School. She plans to major in business administration at Troy State University. She is an “A” Honor Roll student, president of the Student Government Association, a member of the school choir, a member of Talent Search and a volunteer in youth ministry and at nursing homes.

Cynthia Lynn Kaylor, the daughter of Randy and Belinda Kaylor, is a student at Dallas County High School. Her career choice is that of architect and her college choice is Auburn University. She is Beta Club president, a member of National Honor Society, the Drama Club, the Dance Team and a four-year member of Homecoming Court.

Janece Maze, the daughter of Harold and Jacqueline Maze, is a student Dallas County High School. Her career choices are attorney and journalist and she plans to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is president of Freedom Baptist Church Youth Group, president of the DCSH Chapter of DECA, winner of DECA Business Services Marketing award for South Alabama Regional and State 2005. She attended the National Youth Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. and the University of Alabama Multicultural Journalism Workshop.

Haley McIntyre, daughter of Bryan an Lisa McIntyre, is a student at Meadowview Christian School. Her career choice is physical therapy; her choice of colleges is Auburn University at Montgomery.

She is being selected as AISA Player of the Year, basketball, and also AISA All-Star basketball player. She has a basketball scholarship at AUM, is valedictorian of her senior class, with a GPA 4.000, and she is holding the state record in 300 meter hurdles.

Brandy Moore, the daughter of Steve and Mary Jane Moore, is a student at Meadowview Christian School. Her career choice is nuclear medicine technology and University of Alabama Birmingham is her college choice. She was elected Miss Congeniality 2005, is listed in Who’s Who Among American High School Students, has been chose in U.S. National Leadership Merit in grades 9, 10, 11 and 12. She was Student Government representative, earned the National Science Merit Award and is an All-American Scholar in mathematics.

Tjeoma Okeke, the daughter of Dr. Ernest I. Okeke and the late Mrs. Gayla Okeke, is a student at Selma High School. She plans to major in ophthalmology at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She is a founder of Echoing the Memory Club, is president of the Student Government Association, Parliamentarian of the National Honor Society, vice president of Culturama Club and a finalist in the 2004-2005 Coca Cola Scholars Program.

Suzanne Smedley is the daughter of Becky Ellzey and Todd Smedley and a student at Meadowview Christian School. Her career choice is journalism and her college choice is the University of Alabama.

She is president of her class, Beta Club president, Salutatorian of MCS Class of 2005, an accomplished piano student and Junior Miss Talent Award winner.

Lakeshia Starks is the daughter of Betty Starks and Ed Satterwhite. She is a student at Keith High School, where she is a member of the National Honor Society, is on the National Honor Roll, is listed in Who’s Who Among American High School Students and the United States Achievement Academy.

Cristen Walls, the daughter of James and Cassandra Walls, is a student at Central Christian Academy. She plans a career as a video game designer and Clark Atlanta University is her college choice. She is a Beta Club member, varsity cheerleading captain and Homecoming queen 2004-2005. She is on the National Honor Roll, a member of Selma-Dallas County Youth Leadership and was nominated for Who’s Who Among American High School Students.

Rosa Pink Williams, daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Curtis Williams, is a student at Selma High School and plans to be a physician. Her college choice is Spelman, Jackson State or Alabama State. She is a Danceline Captain for the Selma High Marching Band, a National Honor Society member, listed in Who’s Who Among American High School Students, a Bio-Medical Symposium participant and is on the Academic Excellence Wall of Recognition.

Lauren Nicole Wilson, the daughter of Al and Kim Wilson, is a student at Central Christian Academy. Registered nurse is her career choice and she plans to attend Wallace Community College. She is a member of Senior Beta Club, is listed in Who’s Who Among American High School Students, is a member of the National Honor Society, is on the varsity softball team and is a member of The Cathedral of Christ the King Church.