Elizabeth (Bethy) Havas and Rachelle Akwaboah will represent Franklin

High School girls throughout Wisconsin will come together for the Distinguished Young Women (DYW) of Wisconsin State Finals on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at 7:00 PM. Participants will contend for cash scholarships and the opportunity to represent Wisconsin as the Distinguished Young Woman of Wisconsin at the National Finals in Mobile, Alabama. The mission of Distinguished Young Women is to positively impact the lives of young women by providing a free, transformative experience that encourages young women to reach their full individual potential.

Elizabeth (Bethy) Havas, Oak Creek High School student, will participate in the Class of 2023 Distinguished Young Woman State Finals Program as the Distinguished Young Woman of Franklin-West. She is a junior at Oak Creek High School and is the daughter of Michelle and Thomas Havas. She is joined by Rachelle Akwaboah, a junior at Franklin High School. She is the daughter of Mavis Apraku and Henry Akwaboah of Franklin. Rachelle will participate as the Distinguished Young Woman of Franklin-East.

Havas' extracurricular activities include the Theatre Program, Choir Program, Mu Alpha Theta Club, National Organization for Women Club, Gender and Sexuality Alliance, German Club, Craft Club and Book Club.

Through the National Honor Society, Havas volunteers as a peer tutor and childcare provider at local elementary schools. She volunteers as an art show greeter and painter through the National Art Honor Society. She also donates her time at the Salvation Army and as a volunteer childcare provider at local elementary schools through the Renaissance Club.

Havas chose to participate in the DYW program because she thought it would be an amazing way to connect with young women throughout the state. After learning her mother participated in the program in high school, Havas thought the program would give her interview experience and broaden her skill set.

Havas enjoys the undertaking of the program. "I really enjoyed the process of getting to know the fitness routine, rehearsing and performing my talent, and all of the questions the judges' panel interviewed me about," Havas said.

Akwaboah chose to participate in the Distinguished Young Women program because she thought it would be a great way to be her best self and learn a lot about herself as a young woman. "I also knew the DYW program would help shape my values through the many experiences it puts young women through," Akwaboah said.

Akwaboah appreciates the interview preparation and learning how to express herself saying the interview process "Would be very helpful for future purposes like getting a job. The self-expression section of the DYW program has boosted my confidence and has helped me freely express myself.

Akwaboah participates in Varsity Tennis, Saber Roar, Yearbook Club, Franklin For Racial Equality and Empowerment and Student Senate. In her spare time, she volunteers at Aurora Health Care.

Her career goals include being either an orthopedic surgeon or a cardiologist.

Upon completion as Class of 2023 State participants, Havas and Akwaboah will each receive a $500 cash scholarship from the Franklin Lions Club.

The 2023 Wisconsin State representative and 49 other high school winners will seek the opportunity to acquire some of the $100,000 in cash scholarships and hundreds of thousands of dollars of college-granted scholarships at the National Finals Program.

The Distinguished Young Women of Wisconsin At-Large Program is now taking applications for girls in the Classes of 2024 and 2025. Apply today at: www.distinguishedyw.org. For more information on Distinguished Young Women of Wisconsin, please contact State Chairperson Meg Sranske at: wisconsin@distinguishedyw.org and/or Wisconsin National Support Team member Carol Rubino at: carol@distinguishedyw.org.

About Distinguished Young Women

Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women is a free program that encourages participants to reach their full individual potential. Our mission is to empower young women by providing over $1 billion in scholarship opportunities, connecting with a nationwide network of women, developing their self-confidence, and participating in our Life Skills Workshops that prepare them for success after high school.

National sponsors include Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Mobile County, City of Mobile, Alabama Power Foundation, Shoe Station, Gant Travel Management, the Coffeen Family, Regions Financial Corporation, Jostens and Alabama Media Group.

Wisconsin state sponsors include the Women at Johnsonville, Jockey, Eder Flag, Mathnasium, Young Dance Academy, Dale Carnegie Training and the Staybridge Suites Milwaukee Airport South Hotel. The state program will award $10,000 in college scholarships this year.

For more information about Distinguished Young Women, contact Tara Principe, National Headquarters Marketing and Communications Director, at 251-438-3621 or Tara@DistinguishedYW.org or visit www.DistinguishedYW.org.