Shannon Doherty & Isabelle Mrzyglod will each represent their towns

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 them to reach their full individual potential.

Menomonee Falls High School junior Shannon Doherty will participate in the Class of 2023 Distinguished Young Woman State Finals Program as the Distinguished Young Woman of Menomonee Falls. She is joined by Isabella (Izzy) Mrzyglod, a junior at Germantown High School, who will represent Germantown as the Distinguished Young Woman of Germantown.

Doherty’s extra-curricular activities include being a class officer during her freshman, sophomore and junior years. She participates in the Global Scholars Program, National Spanish Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, SERVE, Varsity Tennis, and as a LINK Crew Leader. Some of the clubs she's active with include the Math Club, the International Club, the Astronomy Club and the Geology Club. She also participates with the Teen Court of Menomonee Falls.

The daughter of Bryan and Linda Doherty, she volunteers as a church greeter and usher. She volunteers at Veteran Administration Hospital, Food Pantry Empty Bowls Fundraiser, and with the Sussex Lions Daze/Falls Patio Players Community Theater.

Doherty chose to participate in the DYW Menomonee Falls program for various reasons, saying, “I had seen the program before I decided to join it and was inspired by the courage and the accomplishments of the young women on stage.”

Upon looking further into the DYW and Be Your Best Self programs, “I came to realize that DYW is not a competition but rather a celebration of what makes us all unique, independent, and strong young women. This program also gave me the opportunity to surround myself with like-minded people and create new lifelong friendships,” Doherty said.

Doherty’s career goal is to become an attorney.

Mrzyglod is active in Soccer and Cross Country. She also serves as vice president of her Student Council. She is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, Peers for Peers, National Honors Society and the 2nd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo.

She volunteers at The Gathering of Milwaukee and the Germantown Recreation Department.

Mrzyglod participated in the DYW program because she thought the program looked fun and knew past participants. “Little did I know how much I would learn and how many amazing (and distinguished) women I would meet through the experience,” she said.

She appreciates the many people she’s encountered and the skills she’s honed. “I have had an amazing experience with DYW! I met so many amazing people and had the opportunity to practice my public speaking and interview skills,” Mrzyglod said.

She hopes to major in Business with a focus on international business and finance, keeping an eye on her dream school, the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

Mrzyglod is the daughter of Renee and Greg Mrzyglod.

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 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.