The Distinguished Young Women of St. Clair County Scholarship Program will be held June 16, in the auditorium at Springville Middle School.

This year’s participants in the scholarship program include Anna Brasher, Kelsey Smith, Katie Clowdus, Jennifer Peoples, Lacey Gossett, Kayla Pilkington, Abby Leisure, Kaylyn Pate, Hannah Logan and Kelsey Lovell.

Two of the young women, Anna Brasher and Kelsey Smith, are being featured today.

Anna Brasher

Brasher is a junior at Pell City High School. She has always attended the Pell City schools. She is the 17-year-old daughter of Paul and Laurie Brasher of Pell City.

Brasher found out about DYW because her mother has been the emcee the past several years.

“I wanted to participate to earn scholarship money to help pay for college,” Brasher said. “It’s a way to compete in different categories.”

For her talent, Brasher will sing “What Did I Have That I Don’t Have” by Eydie Gorme.

“My mom actually sang this song when she competed in the Miss Alabama Pageant,” Brasher said.

Kelsey Smith

Smith is a junior at Moody High School. She is the 16-year-old daughter of Tina Curlee of Moody and Richard Smith of Pell City.

She has attended the Moody schools since the second grade. She attended kindergarten at Iola Roberts Elementary School, and first grade at an elementary school in Hoover.

When asked why she wanted to participate in DYW, Smith said, “I feel it will better prepare myself and help me with my future endeavors.”

Smith found out about DYW through Elise Adkins, who was the 2011 St. Clair County Jr. Miss.

For her talent, Smith will perform a flag routine, created by Audrey Hodges, the former captain of the Moody High School Color Guard. She will perform to the song Jai Ho.

“I feel like this talent will be different than most,” Smith said. “Many participants are dancing. It will be something different and fun at the same time.”

Distinguished Young Women, formerly America’s Jr. Miss Scholarship Program, is sponsored by the City of Mobile, Mobile County, Eastern Shore Toyota, Encore Rehabilitation, SPANX, Mobile Gas-A Sempra Company, Regions Bank, Alabama Power Foundation, and Master Boat Builders. The 55th National Finals will take place in Mobile, Alabama on June 28-30, 2012. For more information about Distinguished Young Women, visit www.DistinguishedYW.org.

Contact Gary Hanner at ghanner@thestclairtimes.com.