City, AP State – On Saturday, Jan 21st, Carrington Hodge of Helena, AL, was named the Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama for 2023 and awarded cash scholarships during a statewide scholarship program for high school girls held in Montgomery, AL.

Hodge was one of 42 high school senior girls from Alabama who competed to represent the state as the Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama for 2021. Participants were evaluated in the categories of Scholastics (25%), Interview (25%), Talent (20%), Fitness (15%), and Self-Expression (15%).

Throughout the next year, Hodge will represent the state at various public events and serve as a role model to young people by spreading the program’s national outreach message of “Be Your Best Self.” The outreach program is designed to encourage self-esteem and excellence in all young people through its five principles: Be Healthy, Be Involved, Be Studious, Be Ambitious, and Be Responsible.

Carrington is the daughter of Lamar and Terra Hodge and is a senior at the Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School.

The 66th National Finals will take place on June 22, 23, and 24, 2023, in Mobile, Ala. Hodge will travel to Mobile, along with 49 other representatives from across the country, to participate in personal development activities and community service projects before competing for the opportunity to become the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2022 and for additional cash scholarships. Arizona’s Katelyn Cai, now a freshman at Duke University, was named the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2022.

For more information on Distinguished Young Women of Alabama please contact Michael Jones, alabama@distinguishedyw.org