Local juniors win scholarships

South Turlock’s Distinguished Young Woman of 2011 is Madison Patino. She is a student at Turlock High School. Her parents are Alfred and Marcia Patino. Her college of choice is Cal Poly or San Francisco State, where she plans on majoring in business or photography. Her talent for the competition was dance on Pointe. - photo by Photograph courtesy of Jon Michael Terry

South Turlock’s Distinguished Young Woman of 2011 is Madison Patino. She is a student at Turlock High School. Her parents are Alfred and Marcia Patino. Her college of choice is Cal Poly or San Francisco State, where she plans on majoring in business or photography. Her talent for the competition was dance on Pointe. - photo by Photograph courtesy of Jon Michael Terry

The Distinguished Young Women of Turlock competition was held Saturday at the Turlock Community Auditorium and two local teens won top honors. Ashley Gomez was named North Turlock’s Distinguished Young Woman of 2011 and Madison Patino won South Turlock’s Distinguished Young Woman title.

Gomez also won the Scholastic and Self Expression categories, for a total award of $1,400 in scholarship funds. Patino won the Fitness and Self Expression categories and took home $1,600 total.

Danielle King was awarded first alternate and winner in the Fitness category, and Brina Patel was named second alternate and winner in the Interview category. Special recognition was awarded to Lizete Duarte; she also won in the Spirit category. Hannah Salafia also received special recognition and won in the Interview, Scholastic and Spirit categories.

Other winners included: Jillian Selee, Interview, Scholastic and Self Expression; Sharokeena Atanus, Talent and Be Your Best Self; Karly Barker, Spirit and Be Your Best Self; Jessica Gonzales, Fitness; Jenna Fontes, Scholastic; Cassandra Huber, Talent; and Brooke Duyst, Be Your Best Self.

Distinguished Young Women is the oldest and largest scholarship program for high school girls. Since its inception, the national organization has provided life-changing experiences for more than 700,000 young women. Last year, the program provided more than $63 million in cash and college scholarship opportunities.

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