Caston High School student Breana Amezquita, right, is one of 22 girls vying to become the Distinguished Young Woman of Indiana. She was named Distinguished Young Woman of Fulton County in November. Shown with her are Distinguished Young Woman of Pulaski County Allie Sanders, left, and Distinguished Young Woman of Cass County Emily Sanchez, middle. Photo provided by Michaela Slisher.

News Release

FULTON — Caston High School student Breana Amezquita is among the girls trying to be the next Distinguished Young Woman of Indiana.

On Sunday, Jan. 7, Amezquita, who was named the Distinguished Young Woman of Fulton County in November, attended the mayor’s reception in Kokomo ahead of state competition in February. She received an engraved medallion and met with the people who will be helping with the state competition.

Also in attendance were the 21 other participants and their families.

The girls will stay five days in host homes with a participant roommate (or two or three). They will have a chauffeur to drive them to and from practices at Indiana University Kokomo and get to tour some popular sites in Kokomo as a group by bus.

This year’s DYW of Indiana competition will be held Friday, Feb. 16, and Saturday, Feb. 17, at IUK’s Havens Auditorium. Friday night will be preliminary where all participants perform talent, fitness and self-expression.

At the beginning of Saturday’s show, the Top 10 participants will be announced. Those advancing will perform the three on-stage categories again to add points to their existing score. A 10-minute personal interview in front of a panel of five judges will also count toward their scores.

Amezquita and other participants are competing to win scholarship money. Any participant making the Top 10 has traditionally received at least $500.

Last year, DYW of Indiana awarded a total of $29,000 in scholarships.

The winner of the Indiana program moves on to the national competition in Mobile, Ala., in June. Last year’s Indiana winner placed as the second runner-up at the national program. In 2018, Indiana’s representative from Howard County won the title of Distinguished Young Woman of America.