Photo courtesy of Susan DuBose.
Distinguished Young Women 2014
(From left) Second alternate Stella Christine Kontos, 2015 winner Brooklyn Holt, 2014 winner Madeline Powell and first alternate Nikki Sullivan pose together at the 2015 Distinguished Young Women competition.
Oak Mountain High School senior Brooklyn Holt took home $3,500 in scholarships from this year’s Distinguished Young Women of Shelby County competitions.
Holt was one of ten participants in the 2015 contest, which took place July 26 at Oak Mountain High School. The young women from OMHS, Spain Park High School, Briarwood Christian School and Pelham High School competed in several categories: scholastics, talent, fitness, self expression and an interview. A total of $10,000 in scholarships was given to category winners and Shelby County Distinguished Young Women Chairwoman Susan DuBose said there will also be in-kind scholarships given for Troy University and Jefferson State Community College.
“They’re all very well rounded. They all are extremely talented. They do well in school. They’re just ambitious girls,” DuBose said.
Holt is the captain of the OMHS Majorettes, the president of the National Junior Honor Society chapter, an OMHS Master ambassador and member of the school show choir, Future Business Leaders of America, Church of the Highlands Haven Leadership Team and the Auburn Honor Band. She is also the founder of “Raise Your Voice for Children” and has received several music and service awards. As an accomplished vocalist, Holt chose to give a performance of “You’ll Be In My Heart” from the animated Disney movie “Tarzan” for the talent portion of the competition.
DuBose said Holt’s win is especially remarkable given the odds stacked against her. During the competition’s practice week, Holt was also participating in a band camp at OMHS. Despite some unforgiving hours, Holt said her exhaustion “just motivated [her] to do even better” the night of the competition.
Holt also had to recover from a June car crash on Grants Mill Road in which her car flipped and landed in a ravine. The car was totaled and Holt said her life flashed before her eyes, but she was fortunate to walk away with only damage to her left leg. She said the experience put her life in perspective and made her determined to stay on the right path.
The best part of Distinguished Young Women for Holt was meeting other girls with similar ambitions and priorities. Briarwood students Nikki Sullivan and Stella Christine Kontos took first and second alternate at the competition, earning them scholarships of $1,500 and $1,000, respectively. Victoria Phillips of Spain Park also won $500 in the Be Your Best Self essay contest.
As part of their participation, this year’s contestants also went to Oak Mountain Elementary School to present the Be Your Best Self Program at a day camp. The program encourages children to develop their leadership, scholastic abilities, talents and self-expression. The women will also visit a Boys and Girls Club in April to deliver the same message.
Holt will go on to the state level Distinguished Young Women contest, held in Montgomery, on January 23-24. After graduation, she plans to attend Auburn University and study either telecommunications or civil engineering, and she hopes to be a majorette in the university band.
