Arendell Parrott Academy senior claims top DYW state honor
In a prestigious event held in Greensboro on January 27, Arendell Parrot Academy senior Haynes Lewis was named Distinguished Young Woman of North Carolina.
“I was very surprised,” said Lewis. “I was on stage with so many capable and amazing young women. Any one of them would have been capable of representing our state. I feel very honored to be able to represent North Carolina but most especially to be able to represent that group of amazing young women.”
Lewis competed against 14 other young women. Prior to the competition in Greensboro, she spent a week doing community service projectss and visiting schools.
Lewis had previously been honored as the Distinguished Young Woman of Greenville in March and has now excelled at the state level. Along with the title, Lewis was awarded a $10,000 scholarship and earned preliminary awards in Self-Expression, Talent, Scholastics, and Overall Interview.
She gives credit and thanks to Brooke McLawhorn and Olivia Salter for being wonderful role models and supporting her through the entire program.
She is set to represent North Carolina in the national DYW scholarship program this June in Mobile, Alabama. The DYW program, known for being the nation's largest scholarship initiative for high school girls, continues to celebrate the accomplishments and potential of young women across the country.
“In June I will go to Mobile, Alabama for two weeks along with 49 other girls each from other of their states and we will do the same thing as in Greensboro just on a larger scale,” said Lewis. “Someone will be named the Distinguished Young Woman of America.”
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