Brooke Rucker of Cartersville, Ga. will travel to Mobile, Ala. on Sunday, June 15 to participate in the 57th Distinguished Young Women National Finals to be held June 26, 27 and 28 at the Mobile Civic Center Theater. Rucker is one of 50 state representatives competing for a share of more than $150,000 in cash scholarships and the opportunity to represent the program as the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2014.
Following her selection as the Distinguished Young Woman of Georgia, Rucker began preparations for the National Finals competition, which will include five categories of evaluation: scholastics (20%), interview (25%), fitness (15%), talent (25%) and self-expression (15%). During her two weeks in Mobile, Rucker will participate in team building activities, complete community service projects, interact with the Gulf Coast community through various events and engage in many hours of rehearsal in preparation for the three night scholarship competition.
“We are delighted to have fifty of the best young women that America has to offer to come to our city to participate in the 57th National Finals,” said Pam Patterson, Interim Executive Director for Distinguished Young Women. “Mobile always opens its arms and welcomes these young ladies into their hearts and their homes. Sunday will be a great day as we meet these gifted individuals and begin our journey toward selecting the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2014.”
If selected as the program’s overall winner, Rucker will spend the next year representing Distinguished Young Women across the country through various appearances and promoting the program’s national outreach initiative of “Be Your Best Self.” The outreach program is designed to combat major issues facing children today including childhood obesity and high school drop out rates, as well as encourage young people to take an active interest in their communities through service. The outreach program consists of five elements – Be Healthy, Be Involved, Be Studious, Be Ambitious and Be Responsible.
Rucker is a 2014 graduate of Woodland High School and the daughter of Tanya and Donald Rucker.