Tickets are available for the annual Distinguished Young Women of Oakdale program, scheduled for Saturday, March 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Magnolia School Auditorium in Oakdale. Soroptimist International of Oakdale has sponsored the scholarship program for the past 37 years. Oakdale High School senior Madison Mattos currently holds the title of Oakdale’s Distinguished Young Woman for the Class of 2025.
This year’s program features 14 participants from Oakdale High School’s Class of 2026: Avery Barcelos, Zoe Byron, Julia Chavez, Avery Gleason, Tatiana Gonzalez, Kennedy Hayden, Taylor Krum, Ava-Maria Leijten, Samantha Oliveira, Ashlyn Parola, London Pattan-Mitchell, Iyska Rangel, Hayden Taylor, and Hannah Turpin.
Tickets for the March 1 program are $15 for adults and $6 for children and students and may be purchased online at sioakdale.org and at the event. The doors will open for tickets and seating at 6 p.m.
For more information, contact Nancy Lilly at 209-607-7605 or Email oakdale@distinguishedyw.org
Participants will compete in five categories: Scholastics, Talent, Fitness, Interview, and Self Expression for the Distinguished Young Woman of Oakdale title as well as category and other scholarship awards. The participant selected as Oakdale’s Distinguished Young Woman will go on to compete in the Distinguished Young Women of California Class of 2026 program this summer.
In the Feb. 19 issue, profiles of Avery Barcelos, Zoe Byron, Julia Chavez, Avery Gleason, Tatiana Gonzalez, Kennedy Hayden and Taylor Krum were featured.
This week, we present profiles of Ava-Maria Leijten, Samantha Oliveira, Ashlyn Parola, London Pattan-Mitchell, Iyska Rangel, Hayden Taylor and Hannah Turpin.
Photos of the participants were provided courtesy of Antoinette Ryun.
Ava-Maria Leijten
With an interest in biology, Ava would like to attend UC Davis, Sonoma State, or Cal Poly Humboldt to study the STEM field in hopes of ending up in medical laboratory science. Active on the Oakdale High Campus, Ava is a member of the varsity tennis team, serves in the Service Club, and assists the career counselor with activities. Ava’s achievements include winning the Lion’s Club International Student Speaker Contest of the first three levels. Ava enjoys volunteer work, bible study, crocheting, journaling, and performing community service through her church. Other interests of Ava’s include baking, reading, and physiology. Supporting Ava in all that she does are her parents Rodney Leijten and Tiffany Fanfa, siblings Hank, Wesley, Grace, and Luke, and boyfriend Jackson.
Samantha Oliveira
Following graduation from Oakdale High School, Samantha would like to attend a four-year university and study business with the career goal of working in the business field. Samantha is on the Honor Roll at OHS and is a member of the Service Club. Her activities include golf, skiing, and swimming. Samantha has volunteered in her community with Love Oakdale. In her free time, Samantha enjoys playing golf, baking, and reading. Supporting Samantha in all of her endeavors are her parents Jim and Jaime Oliveira and sisters Allison and Kate.
Ashlyn Parola
Following graduation from Oakdale High School, Ashlyn would like to attend Point Loma Nazarene University to major in liberal studies with the goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. Active on the OHS campus, Ashlyn participates in Leadership, the volleyball and track teams, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Leadership Team, Service Club, Link Crew, and currently serves as Junior Class Vice President. Ashlyn is a member of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF). She has earned her Academic and Sports Block O awards and received the Volleyball Mustang Award in 2023 and Volleyball Most Improved Player Award in 2024. Ashlyn enjoys volunteering at her church, serving as coach and referee for Upward Volleyball, Love Oakdale, Astro Foundation, and Oakdale School District’s summer volleyball camps. In her free time, Ashlyn enjoys attending concerts, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Cheering Ashlyn on are her parents Tim and Sara Parola.
London Pattan-Mitchell
With an interest in science, London would like to attend the University of Tennessee, Knoxville to study criminology with the career goal of becoming a criminologist. Active on the OHS campus, London participates in Science Olympiad, Science Club, and the Service Club. She has played basketball for two years and volunteered her time as the Oakdale boys basketball scorekeeper her freshman year. In addition, London has served as School Site Council Class Representative for three years. Outside of school, London enjoys science, playing pickleball and video games, and spending time with her friends. Supporting London in all of her endeavors is her Grandmother Jeanne Tucker and sister Daysia.
Iyska Rangel
Following graduation from Oakdale High School, Iyska would like to attend Sacramento State University to study music performance. At OHS, Iyska is active in track and field as a long distance runner and pole vaulter. She is also a member of the Academic Decathlon team, marching band as Assistant Drum Major, leadership and organization, and spinning mace for marching events. Iyska plays the French horn and trumpet in wind ensembles and individually. Iyska’s achievements include receiving 19 medals for Academic Decathlon and a 7k pin, Second Place in girls’ JV pole vault in Valley Oak League championships, numerous trophies as part of the marching band competitions, and Third Place ensemble member for a school musical in 2024. Iyska volunteers for many band-related events. In her spare time, Iyska enjoys music theory and performance, wire crafts, painting, drawing, photography, medical drama and novels, fiction and non-fiction. Supporting Iyska in all of her activities are father Javier Rangel, stepmother, Roxanne, and siblings Tenzing, River, SkyLynne, and Herminia.
Hayden Taylor
With an interest in helping people, Hayden would like to attend Columbia Junior College before transferring to California State University, Long Beach to study nursing with the career goal of becoming a neonatal nurse. At Oakdale High School, Hayden participates in the ROP program where she goes to Oak Valley Hospital for two hours each school day to help in the medical/surgical department as well as help nurses by taking patients’ vital signs and checking their blood sugar, changing beds, and helping where needed. She is BLS certified (CPR). Hayden is a member of the Service Club at OHS. She has also volunteered for the Oakdale Autumn Festival and Oakdale Citizens Cemetery’s “Once Upon a Tomb” fundraiser. In her free time, Hayden enjoys shopping, romance movies, hiking, traveling, and music. Supporting Hayden in all that she does are her parents Timothy Taylor and Donna Cordell and sisters Carter and Anigha.
Hannah Turpin
With a career goal of becoming a crime scene detective, following graduation from Oakdale High School, Hannah would like to attend the University of Southern California and study criminology. Hannah is active on the OHS campus as a member of the Varsity cheerleading team and is also a member of a competition cheer team. In her free time, Hannah enjoys baking and reading. Cheering Hannah on in all that she does are her parents Justin and Ozra Turpin and siblings Justin, Jr. and Zoe.
The Saturday, March 1 program at Magnolia Elementary will also showcase several of last year’s DYW participants including Kimberly Espinoza-Belmonte, Jordan Birchall, Memphislynn Carr, Montserrat Garcia, Maddy Hammond, Leah Sales, and Emma Weber, in addition to Oakdale’s Distinguished Young Woman Madison Mattos.
Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women is a free program that encourages participants to reach their full individual potential. For more information about Distinguished Young Women, contact Carly Bragg, National Headquarters Marketing and Communications Director, (251) 438-3621, Carly@DistinguishedYW.org, or visit www.DistinguishedYW.org.
For more information about Soroptimist International of Oakdale, Email sioakdale@soroptimist.net or visit their website and Oakdale Soroptimist Facebook and Instagram social media pages.
