Avery Gleason came away with the title on Saturday night, selected as Oakdale’s new Distinguished Young Woman.
Sponsored by Soroptimist International of Oakdale, the Distinguished Young Women of Oakdale Class of 2026 program was staged on Saturday, March 1 at Magnolia School Auditorium. Family, friends, and community members attended the showcase that featured 14 junior class participants from Oakdale High School.
Oakdale High senior and Distinguished Young Woman of Oakdale for the Class of 2025, Madison Mattos, passed her title to Avery Gleason.
Avery received a $2,500 scholarship for the DYW Class of 2026 title award. She also earned the Scholastics Award and an additional $200 scholarship. She will move on to represent Oakdale at the California Distinguished Young Women competition in July for an opportunity to earn additional college scholarships.
Scholarship awards were also presented to Iyska Rangel for Second Place ($1,500) and the Interview Award ($200). Ava-Maria Leijten received Third Place ($1,000) and the Self Expression Award ($200). Zoe Byron received Fourth Place ($800). Avery Barcelos received Fifth Place ($600). Taylor Krum received the Fitness Award ($200) and Kennedy Hayden received the Talent Award ($200). Ashlyn Parola received the Community Service Award ($350). London Pattan-Mitchell and Ava-Maria Leijten each received Spirit Awards, earning $200 scholarships. Also participating in the program were Julia Chavez, Tatiana Lizet Gonzalez, Samantha Oliveira, Hayden Taylor, and Hannah Turpin.
A total of $7,850 in scholarships were awarded from donations received from the Oakdale Lions Club, Oakdale Rotary Club, Oak Valley Community Bank, Dr. Chet and Mrs. Parnima Mahida, Dr. A. Lee Scaief/Oak Valley Optometric, Drs. Jeff and Jodi Sceville, Bordona’s Furniture and Appliance, Haidlen Ford/Steves Chevrolet-Buick Oakdale New Car Dealers, Nicholas White/Edward Jones Investments, Orval Neal/Generations Home Loans, and Steve and Terri Taylor. Soroptimist International of Oakdale provided the title award.
“The Oakdale Soroptimists would like to thank the Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Sponsors for providing the Class of 2026 scholarships,” said DYW committee co-chair Nancy Lilly. “We would also like to thank the Distinguished Young Women Supporters and 2025 Soroptimist Sponsors for their generous donations that helped support this program.”
The Saturday night showcase was directed by Oakdale’s Distinguished Young Woman for the Class of 2016 Amy Craig and Quinn Gagos, Oakdale’s Distinguished Young Women Class of 2015 Second Place finalist, served as emcee.
