The annual Distinguished Young Women of Oakdale program will be held on Saturday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. at Magnolia School Auditorium. Soroptimist International of Oakdale has sponsored the scholarship program for the past 34 years. Oakdale High School senior Reagan Oliveira currently holds the title of Oakdale’s Distinguished Young Woman for the Class of 2022.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children and students and may be purchased at the event. The doors will open for tickets and seating at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Nancy Lilly 209-607-7605 or Email sioakdale@soroptimist.net. COVID protocols in effect will be followed.

Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women is a free program that encourages participants to reach their full individual potential. Its mission is to empower young women by providing over $1 billion in scholarship opportunities, connecting with a nationwide network of women, developing their self-confidence, and participating in our Life Skills Workshops that prepare them for success after high school. National sponsors include Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Mobile County, City of Mobile, Alabama Power Foundation, Shoe Station, Gant Travel Management, the Coffeen Family, Regions Financial Corporation, Jostens and Alabama Media Group.

Oakdale’s program on Saturday evening will feature eight participants from Oakdale High’s Class of 2023. They are, in alphabetical order, Jessica Birchall, Haven Cating, Brooklyn Gonzalez, Breanna Guillermo, Laura Hynes, Kennedy Jones, Rielly Jones, and Jessica Zepeda. They 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 totaling $7,850. The participant selected as Oakdale’s Distinguished Young Woman will go on to compete in the Distinguished Young Women of California Class of 2023 program this summer.