Avery Gleason, Oakdale’s Distinguished Young Woman, was selected Second Alternate at the Distinguished Young Women of California Class of 2026 State finals in Bakersfield on July 27. Gleason joined 26 upcoming high school seniors from all over California who competed in five categories: Scholastics, Interview, Fitness, Talent, and Self Expression. The finals included a live showcase featuring fitness, talent, and public speaking.
For the Fitness category, Gleason completed an aerobic fitness routine consisting of squats, kicks, planks, and pushups. For her talent, she provided a vocal and guitar performance to the song “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac. In Self Expression, Gleason displayed her public speaking abilities in an on-stage speech addressing what she wants to leave behind as her legacy. Her thoughtful answer and confident delivery earned her one of three $500 Self Expression category awards.
The competition also included a review of the participants’ academic records and a 10-minute personal interview with the program’s judges.
Gleason earned one of three $500 Interview category awards for her communications skills, composure, and knowledge of current events.
A total of $10,000 in college scholarships were awarded. Audrey Chen of West Los Angeles was named California’s Distinguished Young Woman for the Class of 2026.
Gleason and her fellow participants spent a week in Bakersfield preparing for the competition, participating in life skills workshops with guest speakers including the mayor of Bakersfield, and performing community service.
Of her experience, Gleason shared, “My time at State was filled with overwhelming positivity and support from everyone around me. This program has taught me to put my best foot forward in every aspect of my life, and to really learn from the people that surround you. I will certainly take my experience at DYW with me as I enter my senior year of high school and strive to spread the “Be Your Best Self” message throughout Oakdale, as I have seen firsthand the success of the exemplary women that embody it. As Oakdale’s representative for the class of 2026, I hope to introduce DYW to as many young women as I can. This program is so incredibly beneficial to the development of essential life skills. I am beyond excited for the future of Distinguished Young Women in Oakdale, and am thankful to be a part of its history.”
Oakdale’s program is sponsored by Soroptimist International of Oakdale. The next local program for the Class of 2027 will be held in 2026 and is open to junior class girls that reside within the 95361 zip code area or attend an Oakdale high school.
For more information about Distinguished Young Women, visit www.DistinguishedYW.org. For more information about Soroptimist International of Oakdale, visit www.sioakdale.org, Oakdale Soroptimist Facebook, and soroptimist_of_oakdale Instagram.
