Distinguished Young Women of St. Clair County recently hosted their fundraising 'Celebrity' Waiter Dinner in preparation for their scholarship program.

A successful fundraiser has put the St. Clair County Distinguished Young Women scholarship program well on its way to providing thousands of dollars of college tuition help to local young women.

After being rescheduled from April 30 to May 12, their fundraising Celebrity Waiter Dinner bought in more than 250 people and raised $6,000 in scholarships for the Distinguished Young Women of St. Clair County program.

“We were just so thrilled to have the turnout we did,” said Distinguished Young Women of St. Clair County  President Carol Hornsby. “It was a difficult decision to go ahead with the dinner, because the people that typically contribute to the program are in St. Clair County and there are so many huge needs right now. But we’re very pleased that people turned out and supported the program.”

Now, the ladies are primping and preparing for the scholarship program, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. June 4 at the Springville Middle School Auditorium. The ladies will be the first group to earn the title of Distinguished Young Woman instead of the former program title, Junior Miss, which some people identified with a beauty pageant-type event.

“I think the name change has been positive, because more girls are participating this year than we’ve ever had, and I think the new name may have been part of that,” noting that there are 13 participants this year, compared to five in 2005.

The program chooses its Distinguished Young Woman with 25 percent of the evaluation consisting of an interview with a judging panel, 25 percent on a talent performed during the program, 20 percent scholastic achievement, and 15 percent each on a fitness routine and self-expression.

Scholarships are awarded for each of those categories, as well as the Be Your Best Self essay, overall winner, first runner-up and second runner-up.

The organization gave $8,000 worth of scholarships last year, including one two-year full scholarship to Jefferson State Community College. In addition to financial help for college, the program teaches a variety of skills that will help women in their academic and professional lives to come.

“I get calls and emails from these girls that say ‘Thank you so much for teaching us interview skills,’ or ‘I interviewed for a college scholarship at the university and had I not interviewed through this program, I’d be scared to death,’” Hornsby said. “It’s a growing experience for these girls, and I think in the long term, they’re thankful for the experience.