Saturday was a night filled with beauty and poise, as 10 lovely young ladies took to the stage at Jeff Davis Community College to vie for the title of Escambia County Distinguished Young Woman 2015.

Competing were Anna Catherine Sasser, Amanda Moye, Danyelle Cosey, Hannah Corcoran, Ryan Garmeson, Virginia Brittingham, Brooke Bell, Cassidy Lanier, Christin Simpkins and Megan Fournier.

This year, Garmeson, a T.R. Miller High School student, brought home the medal. Fournier, an Escambia Academy student, earned the first alternate. Simpkins, from Escambia County High School, earned the second alternate.

As DYW, Garmeson earned a $1,000, two-year tuition scholarship to JDCC, while Fournier earned a $750 cash scholarship and Simpkins a $500 cash scholarship.
State universities and colleges awarded more than $380,000 in scholarship monies during the night and included Auburn University, Troy University, the University of Mobile, the University of West Alabama and JDCC.

The night’s other winners earned a $250 cash scholarship and included:

• Be Your Best Self: Simpkins;

• Spirit of DYM: Cosey;

• Self-expression: Fournier and Garmeson;

• Fitness: Fournier and Simpkins;

• Scholastics: Corcoran and Garmeson;

• Interview: Fournier and Garmeson; and,

• Talent: Garmeson and Lanier.

Garmeson will now represent Escambia County in the annual program, which will be held next year in Mobile.

This article was written by Brewton Standard publisher Stephanie Nelson, for The Atmore Advance.