Dunbar senior named Distinguished Young Woman of Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Wendy Wei, a senior at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, is the 2021 Distinguished Young Woman of Kentucky.

The scholarship program, which is usually hosted by the Singletary Center for the Arts, went virtual this year because of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

Thirty-two high school senior girls from across the state competed Jan. 23 for the $8,550 in cash scholarships.

Judges evaluated them on scholastics (25%), interview (25%), talent (20%), fitness (15%), and self-expression (15%).

Wendy is the 13th state winner from Fayette County in the program’s 63-year history and the second winner from Dunbar in the past five years.

The program encourages self-esteem and excellence in young people through its five principles: Be Healthy, Be Involved, Be Studious, Be Ambitious, and Be Responsible. In the coming year, Wendy will represent Kentucky at various public events and serve as a role model by spreading the program’s national outreach message of “Be Your Best Self.”

The national finals are June 24, 25, and 26 in Mobile, Ala., if COVID-19 conditions allow.

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