Mary-Ashlyn Tucker is the 2014 Distinguished Young Woman of Lenoir County. The North Lenoir High School student is the daughter of Jan and Ricky Tucker.
“This is a dream come true,” said a shocked Tucker. “I can’t wait to see where this takes me.”
Tucker won in three preliminary categories – talent, self-expression and interviews – and accepted the medallion from outgoing 2013 Distinguished Young Woman of Lenoir County Morgan Harrison.
Nicole Robinson of North Lenoir was first runner-up. She also won in self-expression, scholastics and interviews. She is the daughter of LaVerne and Buddy Robinson.
Madison Hill was second runner-up. The Arendell Parrott Academy student is the daughter of Jeff and Prissy Hill. She also won in self-expression and scholastics.
Jordan Davis was third runner-up, also winning in talent and interviews. The Parrott student is the daughter of Jeff and Pam Davis.
The 12 contestants voted for the Spirit Award winner and came up with a tie – Allyson Heath, daughter of Jamie and Mia Heath, and Julie Williams, daughter of Junious and Teresa Williams. Both girls are South Lenoir High School students.
Other preliminary category winners were Madeline Howard, Tracie Taylor and Haley Rouse in fitness, all students at South Lenoir; Taylor Perry of North Lenoir, talent; and Madison Saint-Amand of South Lenoir, scholastics.
Katelynn Davis of South Lenoir also participated.
In her farewell appearance, Harrison gave specialty performances, led the 2014 contestants in the opening number and the 2013 Has Beens in a humorous presentation.
Other entertainment included Layne Jenkins, 2013 Jones-Onslow Distinguished Young Woman; Carly Sanderson, 2014 Jones-Onslow Distinguished Young Woman; and representatives from several other area programs.
The competition Saturday night in the packed Grainger-Hill Performing Arts Center was emceed by Skip Waters, chief meteorologist with WCTI-TV 12 in New Bern.
It was sponsored by the La Grange Rotary Club, directed by Mellany Davis and Ginny Pollock-Moody, and choreographed by Jennifer Tyndall.
Tucker will participate in the state program Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 in Greensboro. Ticket information will be available beginning Oct. 15. For that information or more on the Lenoir County program, call Mellany Davis at 252-569-4141.
Nancy S. Saunders can be reached at 252-559-1079 or Nancy.Saunders@Kinston.com.
Breakout: Distinguished Young Women Awards
2014 Lenoir County Distinguished Young Woman: Mary-Ashlyn Tucker
$4,000 scholarship, medallion and plaque; $500 state program clothing allowance; 16 x 20 portrait by Isaac Hines; $250 scholarship, plaque each for talent, self-expression and interview preliminaries
First runner-up: Nicole Robinson
$2,500 scholarship, plaque; $250 scholarship, plaque each for self-expression, scholastics and interview preliminaries
Second runner-up: Madison Hill
$1,500 scholarship, plaque; $250 scholarship, plaque each for self-expression, scholastics preliminaries
Third runner-up: Jordan Davis
$1,000 scholarship, plaque; $250 scholarship, plaque each for talent, interview preliminaries
Spirit Award: Julie Williams and Allyson Heath
$500 scholarship and plaque each
Be Your Best Self/Community awards
$3,000 total scholarships
Preliminary awards
$250 scholarship, plaque per category