The Triton Distinguished Young Woman Board of Directors are proud to introduce the nine young ladies who will vie to become the 54th Distinguished Young Woman of Triton. Tickets to the scholarship program, to be held on Saturday, October 7, can be purchased from the contestants or at the door for $6. Triton’s Performing Arts Center will open at 6:30 PM with the program starting at 7:00 PM.
The 2018 contestants are:
Contestant #1, Arminda Chapman Dreibelbis is the daughter of Kathryn Chapman & Dennis Dreibelbis of Bourbon. Mindi plans to attend Grace College and pursue a career in nursing. Her activities include the National Quarter Horse Association, 4-H, National Society of High School Scholars, National Honor Society, Science Club, Art Club, Spanish Club, and tennis. She has volunteered her time by packing food for Feed My Starving Children, helping at the Race for Reading 5K, and feeding the homeless alongside her church’s missions group. In her spare time she enjoys riding and taking care of her horses, exploring medical advancements, calligraphy, leather work, and fishing. Mindi will be playing “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz on the piano.
Contestant #2 
Emma Ross is the daughter of Kelley & Robert Ross of Bourbon. Emma plans to attend Butler University to pursue a career in nursing. Her activities include President of the Triton Spirit Club, Vice President of National Honor Society and Students Against Destructive Decisions, Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy, Senior Leaders, Science Club, Art Club, Spanish Club, Distributive Education Clubs of America, Yearbook, varsity volleyball and varsity tennis. She has volunteered her time to Joe’s Kids, Lake James Christian Camp, Wednesday Night Kids Church, Vacation Bible School, and Warsaw Community Animal Hospital. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, socializing with friends and family, meeting new people, and helping out with younger kids in the community. Emma will perform a jazz dance to “Jump” by Flo Rida.
Contestant #3
Breanna Campbell is the daughter of Tricia & Scott Campbell of Bourbon. Breanna has yet to make her college decision, but plans to pursue a career as a writer, artist, or nurse. Throughout high school Breanna has participated in varsity cheerleading. She has volunteered with Feed my Starving Children and helped with mini cheerleading camp. In her spare time she enjoys writing, drawing, reading, listening to music, and hanging out with family and friends. Breanna will perform a dance/cheer routine to “Road Less Traveled” by Lauren Alaina.
Contestant #4
Emily Chickering is the daughter of Megin & Timm Chickering of Bourbon. Emily has yet to make her college choice, but she plans to pursue a career in nursing. She has participated in National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Students, dancing at Astound Dance Academy, Trojan Singers, Senior Leaders, Spanish Club and cheerleading. Emily has volunteered in the nursery and Sunday school class at the Etna Green Church of Christ and at Giggles and Scribbles Daycare. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, singing, and spending time with family and friends. Emily will perform a tap dance, choreographed by her instructor, Alex Jackson, to “Crabbuckit” by The Good Lovelies.
Contestant #5
Nicole Sechrist is the daughter of April & Erik Sechrist of Bourbon. Nicole plans to attend Taylor University where she will pursue a career as a pediatric nurse. Her activities include National Honor Society, Senior Leaders, Art Club, Spanish Club, Science Club, Spirit Club, varsity volleyball, varsity basketball, and varsity softball. She has volunteered her time to the Vacation Bible School program at the Country Church, with Lakeland Child Evangelism Ministries, and numerous school events involving kids camps, sports, and tutoring. In her spare time she enjoys shopping, traveling, volunteering, and spending time with her friends. Nicole will perform a jump rope routine to “I Like To Move It” by Real 2 Real.
Contestant #6
Sara Stevens is the daughter of Mark Stevens of Bourbon, Sara plans to pursue a political science degree at Arizona State University. Her activities include DECA, Science Club, Art Club, Spirit Club, Choir, basketball, softball, and track. She has volunteered her time for Books and Baskets and various sports camps. In her spare time she enjoys taking care of her rabbits and cats, ranking TV show characters, and watching track and field events. Sara will be singing “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri.
Contestant #7
Montana Golden is the daughter of Bobbi & Jeremy Golden of Etna Green. Montana plans to attend Ball State University to study acting. Her activities include being the drum major in the school marching band, drama and musical productions, National Honor Society, Jazz Band, Trojan Singers, Wagon Wheel Jr, and Art Club. She has volunteered her time to the Wagon Wheel Community Theater and has used her artistic abilities to design and build props for the marching band. In her spare time she enjoys the theater, music, art, reading, writing, and being with her animals. Montana will be performing a musical performance to “How Lovely To Be A Woman” from Bye Bye Birdie.
Contestant #8
Elizabeth Beatty is the daughter of Erin & Brad Beatty of Etna Green. Beth has yet to make her college decision but plans to pursue a career as an emergency room nurse. Her activities include Science Club, Spirit Club, Cheerleading Captain, Future Farmers of America, Fellowship of Christian Students, Leadership Team, Helping Hands, marching band section leader, and track manager. She has volunteered her time at the hospital, has packed food for Feed my Starving Children, Pack a Backpack, Vacation BIble School and Children’s Church at Argos UMC. In her spare time she enjoys music and exploring the medical field. Beth will be singing a song for her on stage talent.
Contestant #9
Jingle Grigsby is the daughter of Gen & Robert Grigsby of Tippecanoe. Jingle plans to attend Ball State University to study animation, storyboard illustration and voice acting. Her activities include Art Club, drama, musical productions, animating, and video editing. She has volunteered her time with the Neuter Scooter and Art Club fundraisers. In her spare time she enjoys drawing, reading, writing, filmmaking, voice acting, singing, and her animals. Jingle will be singing and performing a skit to the SpongeBob SquarePants song “Ripped My Pants.”
Distinguished Women of Triton is a not for profit organization, with 100 percent of ticket sales and donations from the community going towards the scholarship fund and program’s sustaining fees.
Since it’s beginning, Junior Miss, now known as Distinguished Young Women, has awarded high school seniors scholarships for their academic and on stage performances. Each contestant is judged in five categories: scholastic achievement (25%), interview (25%), talent (20%), fitness (15%), and self-expression (15%). Prior to the show a third party tallies each contestants scholastic score based on their GPA, SAT, and level of class difficulty. The day of the show a panel of judges will spend 10 minutes conducting a personal interview with each contestant. During the show the audience is able to enjoy the 90-second talents, fitness routine, and self-expression portion of judging.
After all the scores have been tallied during a short intermission, the Triton DYW Board along with numerous local sponsors will award $4,200 in scholarships. Preliminary awards include scholastic achievement, fitness, self-expression, talent, Spirit of Junior Miss, and an interview award that honors our late, long time chairwoman, and the 1975 DYW of Triton, Mrs. Tammy (McIntyre) Sauer. Triton’s 2017 DYW, Lexie Albright, will return to perform a talent, share her experience, take a final walk, and announce the 2018 winner.
The winner of Triton’s DYW will join other senior girls from across the state to compete for Indiana’s Distinguished Young Women in Kokomo the week of February 11, 2018. The journey will continue for the winner of the state competition at the 61st annual America’s Distinguished Young Women Finals in Mobile, Alabama on June 28, 29 and 30, 2018.
Founded in 1958 in Mobile, Alabama, DYW is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls. During its 60 years of operation, the program has provided life-changing experiences for more than 765,000 young women. Distinguished Young Women has provided more than $106 million in cash scholarships and $1.5 billion college granted scholarship opportunities to program participants at the local, state and national level. Previously known as America’s Junior Miss, the program announced its new name in June 2010.
The mission of Distinguished Young Women is to positively impact the lives of young women by providing a transformative experience that promotes and rewards scholarship, leadership and talent. National sponsors include Mobile County, City of Mobile, Wintzell’s Oyster House, Encore Rehabilitation, Alabama Power Foundation, Master Boat Builders, The Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Regions Financial Corporation, Evonik, and The Alabama Media Group.
