PROGRAM HISTORY Distinguished Young Women was founded in Mobile, Alabama, by the city’s Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Jaycees. In the late 1950s, the Jaycees established a national scholarship program and incorporated it in 1957. In 1958, the first national program, had representatives from 18 states. Whitenack of West Virginia became the first national winner and received $5,000 in cash scholarships. Today, the national program spans the country with participants from all 50 states. Almost 4,000 young women participate at the local and state levels each year. BE YOUR BEST SELF The Be Your Best Self Program (BYBS) is Distinguished Young Women’s national outreach program, which encourages self esteem, healthy lifestyles, and goal setting in young people. BYBS emphasizes five elements: • Be Healthy – Be physically fit and drug free. • Be Involved – Serve my community. • Be Studious – Stay in school. • Be Ambitious – Set and achieve goals. • Be Responsible – Live by moral and ethical principals. Distinguished Young Women launched the BYBS program in 1987 as a way for the participants to share their positive values with young people to help them lead more successful and productive lives. Distinguished Young Women make appearances across the country to share the message for the BYBS program and encourage young people to implement these five elements in their own lives. Distinguished Young Women celebrates a National Be Yourself Week each Spring. During this week, Distinguished Young Women all across the country visited Boys & Girls Clubs in their areas to share the Be Your Best
