Emily Thompson, who was named Distinguished Young Woman of Marengo County in September, is representing Marengo County in the state program in Montgomery from Jan. 10-18.

Thompson, the daughter of Michael and Kim Thompson, is a senior at Sweet Water High School.

High School senior girls from across Alabama will join together in Montgomery for the Distinguished Young Women of Alabama program at Frazer United Methodist Church. Participants will compete for $41,000 in cash scholarships and more than $2 million in college granted scholarships, and the opportunity to represent the state as the Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama for 2014.

The 48 young women competing will be evaluated by a panel of five judges in the following categories: scholastics (20 percent), interview (25 percent), fitness (15 percent), self-expression (15 percent), and talent (25 percent).

The participant selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama will advance to the National level at the 57th Distinguished Young Women National Finals in Mobile, in June, where she will join with 49 other state representatives in competing for cash scholarships and the opportunity to represent the program as the Distinguished Young Woman of America.

For more information, contact Carna Triftshauser at 334-538-4451 or alabama@distinguishedyw.org.