Local high school senior Carrington Hodge has been named Alabama’s Distinguished Young Woman of 2023 and will compete for the national title in Mobile this June.

Prior to her win in late Jan. Hodge, a student at The Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School (JCIB), was also named as Shelby County’s Distinguished Young Woman of 2023.

Hodge said she was encouraged to enter by her ballet teacher who had daughters that competed in similar state programs and was further encouraged after watching a lifelong friend, Julianne Abenoja, win the Alabama title in 2022.

“The 2022 winner of the Alabama program and I have danced together since we were eight,” said Hodge. “So, watching her go through the local program and the state program and being so successful as first runner up at the national program really made me want to get involved with the program as well.”

In addition to Abenoja, Hodge said there was another notable alum that made her experience special.

“Katie Boyd Britt, our current Senator, was a former junior miss and at the state program we sw her around three or four times,” she said. “So just being able to converse with someone of such high respect has been a great opportunity.”

Hodge said she has earned roughly $12,000 in scholarship funds during this competition season. These funds will help her pursue her currently chosen degree in Neuroscience/Pre-Med with a minor in African American studies at the college of her choice.

She said while she hasn’t decided on a college yet she would prefer to study out of state and is looking at Duke University in particular.

The Distinguished Young Women program has been around since 1958 and provides over $1 billion in scholarship opportunities each year according to a press release from the program this week.

“Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women is a free program that encourages participants to reach their full individual potential,” read the release. “Our mission is to empower young women by providing over $1 billion in scholarship opportunities, connecting with a nationwide network of women, developing their self-confidence, and participating in our Life Skills Workshops that prepare them for success after high school.”

During the competition participants are evaluated in the categories of Scholastics (25%), Interview (25%), Talent (20%), Fitness (15%), and Self-Expression (15%).

Hodge said she was grateful for the opportunity to improve her public speaking and professional networking skills throughout the competition.

During her time at JCIB Hodge has participated in the school’s Black Student Union, leadership development organization Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Birmingham Chapter, HOSA-Future Health Professionals, mathematics honor society Mu Alpha Theta, French Club, and has served as a freshman mentor for the last two years according to her online portfolio.

Hodge said mentorship and leadership are two things that are very important to her. In her time with the JCIB Black Student Union she was elected Vice President and was elected Teen Corresponding Secretary of Jack and Jill of America.

In addition to her extra-curricular involvement at school, Hodge also took her passion for civic engagement and social justice out of the classroom to found her resource website “Unmasked: The Simone Project” in 2022

“It is an educational resource website and social media platform that’s promoting the narratives of marginalized voices,” said Hodge. “So that includes people who practice minority relgions, memberos of the LGBTQ+ community, and people of minority races. And it’s just promoting that minority history but also highlights current events and news stories that may not necessarily be taught in classrooms all the time.”

In addition to working towards her high school graduation over the next few months, Hodge will also be preparing for the national competition this summer by brushing up on her interview skills and practicing a fitness routine that will be sent to all 50 contestants.

While she described some parts of the national competition as “a little scary,” Hodge said preparation will be her key to success and added that she was proud of her accomplishments in the competition thus far.

“I would definitely say it’s made all of things that I’ve been working toward since 7th or 8th grade feel like they’ve finally paid off,” said Hodge. “So, whether that be dance or scholastic involvement being able to tie that all into one title as Distinguished Young Woman has been a great accomplishment.”

National sponsors of the program include Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Mobile County, City of Mobile, Alabama Power Foundation, Master Boat Builders, Shoe Station and the Barkin Family, Gant Travel Management, the Coffeen Family, Regions Financial Corporation, Jostens and Alabama Media Group.