2024 Distinguished Young Woman chosen in Georgetown

The Distinguished Young Women scholarship program was held Aug. 5 at the Possum Point Theater in Georgetown, where seven young ladies participated for the title of Delaware’s Distinguished Young Woman and more than $6,950 in scholarships.

Their scores are based on scholastics (25%), interview (25%), talent (20%), self-expression (15%) and fitness (15%).

Alicia Chu of Archmere Academy took the honor of 2024 Distinguished Young Woman and garnered $2,500 in scholarships. Sahaana Rajagopalan of Charter School of Wilmington was first honoree and received $1,500 in scholarships. Adrianna Hutton of William Penn received second honoree and received $500.

Alicia Chu also received the Talent Award ($250), Interview Award ($250), Fitness Award ($250), Scholastics Award ($250) and Self-Expression Award ($250).

Carley DeFord of Woodbridge High School and Sahaana Rajagopalan received the Spirit Awards for $250. Rajagopalan also received the Community Service Essay Award for $150. Brynn Moor of William Penn High School received the Be Your Best Self Essay Award for $150.

Non-Finalist Awards of $150 went to DeFord, Moor, Peggy Thomas of Sussex Academy and Ashley Cifuentes Gutierrez of Sussex Central.

The Delaware Distinguished Young Women scholarship program is the largest and oldest scholarship organization for women in the United States. The organization offers more than $1 billion worth of college-granted scholarships across the local, state and national levels. This program is annual and open to any young woman entering her senior year of high school. 

“This was our largest class of participants since pre-COVID, and we are so happy to be back on the upswing,” said Program Director Mallory Nielsen Hardy, the 2016 winner of Delaware’s Distinguished Young Woman. “As a woman, I think supporting the next generation of women is the most important thing we can do. This group of participants were so inspiring, and brought me so much joy and hope for our future.” 

For more information, go to distinguishedyw.org/delaware.