Makena Petsch of Riverside will represent Rhode Island as the state's participant in the 66th Distinguished Young Women national finals June 22-24 at the Mobile Civic Center Theater in Mobile, Ala.

Petsch is one of 50 representatives competing for $155,000 in cash scholarships and the opportunity to represent the program as the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2023.

She is 2023 graduate of East Providence High School where she served as president of the student council, was a gymnast and a performer in the music department. Petsch is the daughter of Danielle and Brian Petsch.

Following her selection as the Distinguished Young Woman of Rhode Island, Petsch began preparations for the national competition, which will include five categories of evaluation: scholastics, interview, fitness, talent and self-expression.

Petsch was set to spend two weeks in Mobile, participating in team building activities, complete community service projects, interact with the Gulf Coast community through various events, and engage in many hours of rehearsal in preparation for the three-night scholarship competition.

If selected as the program’s overall winner, Petsch will spend the next year representing Distinguished Young Women across the country through various appearances and promoting the program’s national outreach initiative of "Be Your Best Self."

The program is designed to combat major issues facing children today including childhood obesity and high school drop out rates, as well as encourage young people to take an active interest in their communities through service. The outreach program consists of five elements, "Be Healthy, Be Involved, Be Studious, Be Ambitious and Be Responsible."

Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women is a free program that encourages participants to reach their full individual potential. 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.