Columbia High School Junior Hannah Watts was crowned Marion County Distinguished Young Woman Saturday night in a virtual program. Watts is the daughter of Herb and Sarah Watts.
“I think it’s awesome. This is something I really wanted to do. It is a great thing to represent,” Watts said about winning.
The program, whose big sponsor is the Kiwanis Club, this year was completely different due to the coronavirus. Shelley Putnam, who is over the Marion County program, said the committee had a lot of help from the regional director and was still able to do the program even though it was online. Watts said she was a little disappointed because she couldn’t compete on stage and feel the energy from the audience. However, she said as of right now, when she goes to the state competition in July, it is still set to be a live competition.
The national program is set to be virtual as well.
Watts competed against three other girls, including Marlie Barnes and Olivia Adams from Columbia Academy and Violet Thomas from Columbia High School. Committee member Danielle Whittington said there were originally nine girls signed up, but by the time of the competition it had been reduced to four.
Marlie Barnes was selected first alternative and received the Scholastic & Spirit Award, Violet Thomas won the “Be Your Best Self” Essay Award and Olivia Adams received the Most Ads Sold Award.
The participants had to send in pictures with their dresses on, had to compete in a fitness routine, self-expression, talent and interview.
The judges were all experienced in the program and were able to adapt easily to the challenges that came, Putnam said. To help the participants, mock interviews were held through Zoom, as were as lot of meetings with parents and community leaders to help prepare.
Both Putnam and Whittington admitted a downfall this year was the committee was not being able to get to know the contestants as normally. During the preparation time normally, there were events such as teas, parties and trips that allowed them to interact with more of the committee.
For the talent portion, Watts did a monologue “Staying Power” about hope and how hope is important and needed in the world. It is from the play “To Become a Star.” The monologue was sent in by video.
For the fitness portion, the contestants had to send a video doing a fitness routine. Watts said that was her weakest area. Whittington said the young ladies only had one practice on the fitness routine before everything was shut down because of the virus. Whittington said on the day they practiced, Watts was sick so Watts had to learn the routine by watching videos.
The self-expression category, Watts said she was given a list of questions the day before and then she had to prerecord her answer on Zoom and the interview portion was also completed with the judges on Zoom.
Watts has been very active in the community and at school. She is in the Key Club, vice president of the Beta Club, vice president of the junior student counsel, running for the student body president for the whole school but is not sure how that will play out with the virus shutting down the schools buildings.
She is also involved with Mu Alpha Theta, Book Club, Chess Club, member of the color guard, vice president of Dusty Club, Crown Club and on the speech and debate team. Not to mention serving on the State Superintendent’s Supervisory Council and has served as a page for State Sen. Angela Hill.
Watts also lived four years in Turkey, where her parents served as missionaries. Watts said she can still speak Turkish some but wants to become more familiar with it again. She said it was a great experience and is very thankful for it.
Future plans for her include most likely going to Ole Miss to pursue a political science major and minor in Spanish. She is unsure, though, whether she will attend junior college first or go straight to the university.
Watts has set the goal to place in the state competition and do her best. She said where fitness was the weakest portion, she wants to be able to prove at state she has improved and is no longer weak in any area.
Putnam said, “All the girls were wonderful. I think she (Watts) will be wonderful representative.”
Whittington said, “One of the main mottos of DYW is ‘To Be Your Best Self’ and I think Hannah embodies that.”
“Keep trying, keep working hard and putting your best foot forward. You can’t get anywhere without a little work and effort,” Watts said.
