A Skyline senior was named as Utah's Young Woman of the Year Saturday night in closing ceremonies at Kingsbury Hall on the University of Utah campus.
Amanda Williams, 17, will serve for the next year as the outstanding high school senior girl in Utah. She won the title after vying against nearly 50 girls statewide in such areas as scholastic achievement, creative and performing arts, fitness, and composure.But Williams, a daughter of Albert and Roberta Moore, Sandy, and Charles Williams, Chicago, originally wasn't very interested in entering the competition.
"This is a girl who hung up on Ellie (Ellie Muth, pageant director) and said, `This is not my thing,' " said her mother, Roberta Moore. "But I told her to give it a shot; she might have a good time."
And that she did. "My friends and family gave me the confidence to do this," Williams said. "The girls were so wonderful I knew I wanted to be a part of this program. They are the most wonderful, talented, intelligent girls in the world."
Williams, a National Merit Scholar, plans on attending the University of Utah next fall as a premed major. "I want to become a doctor," Williams said. "I will probably major in chemistry."
As Utah's Young Woman of the Year, Williams wins a $5,000 scholarship and will participate in the national competition that will take place this July in Mobile, Ala.
She also plans on letting others know how much she has benefited from this program. "I expect I am going to go and spread the spirit and love of the program to the girls out there."
Williams has set high values for herself and expects the same from others. "I value a good sense of humor," she said. "I value someone who can take steps and stumble through life and still have a smile on their face. I value those who are confident. I value honesty and I value people who do what they say they will do. These are the goals I've set for myself to strive toward."
The Young Woman of the Year program is a scholarship program which recognizes, rewards and encourages excellence in young women. Previous to this year the program was known as America's Junior Miss. The name was changed in order to keep up with women's changing roles in America.