Abby Rost and Jada Sterzinger

Rost, Sterzinger vie for DYM state crown

Minneota seniors Abby Rost and Jada Sterzinger, both of Ivanhoe, will be participating in the 2021 Distinguished Young Women State Finals Program on Feb. 26.
High school girls from across Minnesota will compete for cash scholarships and the opportunity to represent the state as the Distinguished Young Woman of Minnesota at the National Finals in Mobile, Alabama in June.
Rost, the daughter of Marty and Andrea Rost, has been involved in a myriad of school, church and community projects and activities. The Rost family lives three miles east of Ivanhoe.
Sterzinger is the daughter of Dale and Robin Sterzinger of Ivanhoe.
"DYW is a scholarship program that teaches its participants important life skills such as how to 'be our best selves'," said Rost. "My mom participated in the program when she was my age and I have grown up watching upperclassmen participate in the program as well."
Sterzinger also decided to participate in the DYW program because of its rich history and opportunities for young women.
"I signed up for DYW because I knew it had many opportunities and scholarships available for my future," Sterzinger said. "And I really wanted to experience something I may never would have gotten to."
Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women (formerly called Junior Miss) is a free program that encourages participants to reach their full potential. The mission of DYW is to empower young women by providing over $1 billion in scholarship opportunities, developing their self-confidence and participating in Life Skills Workshops that prepare them for success after high school.
Rost is the Minneota Senior Class President, Student Council President, National Honor Society Treasurer and Ivanhoe Greenleaf 4-HJ Club President. Her activities include basketball, volleyball, softball, track, school musicals, concert band, choir, jazz band and Youth Works Mission Trip.
She plans to attend South Dakota State University to become an optometrist.
Sterzinger's activities include Just for Kix, Canby/Minneota dance team (high kick), speech, softball, volleyball, softball student manager, 4-H, mission trip, community service and church vacation Bible School volunteer.
She also plans to attend South Dakota State University and will study Nursing.
In the talent portion, Sterzinger will utilize her skills as a dancer for the talent portion of the DYW program.
"My talent is a lyrical/jazz dance to “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman," she explained. "I have been in dance for many years, so I really wanted to incorporate my love for dance into my talent."
Rost will play the saxophone for her talent, although she is undecided which song she will perform.
Both young women said that last year's local and state winner, Molly Krog of Ivanhoe, has been a big influence and has helped them throughout the program.
"Molly has been such a huge help when we did our local program and deciding weather or not I should do State," Sterzinger noted. "Watching her at State really helped my decision. I also know that if Abby and I ever need help or a question, Molly will be right there to help us with whatever we need."
"Molly lives a couple miles from my house and we have been friends for as long as I can remember," said Rost. "Molly has shared many memories from her state program with me, which makes me very excited to participate in the program this year. Molly was very helpful when I participated in the local program."
In the local program last August in Ivanhoe and is held annually during the town's Polish Days celebration. Rost won the local competition and Sterzinger was first alternate and advanced to the state competition under separate titles, Ivanhoe and Lincoln County, respectively.
"We are both very excited to meet the other participants and participate in the program," Rost said.
Whether or not the program will be held live or virtually will be determined on the COVID-19 situation.
"I am hoping the program can be live, but I know that with COVID that might not be possible so I am keeping an open mind to having a virtual program as well," said Rost.
"I am really hoping that State can be live," Sterzinger said. "I want to meet all the other girls in person and make all the fun memories like past years."
For more information on Distinguished Young Women of Minneota, email Carol Rubino, State Program Coordinator, at minnesota@distinguishedyw.org.

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