Lainey Schuesselin, Distinguished Young Woman of Lafayette County, will be one of 32 Mississippi high school seniors competing for more than $36,000 in college scholarships when the 2026 Distinguished Young Women of Mississippi Program gets underway Thursday, July 17, in Meridian, Mississippi.
The state program, which is held in Meridian, Mississippi, is now in its 69th year celebrating and spotlighting outstanding achievements of the state’s best and brightest high school women. The three nights of competition at The Evangel Temple concludes on Saturday, July 19. The doors open nightly at 6:30 pm and each show starts promptly at 7:30 pm for the three-night event.
Reserved tickets for the 2026 Distinguished Young Women Program are available for $65 for a three-night package. General admission tickets are available for $50 for a three-night package, or may be purchased for individual evenings: $20, Thursday; $20, Friday; and $25, Saturday. Tickets go on sale Monday, June 30, and may be obtained by logging on www.purplepass.com/dywofms26 or calling 601-480-3438. Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are welcome.
“We are extremely excited about this year’s program,” said Sid Wilkinson, State Chairman of the Distinguished Young Women of Mississippi Program. “Distinguished Young Women of MS celebrates the outstanding accomplishments of high school women and offers them cash scholarship opportunities to further their education and to develop their self-confidence.”
Lainey Schuesselin, the daughter of John & Nancy Maria Schuesselin of Oxford, attends Oxford High School. Academic accomplishments, memberships and hobbies include the following:
- Varsity Dancer (2022-present)
- Varsity Tennis player (2021-present)
- Individual Qualifier for women’s singles (2025)
- Raised money for The Pantry in Oxford MS
- Member of the OHS Students For Alzheimer’s Club
- Second place in Pom MHSAA (2024)
- Highest Grade in Algebra 2 (2024).
She plans to attend University of Pittsburgh or University of Mississippi to pursue a career in Pediatric Surgery.
During the week-long program in Meridian, participants are evaluated on scholastic achievement, fitness, self-expression, talent, and interview. Lainey has chosen a lyrical dance solo of “You Say” by Lauren Daigle for her talent.
If selected as Distinguished Young Woman of Mississippi, Lainey Schuesselin will compete in the National Distinguished Young Women of 2026 finals in June of 2026, held in Mobile, Alabama. There she will compete for the opportunity to win a share of more than $100,000 in cash scholarship awards, including the $40,000 national title scholarship award.
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 scholarship opportunities, connecting with a nationwide network of women, developing their self-confidence, and participating in our Life Skills Workshops that prepare them for a successful future. National sponsors include Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Mobile County, City of Mobile, Alabama Power Foundation, Master Boat Builders, Gant Travel Management, Regions Financial Corporation, John Cauley Jeweler, Jostens, and Alabama Media Group.
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