As we look back on our 55^th National Finals celebration, it is with great enthusiasm that we enter into our 56^th year of operation as the country's oldest and largest scholarship program for high school girls. On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to recognize each and every one of the more than 3,800 girls who stepped foot onto a stage for one of Distinguished Young Women's many programs across the country during the 2012 program year. Each of these young women had the courage and determination to distinguish themselves from their peers and strive for great things. As they head off to college this fall, we know we will be seeing great things from them in the future.

Christina Maxwell, Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2012, has already been busy representing Distinguished Young Women since her selection in late June. She met with North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue, received the key to the City of Asheville and is slated to open country star Scotty McCreery's concert with the National Anthem at the North Carolina State Fair in October. Christina is the epitome of the Distinguished Young Women program and we wish her well as she begins her college career at the University of Michigan this fall.

As many of you already know, Becky Jo Peterson, our longtime executive director, resigned her post in July and has returned to her hometown of Napa, California to be closer to family and enjoy many new adventures as a soon to be grandmother. Becky Jo led Distinguished Young Women with heart-felt passion and dedication, and we are forever grateful for her service to the program.

As we conduct the search for an executive director, Nicole Noto Nevill is serving as our interim executive director. Nicole is no stranger to Distinguished Young Women and was a member of the national staff for more than five years as the field director. She possesses an intimate knowledge of the program and will ensure that we have a smooth transition once we have selected a candidate to serve as our next executive director.

In closing, it has been an honor to serve as the president of the Board of Directors for Distinguished Young Women and work toward furthering our mission across the country. I would like to personally thank each and every volunteer at the local, state and national level who gives of their time and resources to make this program possible each year. We are excited to tackle our 56^th year of operation with determination to take Distinguished Young Women to new heights.

Sincerely,