Honolulu, HI.   Madison Iwashita, 17, of Honolulu was named the 2024 Distinguished Young Woman (DYW) of Hawaii on Sunday, August 20, 2023 and was awarded $7,000 in cash scholarships at the 65th annual statewide scholarship program. This year’s event was held at Sacred Hearts Academy and the participants were evaluated in the categories of Scholastics (25%), Interview (25%), Talent (20%), Fitness (15%) and Self-Expression (15%). 

 

Madison, a Sacred Hearts Academy senior and daughter of Randy and Kristen, won a $4,500 cash scholarships, a trip to the 2024 Distinguished Young Women National Finals in Mobile, Alabama, a 4-year tuition scholarship to Hawaii Pacific University, and wardrobe for the national finals from Jams World. Madison also took home an additional $1000 in cash scholarship as the Scholastic Runner-Up, $1,000 in the Interview category and $500 in the Self-Expression category. 

 

Madison will have the opportunity to win a $30,000 cash scholarship when she represents Hawaii at the end of June at the National Finals in Mobile, Alabama. In the fall, she will attend Tufts University.

 

Esther Chan, a Punahou senior, was 1st runner-up and was awarded a $3,500 cash scholarship and a $18,000 HPU tuition scholarship. Esther also won $1,000 as the Top Scholar, $1,000 in the Interview category and $500 for the Service to Others award. She is the daughter of Stephen and Monica Chan.

 

The 2nd runner-up award went to Kylee Amoroso-Kawamoto, a senior at Damien Memorial and the daughter Justin Kawamoto and Danica Amoroso. Kylee won a $2,500 cash scholarship and a $18,000 HPU tuition scholarship. She also received $750 for Talent, and $500 for Fitness.

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Miya Matsumoto, a Mililani High School senior, was 3rd runner-up and was awarded a $1,500 cash scholarship and a $18,000 HPU tuition scholarship. She also received $500 for Self-Expression.  She is the daughter of Gavin Matsumoto and Jade Kano.

 

Other award winners include:

• Alana Clayson of Punahou School, $500 for Talent and $500 for Self-Expression

• Rhiannon Wong of Aiea High School, $500 for Fitness

• Reagan Biessel of Sacred Hearts Academy, $500 for the Spirit of DYW award and $500 for the Corlis J. Chang No’ono’opono Award

• Clarissa Ruiter of St. Andrews Schools, $500 as the Be Your Best Self essay award winner 

 

DYW Hawaii is the state’s longest running scholarship program for high school senior girls, providing students opportunities to earn over $20,000 in cash scholarships, 4-year tuition scholarships to Hawaii Pacific University, and many other awards provided by local sponsors. The non-profit scholarship program, previously called Hawaii’s Junior Miss, is run entirely by volunteers, and is available to high school senior girls across the state.