AUBURN — The Distinguished Young Women of Maine scholarship program will choose its 2019 representative Saturday, Feb. 16, at Community Little Theatre, 30 Academy St.

The state winner will receive a college scholarship of $1,000 and represent Maine at events throughout the state and receive a two-week, all-expense-paid trip to the national finals in Mobile, Alabama, June 27-29.

The participants — collegebound high school seniors from across the state — will be evaluated by a panel of judges in: scholastics, 25 percent;  interview, 25 percent; talent, 20 percent; fitness, 15 percent; and self-expression, 15 percent.

The 2018 winner, Hannah Comfort of Winslow, will attend the Feb. 16 program.

The program begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door. Anyone who has participated in the program in the past is encouraged to attend.

Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls. During its 61 years of operation, the program, formerly known as the Junior Miss program, has provided life-changing experiences for more than 750,000 young women.

Last year, Distinguished Young Women provided $1.5 billion in cash and college scholarship opportunities to program participants at the local, state, and national level.

Contestants are being sought for the 2020 Distinguished Young Women of Maine program. For more information, contact Maine@distinguishedyw.org.

Hannah Comfort of Winslow reacts after being named 2018’s Distinguished Young Woman of Maine at Community Little Theatre in Auburn. (Sun Journal file photo by Russ Dillingham)