Niceville High School senior Avary Ritenour has been named the Distinguished Young Woman of Okaloosa County for the Class of 2026, earning $3,750 in scholarships after competing against 13 high school seniors from across the county.
- Ritenour won in four of the five evaluation categories: Scholastics, Talent, Self-Expression and Fitness. The program evaluates participants in five key areas: Scholastics (25%), Interview (25%), Talent (20%), Fitness (15%) and Self-Expression (15%).
“Avary is an exceptional young person who is very deserving of this honor,” said Principal Charlie Marello. “As well as being one of our top academic students, Avary is a leader amongst her classmates, and we are very proud of her!”
Ritenour said the experience challenged her personally and academically.
- “This experience pushed me way beyond my comfort zone, and I can honestly say I’ve grown so much because of it,” Ritenour said. “For any rising seniors looking to challenge themselves and develop new skills, I’d highly recommend DYW-it’s an incredible opportunity!”
Throughout the upcoming year, Ritenour and her fellow Class of 2026 participants will represent the Distinguished Young Women program at community events, speaking engagements and parades while promoting the national “Be Your Best Self” initiative.
The outreach program inspires self-esteem and excellence in youth through five guiding principles: Be Healthy, Be Involved, Be Studious, Be Ambitious and Be Responsible.
For more information about Distinguished Young Women of Okaloosa County, contact Brooklyn Peters at (850) 525-3144 or email okaloosa@DistinguishedYW.org.
