NICEVILLE, Fla. — A Niceville High School senior has been named the Distinguished Young Woman of Okaloosa County for the Class of 2026, school officials announced.
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Avary Ritenour was selected from a group of 13 seniors from across the county, earning top honors in multiple categories and securing $3,750 in scholarships.
Participants in the Distinguished Young Women program are evaluated in five areas: Scholastics (25%), Interview (25%), Talent (20%), Fitness (15%) and Self-Expression (15%).
Avary won four of those categories: Scholastics, Talent, Self-Expression, and Fitness. Additionally, she was named the overall winner.
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Principal Charlie Marello praised her accomplishment.
“Avary is an exceptional young person who is very deserving of this honor,” Mr Marello said.
“As well as being one of our top academic students, Avary is a leader amongst her classmates, and we are very proud of her!”
Reflecting on the program, Avary said it was a transformative experience.
“This experience pushed me way beyond my comfort zone, and I can honestly say I’ve grown so much because of it,” she said.
“For any rising seniors looking to challenge themselves and develop new skills, I’d highly recommend DYW—it’s an incredible opportunity!”
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Throughout the upcoming year, Avary and her fellow Class of 2026 participants will represent the Distinguished Young Women program at community events, speaking engagements, and parades.
The program also promotes the national “Be Your Best Self” initiative, which encourages youth to focus on 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.
