Two high school juniors are on cloud nine after being named winners in the annual Outstanding Young Woman Scholarship Program.
Jessica Sutt of Blacklick Valley Junior/Senior High School was selected as Cambria County’s Outstanding Young Woman.
Brianne Berkebile of Shade High School was named Somerset County’s Outstanding Young Woman.
They will represent Cambria and Somerset counties at the 2007 Pennsylvania Outstanding Young Woman Program in Reading during the Thanksgiving holiday.
“I was really surprised that I won,” Sutt said. “It felt wonderful.”
Sutt said she did not even know she had been named Cambria County’s winner.
“Where I was standing on the platform, it was hard to see the other contestants who were being called,” she said.
“I thought I was the first runner-up.”
Sutt said she will get ready for the state program by working with board members, conducting mock interviews and perfecting her talent.
She performed an alto saxophone solo.
“(The scholarship program) is a lot of work, but it is worth it,” she said.
Though she is thrilled to have won, she said any one of the girls could have.
She is the daughter of James and Theresa Sutt of Belsano.
Brianne Berkebile said she also is still trying to get over the shock of winning.
“I knew I had done well, but I did not think I did that well to win,” she said.
“This has been wonderful. It is the best experience I have ever gone through.”
She said her plans include attending college and majoring in forensic science.
Berkebile said she is looking forward to representing the county in the state final.
“I hope I am a good representative for Somerset County,” she said.
“I also hope people will look up to me and look at me as a positive role model.”
Berkebile performed a vocal selection.
She is the daughter of Valerie Berkebile and Christopher Owston, both of Central City.
The event featured 26 juniors from Cambria County and 23 from Somerset County.
It was held Friday and Saturday at Greater Johnstown Career & Technology Center in Richland Township.
Angela M. Dice, who was Somerset County’s and Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Young Woman for 2005, was the mistress of ceremonies.
Other winners from Cambria County included first runner-up Nikhita Dharbhamulla of Westmont Hilltop High School, second runner-up Katelynn Helsel of Richland Senior High School, third runner-up Jessica Borrell of Richland and fourth runner-up Jade Stager of Westmont Hilltop.
Other winners from Somerset County included first runner-up Michelle McDonald of Somerset Area High School, second runner-up Amber Marlowe of Conemaugh Township Area High School, third runner-up Chelsey Tressler of Meyersdale Area High School and fourth runner-up Carlee Jo Glessner of Somerset.
Cash awards totaling $12,500 per county were dispersed both evenings, with the 2007 Outstanding Young Woman for each county receiving a $5,000 scholarship.
Numerous other college scholarships were given to the winners and runners-up from both counties.
Kelly Urban can be reached at 532-5073 or kurban@tribdem.
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