Participants

Distinguished Young Women participants come from all walks of life, but they have one thing in common: the desire to succeed. Below are the Distinguished Young Women of Minnesota At-Large participants for the Class of 2021.

Want to participate? Apply now!

Hayat Abdullahi

High School: Champlin Park High School

College Preference: University of Chicago, University of Minnesota

Career Goals: Federal prosecutor, later on US supreme justice

Talent: Dramatic Reading ( "Still I Rise" , by Maya Angelou)

Yaa Asare

High School: Champlin Park High School

College Preference: Bowie State University

Career Goals: Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Talent: Cello Solo (Dragonhunter , by Richard Meyer )

Josie Axelson

High School: Eden Prairie High School

College Preference: Chapman University, New York University

Career Goals: Film and Theater Actress and Political Journalist

Talent: Singing (Much More, by The Fantastiks)

Avery Berlowski

High School: Southwest High School

College Preference: Boston Conservatory / Point Park / Juilliard

Career Goals: Professional Dancer/Choreographer

Talent: Dance (Pointe Contemporary, by Self Choreographed )

Sydney Boyle

High School: Chisago Lakes High School

College Preference: Undecided

Career Goals: RN, and then PA.

Talent: Hockey Stick Work

Itzel Cervantes Cardoso

High School: Henry Sibley High School

College Preference: University of Minnesota

Career Goals: Dermatologist

Talent: Trumpet Solo

Nabiha Chaudhry

High School: Hermantown High School

College Preference: Colleges with a fast track premed program

Career Goals: Physician

Talent: Bollywood Fusion Dance

Theresa DeGross

High School: DeLaSalle High School

College Preference:

Career Goals:

Talent: Playing the flute

Erin Enabnit

High School: Lakeville North High School

College Preference: University of Chicago, University of Florida

Career Goals: Political Campaign Manger

Talent: Vocal&Instrumental Performance (City of Stars, by Justin Hurwitz)

Nayana Gurung

High School: Henry Sibley High School

College Preference: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Career Goals: Social worker

Talent: Musical (Rhapsody in Blue, by George Gershwin)

Abigail Hassan

High School: Woodbury High School

College Preference: Harvard

Career Goals: Attorney

Talent: Poetry Reading (Still I Rise, by Maya Angelou)

Evie Kaznessis

High School: De La Salle High School

College Preference: Notre Dame, University of Minnesota, Saint Mary’s

Career Goals: Gynecologist

Talent: Greek Dancing (3 Greek Songs , by Evie Kaznessis )

Amanda Lawless

High School: Hermantown High School

College Preference:

Career Goals: International Lawyer

Talent: Art Portfolio

Zoe Lewis

High School: Burnsville High School

College Preference: Winona State, University of Minnesota Duluth

Career Goals: Education; elementary or middle school

Talent: Singing (She Used to Be Mine, by From the musical Waitress written by Sara Bareilles)

Echo Nelson

High School: Eagan High School

College Preference: University with a strong math program

Career Goals: Undecided but leaning towards STEM career

Talent: Chinese Contemporary Dance (Wang Dan, by Xiaoxiao)

Suzanne Nereson

High School: Chesterton Academy

College Preference: Concordia University (not certain yet)

Career Goals: Journalism or Marketing

Talent: Acting (Short Monologue from "Trifles", by Susan Glaspell)

Zayda Thalacker

High School: Sartell High School

College Preference: U of M - Twin Cities

Career Goals: Psychology/Psychiatrist

Talent: Singing (I Can’t Breathe, by Bea Miller)

Rachel Wagner