Lori Feng of Starkville, the daughter of Li Wang and Gary Feng, was crowned the winner of the Distinguished Young Women of Mississippi program Saturday night at the Evangel Temple in Meridian.

Feng will advance to the national program in Mobile, Alabama.

Winning the Ann & Jimmy Alexander “Be Your Best Self” Essay Award was Abby Seale; Host Family Association Beth Finch Memorial “Spirit” Award winner was Dani Henderson; winning The Citizens National Bank Overall Fitness Award was Mallory MacKenzie; the John Houston Phillips Overall Self-Expression Award went to Emmie Perkins; Feng won the Brainstorm Creative Group Overall Talent Award and Mississippi Power Company Overall Scholastic Award. Third alternate was Anna Duong, second alternate was Sarah Pasha and first Alternate was Emmie Perkins. 

Distinguished Young Women is part of a national scholarship program that promotes and rewards scholarship, leadership and talent in young women. College scholarships are awarded at the state level and millions in college-granted scholarships are available.