CERRITOS - Hannah Joo, of Cerritos, was named the Distinguished Young Woman of California and awarded $16,000 in cash scholarships during a statewide scholarship program for high school girls held at the Harvey Auditorium in Bakersfield.Joo was one of 40 high school senior girls from California who competed to represent the state as the Distinguished Young Woman of California for 2012. Throughout the next year, Joo will represent the state at various public events and serve as a role model to young people by spreading the program's outreach message of "Be Your Best Self." "The most rewarding part of this program is the spirit of support and encouragement among the participants, which speaks to the 'Be Your Best Self' program," said Joo. "We encourage each other to be our best, without changing who we are." The 55th annual national competition takes place June 28-30, 2012 in Mobile, Ala. Up for grabs is $130,000 in cash scholarships. Joo is the daughter of Steve and Kay Joo and will be a senior at Whitney High School in Cerritos this fall.

********** Published: August 04, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 16