Distinguished Young Women of Rutherford County & Jean Gordon
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 11:37 am
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Ava Miller is the Distinguished Young Woman (DYW) of Rutherford County for the Class of 2027. Miller represented Rutherford Early High School College (REaCH) at the annual DYW county scholarship program held at the Foundation Isothermal Community College recently.
She won the Overall Scholastic, Overall Talent, and Overall Fitness awards, and won a preliminary award Self-Expression. She was awarded $8,900 in cash scholarships and will represent Rutherford County at the North Carolina DYW scholarship program in Greensboro in January, 2027
Ava is a daughter of John and Janie Miller and has one sister, Makenna.
She said recently she originally decided to participate in the DYW program because she knew other girls who had gone through the program and enjoyed it and the experience was so much more than she could have asked.
"I loved every moment I got to spend with the other six girls competing with me, and I am so thankful for them," Ava said.
"Being named the Distinguished Young Woman of Rutherford County has meant so much already and I am so grateful to be able to be a role model for the younger girls in my county. I am so excited to go and be a part of the state program and to experience it."
For her talent competition, Ava chose the contemporary pointe ballet routine to "Experience" by Ludovico Einaudi and choreographed by Talita Rubio.
"I have been dancing since I was three and fell in love with pointe when I started at 11," she continued. "I am so grateful that I was able to perform one of my favorite dance styles on the DYW stage and have loved every experience of it. I would most definitely encourage every junior girl to compete in Distinguished Young Women just for the experience alone. You are able to gain lifelong friendships, and important life skills," she said.
Ava said she enjoys all forms of art whether that is dancing, painting, listening to music, or doing a new craft.
"I love to travel and plan to travel the world after I graduate. I can always find myself lost in a good book, and I especially love to read on the beach, one of my favorite vacation spots," Ava added.
Contestants in the scholarship program also included Remington Jones, East Rutherford High School; Elaina Short, Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy; Bethany Jenkins, East Rutherford High School; Kelsey Ingle, CHASE High School; Cara Henderson, CHASE High School and Lexi Jack, CHASE High School.
More than 200 people attended the 44th DYW program including the seven participants, along with eight Has-Beens (Class of 2026 participants), 10 Little Sisters, and 13 young girls from the Be Your Best Self Day Camp. The evening also highlighted the leadership and impact of Ava Garland, Distinguished Young Woman of Rutherford County for 2026. The theme of this year's program was "The Art of Being You".
The annual program featured the young ladies competing for scholarships and recognition in areas including scholastics, interview, talent, fitness, and self-expression.
In addition to the competition, the event honored Ava Garland, the 2026 Distinguished Young Woman of Rutherford County. At the 2026 scholarship program Garland was named third runner-up in the state program.
Other finalists awards went to:
Finalists
First Finalist: Lexi Jack
Second Finalist: Elaina Short
Scholastic Preliminary Awards: Bethany Jenkins, Lexi Jack
Overall Scholastic Award: Ava Miller
Interview Preliminary Award: Lexi Jack, Remington Jones
Overall Interview Award: Elaina Short
Fitness Preliminary Awards: Elaina Short, Lexi Jack
Overall Fitness Award: Ava Miller
Self-Expression Preliminary Awards: Lexi Jack, Ava Miller
Overall Self-Expression Award: Elaina Short
Talent Awards: Kelsey Ingle, Lexi Jack
Overall Talent Award: Ava Miller
Be Your Best Self Award: Kelsey Ingle
Spirit Award: Elaina Short
Breakthrough Awards: Remington Jones, Cara Henderson