This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Final Words from Falls' 2012 Distinguished Young Woman Winner Ceci Scheuber

Ceci Scheuber, Menomonee Falls 2012 Distinguished Young Woman Reflects On Her Year.

CeCi Scheuber, the 2012 Distinguished Young Woman of Menomonee Falls, will  award the title to her successor in the 2013 Distinguished Young Woman program Saturday. She would like to share a little bit about her year with everyone.

Here is her farewell letter:

When I started writing this farewell letter, I thought, ‘Oh man. I have to make people laugh, cry, and eventually want to clap for me.’ Then I thought, ‘Well, this is the end of my title as the Distinguished Young Woman of Menomonee Falls for 2012, so maybe I should just make it really heartfelt and serious; tell everyone all the plans I have for the rest of my life and eventually end with something about world peace.

Find out what's happening in Menomonee Fallswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But that’s not who I am.

Who I am is a girl who is having a lot of fun being a kid while making some important, adult decisions. Who I am wants to keep it short and sweet, but knows that there’s always more to say. Who I am knows the right decisions, but realizes the wrong ones are the ones we learn the most from. I didn’t come into this program expecting too much. I knew the girls and knew that they were all smart, beautiful and personable. I thought maybe we could get a little closer and goof around during our sweatpants and high heels rehearsals. I thought the confidence I had was good enough. I was confident in myself to do a decent push up during the fitness routine and the right pivot during self expression. However I hardly expected this program to truly influence me the way it did.

Find out what's happening in Menomonee Fallswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I could not be happier with the name change from Jr. Miss to Distinguished Young Woman. It truly embodies a scholarship organization that helps the confidence and overall attitudes of young women while preparing them with the life skills they will need in their future endeavors. I wouldn’t trade my opportunity to participate for the title of the Distinguished Young Woman of Wisconsin for the world. I have never been around so many teenage girls for such a long period of time and been so comfortable and drama free. Being in such a program and never once thinking that one girl had more of an advantage over another is not something that happens everyday. I made friends and had experiences that I would not have had the opportunity to do on my own. So many thanks go out to John Seymour, Cathy Sharkey, Dawn Mariscal and Warren Meilicke. Without them, this incredible program truly would not be possible. They have helped me so much through this incredible journey and I really appreciate all the time and dedication they have set aside to help me succeed.

I was recently admitted to Carroll University and plan on using my Distinguished Young Woman scholarship to help pay my tuition. Carroll was not one of my top choices initially. However receiving a generous scholarship from this organization along with hearing positive remarks about the University, including many from Dawn Mariscal, I decided to apply. I was excited to receive my acceptance letter so quickly along with a substantial Academic scholarship from the University. Having the title of the Distinguished Young Woman and saying that I had the opportunity to represent Menomonee Falls for a year is something to be proud of and people truly recognize that. I couldn’t believe the support I was receiving from the community and the things I was able to accomplish with this title; all because I had gained such confidence and faith in myself that I could do this. I hope and pray that you girls are at least able to say that you walk a littler taller, hold your head a little higher, and smile a little brighter because you had this opportunity. I know a lot of people that wish they had this program at their high school or simply wish they had heard of it sooner. So, Distinguished Young Women of 2013, I say congratulations for having the courage to just try it out and see what it does for you. Chances are, it will impact you much more than you could ever imagine. Thank you all for supporting me in my journey for 2012. Now I am happy to support, along with you, the Distinguished Young Woman of Menomonee Falls for the class of 2013.

With Love and Appreciation,

CeCi Scheuber

The 2013 Distinguished Young Women of Menomonee Falls Scholarship Program will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Menomonee Falls High School auditorium. 

Nine participants will be competing for the title and the opportunity to compete in Wisconsin’s Distinguished Young Women program on August 4, 2012. Music will be provided by the Menomonee Falls High School Jazz Band.  Tickets are available at the door for $5.

Participating this year are Meredith Frey, Rachel Greifenkamp, Becca Jarolimek, Rebecca Makowski, Megan Perinovic, Sally Moy, Michelle Pohl, Lauren Sanicki and Eilish Zembilci.  All of the contestants are juniors at Menomonee Falls High School.

Contestants at all levels of Distinguished Young Women are judged on scholastics, interview, talent, self-expression and physical fitness.  The winner of the state program will advance to the national competition which will be held June, 2012 in Mobile, Alabama.  The Menomonee Falls program is sponsored by The Optimist Club of Menomonee Falls.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?