Andalusia High School senior Lillian Andrews has her bags packed and is ready to leave tomorrow for Montgomery, where she will participate in the state Distinguished Young Women of Alabama program.

Andrews was selected in July to represent Covington County. She knows she’s in for a busy week.

“Next week, I know we are doing stuff 24/7,” she said. “We start around 9 every morning, and rehearse until lunch. One day we go to Winzell’s for lunch and an oyster-eating contest.”

That’s one competition she doesn’t expect to win.

“Oh no. I’m not doing that,” she said.

There are lunches at various locations in Montgomery, and more rehearsals in the afternoons and evenings.

With help from her mom, she’s managed to pack for all of that in one suitcase, she said.

“My mom used Eagle Creek packing cubes,” she said, adding that each day’s wardrobe is planned. The young women dress for rehearsal, then change at the host site, Frazer United Methodist Church, before heading out to lunch each day. She also has three wardrobe changes during the event – opening number, talent, and self expression.

In addition to packing for all of the week’s events, Andrews also has been preparing for the interview portion of the competition.

“Basically, I’m staying up on current events, and doing lots of mock interviews,” she said.

She’s doing the same talent routine – contemporary jazz dance – she used at the county competition.

She’s already met her host family in Montgomery, as well as her roommate, Choctaw County’s DYW, Chloe Robinson.

The Covington County DYW organization feted her with a tea this past weekend, where she was joined by well-wishers, many of whom will be in Montgomery next weekend.

“I think Covington County has the biggest crowd,” she said. “We sold a ton of tickets – probably at least 100 tickets.”

Andrews is a cheerleader, a member of the AHS Sound Tradition, and president of her class. She also teaches dance at The Company Performance Center, and will add leadership of a fitness class to her schedule when she completes DYW.

She is the daughter of Michael and Wendy Andrews, and the granddaughter of Jerry and Linda Andrews of Andalusia.

Her aunt, Traci Andrews Korkowski, is a former Covington County Junior Miss, and has advised her to just have fun.

“We just pretty much talked about going there to have fun, and not stressing myself out,” she said. “She told me the best part is that I’ll meet all these girls I’ll keep up with forever.”

Andrews expressed her appreciation to the county for its support of the local DYW program, and especially to her mom and DYW director Cathy Powell for their help in preparing for next week.

 

The Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama will be named Sat., Jan. 21, at Frazer United Methodist Church in Montgomery. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. Fri., Jan. 20; 1:30 p.m. Sat., Jan. 21; and 7 p.m. Sat., Jan. 21. Tickets are available for individual events, or weekend passes are $55.