Local leaders of the Distinguished Young Women program want potential participants to know that only their name has changed.

The program formerly known as America’s Junior Miss is being repositioned by the national board as Distinguished Young Women, with the tagline scholarship, leadership, talent.

Locally, the event will be known as Distinguished Young Women of Covington County. Participants ill continue to compete for college scholarships in a program that showcases academic achievement, physical fitness, on-stage performance skills and the ability to communicate clearly.

Nancy Hammett, president of the local organization, said sponsors and potential participants will receive letters in the next few weeks.

“We will have the same principles and the same evaluation system,” Hammett said. “Our board of directors has been so grateful that despite the economy, our supporters have continued to buy ads or to provide food and other services to our program.”

The national program began in 1958 with representatives of 18 states participating. Today, the program spans the country with more than 5,000 young women participating in the local, state and national levels each year.

Distinguished Young Women of America is headquartered in Mobile. In its 52-year history, it has awarded more than $92 million in cash and college-granted scholarships.