Friends and well-wishers gathered Friday afternoon to see Covington County Distinguished Young Miss Alli Yant off to Montgomery, where she will compete in the Distinguished Young Women of Alabama program to be held in the coming week.

The young women competing will be evaluated by a panel of five judges in the following categories: scholastics (20 percent), interview (25 percent), fitness (15 percent), self-expression (15 percent), and talent (25 percent). The participant selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama will advance to the National level at the 58th Distinguished Young Women National Finals in Mobile, Ala., in June.

State finals will be at Frazer United Methodist Church. Show times / tickets:

• Fri., Jan. 16, 7:30 p.m. -$17.

• Sat., Jan. 17, 1:30 p.m. – $17.

• Sat. night, Jan. 17, 7 – $30.

Weekend passes are $55

Participants will compete for $41,000 in cash scholarships and more than $2 million in college granted scholarships, and the opportunity to represent the State as the Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama for 2015.