Progress 2022: Distinguished Through the Decades

A self-proclaimed “social butterfly,” Elizabeth Pierce said she “loved every second” of competing in Distinguished Young Women.

A Russellville High School alumnus, Pierce was active at RHS – as dance line captain, musical theatre student and percussionist. “I enjoyed being involved as much as possible,” she said.

When it came to DYW, Pierce got her “foot in the door,” so to speak, as a Little Sister the year prior. “I just saw how close a lot of the girls got, and it looked really fun,” said Pierce. From her own DYW program, Pierce said some of her fellow participants are still some of her closest friends.

Currently enrolled at the University of North Alabama, Pierce is majoring in secondary education. She will finish her undergraduate in December 2022, with plans to pursue her master’s degree in school counseling at Ole Miss starting August 2023.

“Education is a calling for me,” said Pierce. “Not a lot of people want to be teachers because they are underpaid and under-appreciated, but there are so many kids who just need someone to advocate for them and be there for them.”

DYW, Pierce said, “brought me a lot of friendships and opportunities I wouldn’t have had if I hadn’t participated in the program.” She said she was “really excited” to win the Franklin County title. “I just felt this sense of pride, but it also humbled me to know I’m not just representing my school or just Russellville but the whole county.”