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Carly Henry does not have to pay one cent for her first year of college.
The 18-year-old Dallastown High School graduate doesn't have a Swiss bank account, and she didn't win lottery.
She won the Distinguished Young Woman competition in Pennsylvania.
As the 2011 winner from York County, Henry went on to win at the state level and will compete at the national competition later this month in Mobile, Ala.
"I've never been down to the South, so I'm really excited," said Henry. "There will be 49 other girls down there competing, and we're going to have a ton of fun."
Each of the girls stays with a host family for rehearsals during the week leading up to the final event on June 28-30, where the contestants will be judged on scholastic achievement, a fitness routine, self-expression, talent and an interview.
Henry will perform "Caprice Basque" by Pablo de Sarasate on violin for the talent portion of the national competition.
"It took about two months for myself and my violin teacher to find this song," Henry said. "I came across it on the Internet and played it, and it just felt right."
Musical background: Henry has been playing violin ever since she was 5, and she played in the Dallastown High School orchestra and string ensemble.
When each of the state winners of the Distinguished Young Woman program were required to speak in schools for Be Your Best Self week, Henry spoke with the orchestra students at Dallastown Intermediate School about music.
"It's important to be true to yourself, really work hard, and have fun along the way," Henry said. "I focused on how music can allow you to do all of that. It has helped me to be my best self, and I hope it helps them too."
Formerly known as Junior Miss, the Distinguished Young Women program gives away $140,000 in scholarships. The national winner receives $40,000, plus any preliminary awards she may win.
"We always like to say that it's not a pageant, it is so much more than that," Henry said. "It's an opportunity for girls to get out there and figure themselves out and learn what they want to do, and earn the money to accomplish it."
So far Henry has won $18,000 from the program - which will pay for her first year at Elizabethtown College this fall along with some other scholarships. She plans to major in biochemistry before attending medical school.
Her parents, Lora and Steve Henry; and her sister, Jess, 21, will join her at the national competition in Mobile to cheer her on, along with her grandparents and an aunt and uncle.
- Reach Chelsea Shank at cshank@yorkdispatch.com.
