North Carolina's Christina Maxwell won the Distinguished Young Women National Finals in Mobile, Ala., on Saturday, June 30.

The first and second runners-up were Scarlett Walker of Birmingham, Ala. and Chrissy Houle of Saline, Mich., respectively.

Maxwell, of Fletcher, N.C., received the $30,000 cash scholarship awarded to the top finalist at the 55th annual Distinguished Young Women National Finals.

She also received preliminary competition awards in the self-expression and talent categories, as well as the Be Your Best Self Award, earning $3,000 in additional cash scholarships.

Between the local, state and national levels of competition, Maxwell earned a total of $44,000 in scholarships. She will serve as the national representative for the Distinguished Young Women for one year and plans to attend the University of Michigan this fall to pursue undergraduate studies in musical theater.

York County was represented in the competition by Carly Henry, 18, who graduated this spring from Dallastown Area High School.

Henry won the Most Distinguished Young Woman for York in 2011 and won at the state level of competition that year before going on to represent Pennsylvania at the national competition along with 49 other state representatives in Mobile, Ala. last week.

The contestants participated in community activities during the week leading up to the event, where they were judged on scholastic achievement, a fitness routine, self-expression, talent and an interview.

Previously known as the America's Junior Miss Pageant, the Distinguished Young Women is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls.

-Reach Chelsea Shank at 505-5432 or cshank@yorkdispatch.com