Sarah Fuller, left, receives congratulations for being named the 2012-13 Pennsylvania Distinguished Young Woman from Carly Henry, the 2011-12 title holder. Fuller is a York Catholic High School student; Henry is a Dallastown High School graduate. Fuller will compete in Mobile, Ala., next summer for the national title. (Submitted photo)
Sarah Fuller was a little nervous, but excitement was the main emotion she felt as she took the stage on Saturday night.

And her excitement went through the roof when at the end of the Most Distinguished Young Woman state competition, she was announced the winner.

"When they announced my name for the winner I couldn't believe it," said the incoming York Catholic High School senior. "It was an amazing feeling."

Fuller won the York County competition in May and took the stage this past weekend with 15 other young women from Pennsylvania at the state competition in Johnstown.

She won preliminary awards in the self-expression and scholastic categories, and was the essay winner for the "Be Your Best Self" contest.

As the overall winner she was awarded $5,600 in scholarship money.

"We were all talking in the dressing room beforehand, and no one had any idea who the winner would be," said Fuller. "I would have been happy with any one of the girls chosen."

"It was bittersweet to realize our week was over and this was the last time we'd be on stage together. After we did our last routine on stage we all went back to the dressing room and it was really sad to realize everything was ending soon," she said.

Fuller performed a tap dance to the "Hand Jive" song from "Grease," and will continue honing her tap dancing skills and begin preparing a new act for the talent portion of the national competition in Mobile, Ala. next June.

Before the final event on Saturday night, the girls spent the week with host families in Cambria County while they rehearsed for the fitness and self-expression routines.

Spending time interacting with residents at a local senior center was one of several community service activities the girls participated in during the week, and they also spent time touring Johnstown together.

"It was one of the most amazing weeks of my life," said Fuller. "The group of girls I was with bonded with so well."

The program has improved her communication skills and helped her to build several solid friendships, she said.

As the state winner she will have several speaking engagements all year, including a chance to speak to the State Senate and House of Representatives about the Most Distinguished Young Woman program.

"It was a life changing experience," Fuller said. "Every single one of the girls would have been an amazing Most Distinguished Young Women."