Rio Rancho teen competing in national scholarship program

The Distinguished Young Women Finals kicks off June 27 in Mobile, Alabama, and Rio Rancho's Gabriella Casco is representing New Mexico.

Casco is one of 50 competitors — one from each state — aiming to represent the program as the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2024.

"I'm very excited to represent New Mexico, and I've already met so many amazing girls." Casco said.

If Casco wins, she would travel and speak for the program. This year, the reward is $155,000 in cash scholarships.

"I am proud of myself for stepping outside of my comfort zone and not being scared to try new things," she added.

But this competition is about more than the title and money.

Casco arrived in Mobile June 18 and will be preparing for the finals with her fellow competitors and participating in various events such as team-building exercises and community service projects, but the competition itself is broken up into five categories: scholastics, interview, fitness, talent and self-expression.

The fitness category consists of a seven-minute routine that all competitors must practice and perform together in groups. The routine can include yoga, push-ups, squats, sit-ups, balance and core work. Afterward, there is a solo fitness section.

"They really want to show that they're strong, capable, excited and that they can do hard things, no matter the situation that they're in," said Carly Bragg, marketing and communications director of Distinguished Young Women.

The women's intellect are showcased in the interview section of the competition. Competitors answer a planned set of questions they are allowed to rehearse. However, the self-expression category has unrehearsed questions. Bragg says the judges want to see how they do "on the fly."

"It's meant for them to show some personality, let them be themselves and express themselves in a more serious way," she explained. Bragg added it's also a way for competitors to show that are they OK with not knowing and not being prepared.

According to the Distinguished Young Women website, a qualified educator reviews and scores the scholastic category based on high school transcripts, academic schedule, academic extracurriculars and standardized test scores.

Women can also do a variety of things for the talent portion. Some choose to play instruments, perform karate routines, recite poetry and more.

For her talent, Casco has chosen to sing, "Slipping Through My Fingers" by ABBA. She says she chose this song because it is from one of her favorite musicals, "Mamma Mia!" which she grew up watching with her family.

"It's one of those songs that I feel like I've been able to relate to a lot, especially graduating now," Casco said.

Of all five categories, Casco says that fitness has been easiest for her since it was practicing a routine. So far, she has just been reviewing what the program requires, including the scholastics and interview sections.

"I feel very prepared and, honestly, some of these things, you can only be so prepared for," Casco said. "You just have to be yourself; you can prepare as much as you can, but at the end of the day, you have to present yourself. You can't really memorize your personality. You just got to let it shine through."

Bragg says that the two weeks in Mobile isn't all preparation; there are some fun opportunities as well.

"We have a really popular oyster eating contest that some of the girls like to participate in every year," she said.

There are also plenty of landmarks to visit as well as a beach. Bragg says they will also be hosting a barbeque and a western-themed night. "It's a lot of work but also a whole lot of fun," she added.

But Casco says that she is most excited for the experience itself and being in a new place.

"I've never been to Alabama before. I'm just looking forward to these new experiences, gaining information from the other girls and seeing the culture, with what's going on in Alabama," Casco said excitedly.

Casco says she was surprised when she learned she would be competing at the national level and that she made it to finals in Alabama. Casco added that she brings a sense of competitiveness that others might not.

"We all have something that we bring. Obviously, we're all different people. We've had different experiences, and I think I'm very bubbly. I think I'm very competitive because I play softball and I've been playing competitively since I was 8, so I think I bring a competitive, athletic edge with me. I'm very social, and I think that's the thing what might set me apart a little bit is just my competitive nature," she said.

Casco spoke further about her experience playing softball for the New Mexico Suncats Gold Jaramillo and St. Pius, where she graduated this spring saying, "Softball's honestly helped me a lot, even with this competition. It's brought me this sort of leadership, being able to work with everybody around me."

She has certainly impressed Dora Jasso, the state chair of Distinguished Young Women New Mexico.

"I think that her confidence and her leadership skills and a very go-getter attitude got her where she is now. Not afraid of challenges, and was able to take on the challenge and really tackled it and did well," Jasso said.

Before reaching the national level finals, Jasso says, Casco competed in New Mexico's state program against three other students, where she was awarded around $4,000.

There are 300 local programs nationwide and approximately 10,000 students competed at the local level this year across the U.S.

"The bigger states have the local competitions but we don't because our program is so small. We only do a state showcase," Jasso said.

The goal for her is to get more students interested in the program.

"I would like every junior girl to apply and know about the programs so they can decide if they want to continue to pursue it, but we want them to be able to reach their full, individual potential," she added. "If we can exceed by least one participant every year, that would be successful."

Jasso hopes a future win for New Mexico will inspire more girls and women.

"I feel like it would inspire young ladies across the state who are in high school to know that even though our state may not be represented population-wise, we may not be the most well-off state economically, that you can compete at the national level in these areas and succeed," she said.

It benefits the program as well as the student in many ways.

"Take a chance, believe in yourself, try it out. Be your best self and see what happens. You won't be disappointed," she said.

So far, nine students have signed up to participate in New Mexico's program next year but only two have completed all the steps. Jasso says that most of the time, people don't end up participating because they don't complete the process, but if they do, they are part of the program. The deadline to apply for the class of 2025's New Mexico program is July 31.

Bragg also wants more people to participate.

"That's our overall goal is to get more people excited and involved in the program because it helps so many people, and the more people it helps, the more scholarships that we can provide for the girls because at the end of the day, that's what we are. We're a scholarship-based program and we want to send these girls off to school," she said.

"There's just so much opportunity for the girls. I think a lot of times, us as girls and women, we don't see ourselves as capable, we don't see ourselves as good enough, and Distinguished Young Women wants to change that narrative. We want these young girls to know that they can do these hard things and regardless of where you grew up, what your status is in the community, economic and otherwise; this is for you. And it's not something that is gonna be handed to you but you will gain so much from the entire process going through it."

Casco says if she wins she plans to reach out to others about the program through social media. "Not that many people know about this amazing organization. I had no idea about it until I was introduced either."

Since the program opened up nationally in 1958, no New Mexico representative has won.

"Since New Mexico hasn't won, I think it'd be very cool to maybe be the first but honestly, I think it would just mean more in the sense of the smaller community. New Mexico doesn't really have that many opportunities like this and I feel like if I did win, it would demonstrate that it's very possible if you are driven and you're not just secluded to what you know or what you have and that you're more open. So I don't think necessarily me winning, being the first girl from New Mexico, winning would mean as much as it would mean if I was able to set an example for people and young girls back home," Casco said.

Casco hopes to study law at Central Washington University and become a defensive prosecutor. "I just want to help people," she said.

For more information on New Mexico's Distinguished Young Women, visit the website.