Six Baldwin County teens have begun their year as members of the 2022 Dogwood Trail Court. The group was chosen at the 62nd Annual Dogwood Trail Pageant and Scholarship Program held Jan. 15.
The competition's theme this year was, "In It To Win It," and highlighted the participants' creativity in the performance portion of the pageant.
Thirty-five participants were scored in the categories of essay, interview, creative introduction, presence and composure and 12 finalist questions.
Once the preliminary components of the program were completed, 12 finalists were chosen. The finalists answered a randomly selected question that was formulated by the judges' committee.
The 12 finalists were Daphne High School's Kamden Eady, Gracie Foster, Sarah Beth Kinsey, Zoie Pratt, and Tommie-Lynn Smith; Fairhope High School's Anna Bowler Conyers, Renie Kennedy, Ellery Scott, Stella Sheldon, and Ann-Haven Sherrell; and from Spanish Fort High School, Elle Caroline Blackmon and Ryann Turner.

The six chosen to serve a one-year term as goodwill ambassadors on the 2022 Dogwood Trail Court were Daphne High School sophmores Gracie Foster and Sarah Beth Kinsey, and junior Tommie-Lynn Smith; Fairhope High School sophomore Stella Sheldon and junior Renie Kennedy, and representing Spanish Fort High School is sophomore Elle Caroline Blackmon.
Each court member will receive a $1,250 cash college scholarship and a costume designed to depict the floral heritage of our community and salute the artists who call the Eastern Shore home for public appearances courtesy of the Eastern Shore Optimist Club. Coastal Alabama Community College awards an additional scholarship to one of the six court members.
The six new court members join 332 alumni. Program alumni achievements, both academically and professionally, are vast. Ranging from a Fulbright Scholar and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholar as well as National Merit Scholars. Former Court Members and participants have gone on to become doctors, PhDs, attorneys, small business owners, engineers, architects and community leaders. U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin was a member of the ten finalists in 1974. The program has reached over 2000 young women from the Eastern Shore and is a building block for their roles in careers, leadership positions and their ability to make positive contributions in their communities.
JoAnn Broadus, Dogwood Trail Executive Director, said, "The participants in this year's program were some of the brightest, most talented and energetic young women that I have had the opportunity to work with over my tenure. We had 35 winners and we are proud of each of them."
Other cash scholarships and awards presented during the program were as follows (unless otherwise noted, the awards were courtesy of the Eastern Shore Optimist Club):
• $500 scholarship – Anna Kate O'Connor, Spanish Fort High School, for being the participant who sold the highest dollar amount for ad sales
• $500 Essay award, first place – Anna Bowler Conyers, Fairhope High School, courtesy of the TCB Coastal Banking
• $250 Essay Honorable Mention awards – Gracie Foster and Sarah Beth Kinsey, Daphne High School, courtesy of Daphne Optimist Club
• $500 cash scholarship for the best interview, courtesy of Daphne Pediatric Dentistry – Renie Kennedy, Fairhope High School
• $500 cash scholarship for best creative introduction courtesy of Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival Foundation – Zoie Pratt, Daphne High School
• $500 cash scholarship for presence and composure, courtesy of Elan Formals & Boutique – Gracie Foster, Daphne High School
• $500 cash scholarship for the Crystal Kae Davis Spirit of Dogwood award, Courtesy of Citizens Bank – Renie Kennedy, Fairhope High School