Chaney Rose

Chaney Rose, 18, of Bowling Green, placed in the top 10 at the Distinguished Young Women National Finals in Mobile, Ala., this weekend.

“It was such an awesome experience,” Rose said. “… I was surprised, honestly, to make the top 10.”

She was the only finalist who didn’t win a preliminary competition, meaning she wasn’t in the top five in any one category. But she ranked high enough in each one to rank in the top 10 overall.

“I think it just kind of shows that it’s important to be well-rounded,” Rose said.

Rose, the Distinguished Young Woman of Kentucky and Warren County, received a $3,500 cash scholarship for being in the top 10 nationally, bringing her total scholarship money to more than $12,000 between the local, state and national competitions. 

Rose, a home-school graduate, will attend Western Kentucky University in the fall to pursue a career in neonatal nursing.

It’s exciting for someone local to make it so far in the national finals, said Kim Thomas, chairwoman for the Distinguished Young Women of Warren County.

“It’s great for Warren County, to bring some recognition to the program here,” she said.

Bringing recognition to Kentucky and Warren County shows the strength of the program here, Rose said.

“I hope I did them proud,” she said. “Kentucky has a very strong program. I think it shows Kentucky girls are raised right.”