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Scott teen represents Illinois at competition

  • Published
  • By Hannah Hill
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Intelligence, scholastics, talent, fitness and self expression are the traits of the new Illinois' Junior Miss, Anaya Duncan, who is a Team Scott family member.

After making it through the local and state competitions of the Junior Miss Scholarship Program--now named the Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Program--she became the Illinois representative at the national level. For two weeks, she competed against 48 others in Mobile, Ala., using her musical talents, outstanding grades and volunteer background to make the best of her experience.

"I never would have guessed how amazing it would be to meet 48 different girls, each one from a different state and background," she said. "I've gained this wonderful experience of getting to meet so many people and affecting someone else's life in a positive way."

Even though she didn't place in nationals, she did receive $200 of scholarship money from locals and $4,000 from state. She was also accepted to Ohio State University on an Academic Scholarship with her out-of-state tuition and fees paid for by OSU.

"It's also really nice to gain something tangible from this experience, like the scholarship money," she said.

Her father, Master Sgt. Terry Duncan, of the 375th Logistics Readiness Squadron, said he is proud that his daughter can adapt to situations and overcome them. He said he's sorry he couldn't be there for the competition, but he was overjoyed that he could see her graduate high school and go to nationals in June.

"I was a single parent for about nine years, and there are a lot of things I did miss while she grew up," he said. "I missed birthdays, holidays and special events. My goal was to come home and see her graduate, that was my main goal, and I was happy I was able to do that.

"Anaya has always been a headstrong person, when she puts her mind to something she's going to do it," Sergeant Duncan said. "She's the total package: She's smart, beautiful, outgoing, caring. She walks into a room and people just like her--that's rare."
Anaya volunteers for the Scott Air Force Base's Red Cross Youth Care on her time off. While at nationals, she volunteered at Goodwill, Easter Seals, Lions Club, Iguana Club, Penelope's Closet, Camp Gracy, and Habitat for Humanity. She also advises anyone to just get involved.

"Just get involved because you never really know what you're going to take away from it," she said.

Anaya also volunteers at her school whenever she gets the chance along with participating in anything choir, which takes up the majority of her time.

"I usually have 15 minutes in between school and choir, and when I finally get home from practice I have to do homework," she said. "I've spent the majority of high school in show choir, chamber choir and concert choir, and I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Because of her excellent grades and volunteer work, she qualified for the scholarship program. After excelling at locals in January, she took the state title in April. Her stepmother, Schanel Duncan, was a major supporter for her by making sure she got all the paperwork done, purchasing any needed supplies, providing transportation, and being her biggest cheering section while her father was deployed in Kuwait.

"I've always been a military child, and I'm just happy that I have someone I can depend on and know that they care about me even if they're not there," she said. "It's not his fault that he's deployed, and you know they're going to come back."

Anaya and her father hope the Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Program will become well known in Illinois so other girls will take advantage of the experience for themselves.

"I really want to see the program for Illinois become as big a deal as it is in other states because this is a wonderful opportunity, and I think if more girls get to experience it that would be amazing" Anaya said.

Sergeant Duncan said, "I hope that every young lady takes this opportunity and every parent gets involved in trying to get their daughter to join. This is a great opportunity, scholarship wise as well as challenging them because they'll become better people."