Ellen Ward of Versailles was named Distinguished Young Woman of Kentucky on Jan. 12 and awarded $5,800 in cash scholarships during a statewide scholarship program for high school girls held at the Singletary Center for the Arts at the University of Kentucky.

Ward was one of 35 high school senior girls from Kentucky who competed to represent the state as the Distinguished Young Woman of Kentucky for 2013.

Throughout the next year, Ward will represent the state at various public events and serve as a role model to young people by spreading the program's national outreach message of "Be Your Best Self."

Ward is the daughter of Doug and Jackie Ward and is a senior at Woodford County High School.

The 56th national finals will take place June 27-29 in Mobile, Ala., where Ward will compete to become the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2013.