Chrissy Houle is 2nd Runner Up in National Distinguished Women Pageant

Recent Saline High School graduate Chrissy Houle earned $12,000 in scholarships by finishing as second runner up in the national Distinguished Young Women pageant in Mobile, Ala.

As , Houle was one of 50 girls, one from each state, competing for scholarships, who've been in Mobile for the pageant since June 17.

Houle earned $10,000 for being second runner up. She earned $1,000 for finishing in the top 10. Friday night, Houle won won the Fitness preliminary portion of the pageant to earn another $1,000.

Houle will continue her studies at Yale.

Some of Houle's friends and teammates from the Saline Twirlettes had a watch party to cheer on Houle in this evening's pagent, which was webcast at www.local15tv.com. 

2011 Saline High School graduate and fellow Saline Twrilette, Haley Williams was the State of Michigan’s 2011 Distinguished Young Woman.

Founded in 1958 in Mobile, Alabama, Distinguished Young Women is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls. More than $108 million in college scholarship opportunities were provided last year, some of which included full tuition, room, and board to first-class institutions.

The program was once known as the America's Junior Miss scholarship program.