Distinguished Young Women

Community support is great for young role models.

Mark your calendars for April 18 when nine young Bonners Ferry women take stage at the Becker Auditorium. The Distinguished Young Women program is nearing its 50-year anniversary in our community. “Nationally it is the oldest and largest scholarship program for high school juniors in the nation,” said Andrakay Pluid, the program’s co-coordinator.

The theme for this year’s program is “The Legend of the Gold Medallion,” a pirate theme. The competition is open to members of the junior class at Bonners Ferry High School as well as students who are home-schooled. And while our community is small, it ranks near the top in the state when it comes to cash scholarships and prizes. “Last year over $14,000 in scholarships and prizes were given out, all raised through community donations,” said Pluid, appreciative of the community’s amazing support.

Previously known as the Junior Miss Program, Distinguished Young Women contestants are judged in the following categories: scholastics, accounting for 20% of the overall score: interview, 25 percent; talent, 25 percent; fitness, 15 percent and self-expression 15 percent.

Each participant will receive a score scaled from one to ten in each category and is scored as an individual and not by comparison to other participants. Those who finish first in each category are awarded scholarships, as are the runners-up and the overall winner of the Distinguished Young Women program.

The young women are also given an opportunity to participate in a program titled, “Be Your Best Self.” In its seventh year, it is a national program that takes place during one week in April where the contestants encourage as many young people as possible, asking them to commit to being their best selves by signing a Be Your Best Self pledge card. The young women who choose to participate in this week-long event will visit with children in the community to help spread the importance of striving to do their best in areas such as academics, physical fitness, morality, character and social and civic participation.

Pluid states that there is a panel of five judges who are drawn from outside the community and who are required to sign impartiality agreements.

If you would like to donate to this year’s program, please contact Andrakay Pluid at 208.946.7598 or Tess Rae at 208.267.7779.

National sponsors of the Distinguished Young Women program include the City of Mobile, Mobile County, Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, The State of Alabama, Alabama Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils, Alabama Power Foundation, Encore Rehabilitation, Wintzell's Oyster House, Master Boat Builders, Regions Financial Corporation, and Alabama Media Group. For more information about Distinguished Young Women, visit www.DistinguishedYW.org.

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