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Distinguished Young Women 2015 |
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April 21, 2015 |
 BFHS junior Shaleyna Higgins was selected to
serve as Bonners Ferry's 50th Distinguished
Young Woman on Saturday night at the annual
Scholarship Program for young women held at the
high school auditorium.
Shaleyna, the daughter of Barry and Darlene
Higgins, was sponsored for the event by Coeur
d'Alene Scottish Rite Bodies.
In becoming the 2015 Distinguished Young Woman
for Bonners Ferry, Shaleyna was awarded a $3,000
scholarship, along with a gift basket and photo
shoot, gift certificates to several area
businesses, a $150 allowance for travel to the
Idaho Distinguished Young Women program, a dozen
roses, and the official Distinguished Young
Woman medallion.
"We had a wonderful group of participants this
year and I defintely didn't envy the judges
their job of picking a 'representative' out of
what truly was a group of winners," said Bonners
Ferry DYW Coordinator Andrakay Pluid. "Shaleyna
will be a wonderful representative for the
community and we congratulate both her and the
other eight participants who made this year's
program so enjoyable for the committee."
A total of $11,950 in scholarships was awarded
to young women participating in the program,
along with many gift baskets and gift
certificates provided by many local businesses
and families.
Margaret McCoy, daughter of Sean and Tanya
McCoy, was named First Runner Up and winner of a
$2,000 scholarship. Second Runner Up in the
program with a $1,600 scholarship was Abby
Davis, daughter of Barry and Crista Davis, and
Third Runner Up was Veronica MacDonald, daughter
of Ron and Summer MacDonald, who earned a
scholarship of $1,400.
In the Distinguished Young Women program event,
entrants are judged based upon interviews,
talent, scholastic achievements, fitness, and
self expression.
The panel of judges for this year's program
included five individuals who have backgrounds
in business, dance instruction, a high school
science teacher, accounting, and fashion
consulting. All reside in locations outside of
Boundary County, and most have served as
Distinguished Young Woman in other areas and/or
have been involved extensively in the
Distinguished Young Women program for several
years.
Saturday evening's program was based on the
theme "The Legend of the Gold Medallion." In the
program, Mariah Rae, Bonners Ferry's
Distinguished Young Woman for 2014, was the
captain of the ship "the White Pearl," with
First Mate Shaylee Ellson (last year's First
Runner Up) and Second Mate Natalie Shelton (last
year's Second Runner Up), helping Captain Rae
manage the ship's crew of nine Distinguished
Young Women contestants. Their mission:
searching for the Gold Medallion.
(Story continues below these photos)
The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was
KXLY TV anchor Mark Peterson, out of Spokane,
who provided much guidance and commentary in his
role as a shipmate. Mr. Peterson did a great job
as MC, and had a lot of fun comments through the
evening.
Many comments were made on the fabulous stage
design, the decorations, and props used in the
performance, all of which reinforced the high
seas Legend of the Gold Medallion theme.
According to Ms. Pluid, Program Coordinator,
"Stage Design was done entirely by Abby Onstott
and Jaime McKechnie including all painting, etc.
The props were mostly 'loaners' from people,
namely Abby and Tess Rae. Abby's incredibly
talented and does a wonderful job with the stage
design. We are really lucky to have her!"
Once the lights went down and the program got
underway, the nine contestants filed through the
audience, in all their swashbuckling regalia, to
take the stage.
The nine DYW contestants then opened their
performance with a rousing fitness routine,
including dancing and swordplay.
(Story continues below these photos)
In the next segment of the program, each of the
contestants staged a talent presentation.
Margaret McCoy gave a unique presentation of
Victorian bouquet making, explaining that the
flowers used are not just flowers only, but have
different meanings. A bouquet with a certain
meaning might be assembled for an enemy, and
another put together for someone special.
Lauren Wages performed a dance to a medley of
Beatles music, assisted by Paul McCartney--well,
actually a photograph of Paul McCartney.
Veronica MacDonald did a lyrical dance to the
Sam Smith song "Latch."
Chandra Bennett showed why the BFHS cheerleader
squad is renowned for its performances, as she
presented a cheer routine.
Samantha Schneider presented a "Sand Animation,"
as she formed scenes of a ship and of a woman
from colored sand, all projected overhead for
the audience to see, and all accompanied by
music and dance movements.
Shaleyna Higgins presented a beautiful rendition
of a lyrical dance, "River Flows in You." Her
performance won the Talent Competition.
Alaina Rushing performed a vocal solo, "I'll Be
There," and indicated that it was her wish to
always be there
for her friends and for her
family.
Aaliyah Zarate, said she was going "back to her
roots," and performed a Salsa dance that was
very energetic and fun for the assembled
audience.
Abby Davis indicated that one of her talents was
managing the 18 head of cattle that she owns,
and she reflected that talent in her performance
of a comical skit and poem about a tussle with a
bull.
(Story continues below these photos)
Each contestant was asked to respond to a
question during the evening, "If you were about
to be forced to walk the plank, what would you
say to those you were leaving behind?"
Shaleyna Higgins stated she wouldn't walk, she
would "dance the plank." Abby Davis responded
that after advising everyone to "choose your own
way," she would go out on the plank in true
swashbuckler fashion: doing a cannonball.
In the next entertainment phase of the program,
the Forget-Me-Nots (participants in last year's
Distinguished Young Women program) performed a
routine with the 2015 Young Misses, in which the
storied Gold Medallion was found hidden inside a
treasure chest.
A slide show was presented showing photographs
of this year's DYW contestants as infants, along
with photos of many of the activities the
contestants have participated in during the
weeks the program has been running and
preparing, including their Kidnap Breakfast,
their participation in the Penguin Plunge, the
style show, wearing crazy costumes downtown, and
others.
This year's DYW contestants then returned to the
stage, wearing their formal dresses and
accompanied by their dads. A farewell
was given by outgoing Bonners Ferry
Distinguished Young Woman 2014 Mariah Rae.
"This last year has been a huge blessing on my
life with the many opportunities and honors I've
had from the DYW program and being the current
DYW," said Ms. Rae, who expressed thanks that
her mother had been her biggest supporter.
(Story continues below these photos)
 
The presentation of awards then concluded the
evening:
• 2015-2016 Distinguished Young Woman, Shaleyna
Higgins. $3,000 scholarship.
• First Runner Up, Margaret McCoy, $2,000
scholarship
• Second Runner Up, Abby Davis, $1,600
scholarship
• Third Runner Up, Veronica MacDonald $1,400
scholarship
• Interview Winner, Margaret McCoy, $750
scholarship
• Talent Winner, Shaleyna Higgins, $750
scholarship
• Scholastics Winners, Margaret McCoy and Lauren
Wages, each earning an $800 scholarship
• Fitness Winner, Shaleyna Higgins, $750
scholarship
• Self Expression Winner, Shaleyna Higgins, $750
scholarship
• Be Your Best Self Winner, Lauren Wages, $750
scholarship
• Spirit of Distinguished Young Women Winner,
Abby Davis, $750 scholarship
All of the above awards also included gift
baskets and gift certificates provided by many
area businesses and families.
(Story continues below these photos)
Positive comments were heard all around
following the program:
"Well-practiced and overall well done!"
"A top notch production!"
"The theme was unique and fun, and the
production was well done!"
Support for the program from the Boundary County
community is phenomenal.
Making some quick tallies from the official
written program for Saturday evening's event, we
at NewsBF found the following: Those who made
financial contributions included 139 businesses,
individuals, and organizations
Special Thanks or other recognition was given to
another 44 businesses, organizations and
individuals who provided services for the
program.
Contributing prizes and gift certificates were
approximately 42 businesses and families,
Volunteers who served as program staff,
coordinators, or otherwise
assisting in the production itself were 38.
Each of the nine contestants had a sponsoring
organization.
There were 5 judges, along with a Master of
Ceremonies, and 3 Scholastic Judges.
Also participating and helping along the way:
Last year's Distinguished Young Woman winner and
the eleven Forget-Me-Nots, along with the 20
Young Misses.
All of this equals approximately 312
individuals, families, businesses, and
organizations who contributed in some way in the
form of monetary contributions, gifts, skills,
services, time, talent, expertise, management,
production, and in other ways toward the
program.
Ms. Pluid summed up one big reason for the
success of our local Distinguished Young Women
program: "Bonners Ferry's support of this
program is unparallelled in terms of financial
contributions as well as the donation of time
and talent by many community members. It's truly
impressive that a community of our size comes
together and outshines programs from
significantly larger cities in the state of
Idaho and across the nation.
"In fact the comment was made by one of the
judges who works with a significantly larger
program that she was jealous of the amount of
money we were able to award in scholarships.
"The DYW program is very special and impacts the
lives of girls in our communities for years to
come. On behalf of the entire DYW committee, I
would like to thank the community who makes this
program possible."
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