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| Photos provided courtesy of Picturesque Photography by Sara |
Started in 1966, the Bonners Ferry Distinguished Young Women Program has opened the door of opportunity for countless young women in our community. Throughout the years, Bonners Ferry has proven to be one of the best programs in the state and nation. It also has the reputation of giving one of the largest amounts of scholarship and prizes in Idaho, awarding over $15,000 last year.
The Distinguished Young Women program focuses entirely on participants’ inner beauty, strengths, and accomplishments. Participants are given the opportunity to participate in the “Be Your Best Self” program.
The “Be Your Best Self” program allows Distinguished Young Women participants to reach out and encourage young people nationwide to make a commitment to being their best selves in areas such as: academics, physical fitness, morality, character, and social and civic participation.
The five elements of “Be Your Best Self” are: Be Involved, Be Studious, Be Healthy, Be Responsible, and Be Ambitious. Participants take part in the “Young Miss” program by mentoring local sixth grade girls, performing community service projects, and participating in educational opportunities highlighting the elements of the program.
Each participant competes in the following categories: Scholastics, Interview, Talent, Fitness, and Self Expression.
An Olympic style scoring system is used in all categories of the program, and each participant receives a score of 1 to 10 in each category. Each participant is judged as an individual and not by comparison to other participants.
Scholarships are awarded to the winners of each category, as well as to runners-up and the young lady ultimately awarded the title of Bonners Ferry’s Distinguished Young Woman.
The Bonners Ferry Distinguished Young Women program receives its funds and support entirely through the donations of local community members and businesses.
Without this support, the program would not exist.
Throughout the next several weeks, volunteers will be contacting businesses and community members for their support. Donations of any size make a significant impact and allow Bonners Ferry’s best to achieve their higher learning goals.
If you would like to donate to this year’s program, please contact Andrakay Pluid at (208) 946-7598.
National sponsors of Distinguished Young Women include: Mobile County, City of Mobile, Wintzell's Oyster House, Alabama Power Foundation, Master Boat Builders, Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Encore Rehabilitation, Regions Financial Corporation, Alabama Media Group, the State of Alabama Tourism Department and Alabama RC&D Council.
For more information about Distinguished Young Women, visit www.DistinguishedYW.org.
In the days ahead, NewsBF will tell you more about each of the 20 amazing young women who comprise the Bonners Ferry Distinguished Young Women Class of 2017, but for now here are their names and faces, and, on behalf of the entire community, our wish to each of you that the experience you're now embarked upon proves awesome, amazing and unforgettable!
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| Ada Bonnell | Jennica Branson |
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| Sierra Brown | Courteney Facha |
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| Kianna Higgins | Ashlyn Hittle |
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| Alexandra Hough | Bailey Jenkins |
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| Kaylee Kramer | Rayan Naylor |
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| Katie Onstott | Maya Roberts |
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| Ashlynn Rushing | Jaeda Schnuerle |
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| Hannah Sims | Victoria Smith |
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| Haley Wenk | Miranda Wenk |
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| Michaela Worley | Alayna Youngwirth |