DYW of Idaho for 2023 to be named during statewide scholarship competition

High school senior girls from across Idaho will meet in Idaho Falls for the Distinguished Young Women of Idaho program to be held Friday and Saturday, Oct. 7-8. Participants will compete for $35,000 in college scholarships and the opportunity to represent the state as the DYW of Idaho for 2023. The program is open to the public and preliminaries will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 7 and at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. Finals begin at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. Tickets will be available at the door for $15.

The 33 young women competing will be evaluated by a panel of five judges in the following categories: scholastics (25%), interview (25%), talent (20%), fitness (15%) and self-expression (15%). The participant selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Idaho will advance to the national level at the 66th DYW National Finals in Mobile, Ala., on June 22-24, 2023, where she will join with 50 other representatives from across the country in competing for cash scholarships and the opportunity to represent the program as the Distinguished Young Woman of America.

Representing Bonners Ferry at the program is Leah Moellmer.

Also taking part in DYW of Idaho are: Savannah Bagley from Rigby; Jaylee Ball from West Jefferson; Maddi Barfuss from Magic Valley; Delaney Beckner from Potlatch; Ashlynn Bishop from Kootenai County; Anna Lee Bitton from Pocatello/Chubbuck; Andi Bulkeley from South Mini-Cassia; Hannah Call from Ririe; BrynLee Carter from Boise Valley; Alyssa Crowther from Franklin County; Addie Dalling from Sugar/Salem; Hailee Daniels from Bonneville County; Elisheva Davis from Priest River; Mallory Erickson from Firth/Shelley; Hannah Evans from Caribou County; Katie Gray from Troy; Annika Huff from Lewiston; Ayva Johnson from Moscow; Abby Larsen from Snake River; Ruby Lewis from Marsh Valley; Blanca Mazo from Ashton; Isabelle Monk from Genesee; Claire Neibaur from North Mini-Cassia; Megan Orme from South Fremont; Emma Pratt from Aberdeen; Bretta Robinson from Kuna; Kassidi Scott from St. Maries; Raegan Smith from Malad; Sydney Stewart from Blackfoot; Kiersty Sutton from Madison; Brooke Tibbitts from Teton; and Alizabeth Walker from Kendrick/Juliaetta.

The current DYW of Idaho is Kenadee Kuhn, daughter of David and Monica Kuhn, of Bonneville County.

DYW was founded in 1958 and is a free program that encourages participants to reach their full individual potential. Their mission is to empower young women by providing more than $1 billion in scholarship opportunities, connecting with a nationwide network of women, developing their self-confidence, and participating in their Life Skills Workshops that prepare them for success after high school.

National sponsors include Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Mobile County, City of Mobile, Alabama Power Foundation, Master Boat Builders, Shoe Station and the Barkin Family, Gant Travel Management, the Coffeen Family, Regions Financial Corporation, Jostens and Alabama Media Group.