DYW participants 'Aim High'
PRIEST RIVER — Eight high school juniors will “Aim High” per the “Top Gun” theme of this year’s Distinguished Young Women Program.
“Our newest committee member Jeanette Shockey has been bugging us for years to use ‘Top Gun’ songs and had great ideas for opening number and decorations,” said Terri Ivie, chair for the Priest River Distinguished Young Women program. “She has been a true asset. The music is perfect for every segment of the program from opening number to physical fitness. We chose the motto ‘Aim High’ because it goes with the standards of the program and also the Top Gun theme.
“Come see a riveting display of well-rounded talent from eight talented young ladies this Saturday night,” she added.
Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women — formerly Junior Miss, Miss Priest River and Young Woman of the Year — is the country’s largest and oldest scholarship program for high school junior girls.
The 2019 Priest River participants are Amy Flack, Sharnai Hogan, Emily Holbrook, Cassidy Prudek, Natalie Randolph, Julia Rantala, Baylee Teeters and Sierra Vaughn.
Each Distinguished Young Women program evaluates participants in the following categories: scholastics, 20 percent of overall score; interview, 25 percent of overall score; talent, 25 percent of overall score; fitness, 15 percent of overall score; and self-expression, 15 percent of overall score.
Cash scholarships are awarded at the local level and millions in college- granted scholarships are available — more than $1 billion nationally. Local winners will advance to the state program in Idaho Falls where they give away more than $27,500 in cash tuition scholarships. Locally, Ivie said they will be giving out $7,600 in scholarships during the DYW event.
The event will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Priest River Junior High Audito-rium. Admis-sion is $10.
- Amy Flack, a junior at Priest River Laman-na High School and daughter of Phil and Kayla Flack, plans to attend Eastern Washing-ton Univer-sity in the fall, with the goal of becoming a dental hygienist. For her talent, Flack will play the piano.
- Sharnai Hogan, who is a junior at PRLHS and daughter of Arletta Hogan, plans to study journalism at Eastern Washing-ton Univer-sity next year. For her talent, Hogan will sing.
- Emily Hol-brook, a junior at PRLHS and daughter of Liz and Quinton Hol-brook, is undecided on her career and college choice. For her talent, Holbrook will perform a song.
- Cassidy Prudek, a junior at PRLHS and daughter of Tony Rey-nolds, plans to attend Washington State University to pursue a career in the pharmacy industry. For her talent, Prudek will dance.
- Natalie Randolph, a junior at PRLHS and daughter of Kirk and Jessica Randolph, plans to study wildlife biology at College of Idaho, though she is still keeping her options open for choice of college. For her talent, Randolph will perform a lip sync/skit.
- Julia Rantala, a junior at PRLHS and daughter of Kara and Gary Rantala, plans to attend Boise State University to pursue a career as a sociologist. For her talent, Rantala will dance.
- Baylee Teeters, a junior at PRLHS and daughter of Annie Suchocki and Rocky Teeters, plans to attend Rutgers University with the goal of becoming a social worker. For her talent, Teeters will dance.
- Sierra Vaughn, a junior at Forrest Bird Charter High School and daughter of Shannon and Kevin Vaughn, plans to become a fish and game warden and is undecided on which college she will attend. For her talent, Vaughn will be singing.