Mitchell named DYW Sandpoint 2025

SANDPOINT — Mackenzie Mitchell has been named Sandpoint's Distinguished Young Woman 2025.

Mitchell, a junior at Sandpoint High School, was selected for the honor at a March 22 program. She receives a $3,000 scholarship. 

Selected as first finalist is Hannah Ricks, who receives a $2,000 scholarship, and selected as second finalist is CayliJo Giard, who receives a $1,000 scholarship. 

Participants in the 2025 Sandpoint Distinguished Young Women for the Class of 2026 are Mitchell, Ricks, Giard, Holly Rainey and Makiyah Hagstrom.

"We had an amazing show," Liberty Becker, Distinguished Young Woman Sandpoint chair, said. "With the committee transition, it has definitely been a whirlwind, but the girls have been incredible, and we’ve been lucky enough to make some amazing connections with them."

The Distinguished Young Woman Sandpoint program participants took part in self-defense workshops, health seminars, and interview and public speaking workshops.

"The girls were all so positive and really put their all into the program," Becker said. "I am beyond impressed with how they all embodied the spirit of the program — being your best self in every area of life."

In addition to DYW Sandpoint and the two finalists, a number of additional awards were presented at the Saturday program. Those awards, and the individuals to whom they were presented, are:

Spirit Award — CayliJo Giard, who receives a $200 scholarship for her selection; 

• Be Your Best Self — Makiyah Hagstrom, who receives a $200 scholarship for her selection.

• Fitness — Makiyah Hagstrom, who receives a $240 scholarship for her selection.

• Self-expression — CayliJo Giard, who receives a $240 scholarship for her selection.

• Talent — CayliJo Giard, who receives a $320 scholarship for her selection.

• Scholastics — Hannah Ricks, who receives a $400 scholarship for her selection.

• Interview — Makiyah Hagstrom, who receives a $400 scholarship for her selection.

A junior at Sandpoint High School, Rainey plans to attend Metropolitan College to pursue a career in neonatal nursing. During the program, she performed an original song she wrote about her mental health journey.

Hagstrom, a member of the Sandpoint High School track and field team and Earth Club, has earned her varsity letter for the past three years. The SHS junior showcased her pottery and performed an original monologue about her art and creative process.

Ricks, who plans to attend Montana State University, intends to pursue a career as an environmental scientist. She is a member of the SHS cross country and track teams, Jazz Band, and National Honor Society. She has lettered twice in cross country and also in track and band. She is a captain of the cross country team and distance track team and is the leader of her church youth group. For her talent, Ricks performed "Taking Flight" on her flute.

Mitchell plans to attend the University of Idaho and pursue a career in one of her interests, kinesiology or interior design. She is active in soccer, snowboarding, surfing, Jiu Jitsu, track and guitar. She has lettered in varsity soccer for three years, earning All-State first-team honors in 2023 and second-team honors in 2024. She has earned the Outstanding Individual Scholastic Award in 2023 and 2024, the Sandpoint Bulldogs Core Values Commitment Award in 2023, the Distinguished Team Scholastic Award in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and first place in the 2020 Idaho Aviation Art Contest. For her talent, she performed a Jiu-Jitsu demonstration and monologue about what the sport means to her.

Giard plans to attend Washington State University, where she plans to pursue a career as a large animal veterinarian. She is active in 4-H, including horse, dairy goat, meat goat, market swine, and veterinary science; snowboarding and horse judging. She has earned fourth in Individual Overall AHA Hippology; third in Individual Stations AHA Hippology; fifth in Individual Judging AHA Hippology; second in Written Test AHA Hippology; third in Team Performance Judging AHA; fourth in Team Performance Judging AHA; second in Team Reasons AHA Judging; third in Team Reasons AHA Judging; second in Team Overall AHA Judging; and fourth in Team Overall AHA Judging. For her talent, she signed "Touch the Sky."

Recognized at the program were Ada Anderson, 2024 Distinguished Young Woman; Betti Travers, 2024 DYW first finalist; and Zella Lopez, 2024 DYW second finalist.

Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women is a free program that encourages participants to reach their full individual potential. Its mission is to empower young women by providing over $1 billion in scholarship opportunities, connecting with a nationwide network of women, developing their self-confidence, and participating in DYW life skills workshops that prepare them for success after high school.

National sponsors include the Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Mobile County, the city of Mobile, the Alabama Power Foundation, Master Boat Builders, Gant Travel Management, Regions Financial Corporation, John Cauley Jeweler, Jostens and the Alabama Media Group. Distinguished Young Women of Idaho state gold sponsors are Crumbl Cookies, D.L. Evans Bank, Gold's Gym, Idaho Central Credit Union, Good2Go, Hall Foundation, JE Wellness Coaching and the Lamb Weston Foundation.

    Distinguished Young Women Sandpoint participants wait for a decision of who will be selected as the community's Distinguished Young Woman 2025 for the Class of 2026. Pictured, from left, are Holly Rainey, Makiyah Hagstrom, Hannah Ricks, Mackenzie Mitchell and CayliJo Giard.
  

    Holly Rainey
  

    Makiyah Hagstrom
  

      

    Mackenzie Mitchell
  

    CayliJo Giard