Oneida County DYW Madelyn Shaw will be competing in the state competition to name the 2025 Distinguished Young Woman for Idaho.  Shaw was named the winner of the Malad DYW competition in May, taking over the title from the previous winner,  Alexus Tarbet.  Tarbet was the winner of the Talent portion of the competition at the state level, and a state finalist.  She was preceded by Raegan Smith, who was named the state first alternate for 2023.  Malad’s participants have had a lot of success at the state level, due in no small part to the support of the local organization, chaired by Nikki Schawrtz, and the backing of many individuals and groups throughout the community.  The state competition will be held a quick drive up the interstate in Idaho Falls during the first weekend in October. 

The State organization announced recently that “High school senior girls from across Idaho will join together in Idaho Falls for the Distinguished Young Women of Idaho program to be held Friday and Saturday, October 4th and 5th at The Frontier Center for the Performing Arts. Participants will compete for $42,500 in college scholarships and the opportunity to represent the state as the Distinguished Young Woman of Idaho for 2025. 

The program is open to the public and will begin with the First Preliminary at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 4 with the Second Preliminary at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 5.  The new Distinguished Young Women of Idaho will be announced during the final showcase which begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 5.  Tickets will be available at the door for $15.

The thirty-seven 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 68th Distinguished Young Women National Finals in Mobile, Ala., on June 26, 27 and 28, 2025, 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.”

Distinguished Young Women of Idaho welcomes the following participants to Idaho Falls:

Ada Anderson of Sandpoint, Morgan Apt of Moscow, Anna Burbank of Boise Valley, Kate Christensen of Firth/Shelley, Hailey Dalling of Sugar/Salem, Hadassah Davis of Priest River, Jaida Evans of Ririe, Mackenzie Fullmer of South Fremont, KateLyn Goodworth of Marsh Valley, Quiana Gonzalez of Magic Valley, Jordan Hicks of North Mini-Cassia, Katelyn Holm of Lewiston, Hannah Hoth of Teton, Hayven Holyoak of Franklin County, Skyler Jones of South Mini-Cassia, Suzy Keller of Canyon Valley, Sadie Kerbs of Madison, Rylie Kimball of Bonners Ferry, Hayden Kimberling of Kendrick/Juliaetta, Jensen King of Aberdeen, Autum Martinez of The Camas Prairie, Hallie Morris of Bonneville County, Sydnee Nelson of Rigby, Kaylin O’Halloran of Kootenai County, Calyn Permann of Power County, Lexi Peterson of Kuna, Emelia Powell of Troy, Sierra Reynolds of Ashton, Eleanor Roman of Potlatch, Madelyn Shaw of Malad, HaiLeigh Short of St. Maries, Trixie Smith of West Jefferson, Kenzie Strasser of Weiser, Addison Taylor of Pocatello/Chubbuck, Ansley Weaver of Blackfoot, Kate Williams of Caribou County and AnnMarie Wolfley of Snake River.

Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women is a free program that encourages participants to reach their full individual potential. Our 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 our Life Skills Workshops that prepare them for success after high school. National sponsors include Mobile County, City of Mobile, Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Alabama Power Foundation, Gant Travel Management, Regions Financial Corporation, The Coffeen Family, John Cauley Jeweler, Jostens and Alabama Media Group.

For more information about Distinguished Young Women, contact Carly Bragg, National Headquarters Marketing and Communications Director, at 251-438-3621 or
[email protected] or visit www.DistinguishedYW.org.