Over the weekend, the State DYW competition was held in Idaho Falls, bringing together young women from all around state.  Oneida County’s 2025 Distinguished Young Woman Madelyn Shaw was named a finalist at the end of the night, and was awarded the Overall Scholastic Award, and the Be Your Best Self Award.  She was joined at the event by Oneida’s 2024 DYW Alexus Tarbet, who was the Overall Talent winner and performed her piano piece during the presentation.  

Oneida County has been a force to be reckoned with in the state competition, with Shaw’s top 10 placement and Overall Scholastic Award, Tarbet’s Overall Talent Award, and 2023’s Raegan Smith being named first alternate among other awards.  

The support of hostesses, the DYW committee headed by Nikki Schwartz, and dozens of friends, family, and many others have made for a special group of women from the area who have seen enormous success.  This is a tradition that so far shows no signs of stopping!