Malad’s Distinguished Young Women will be on stage at the Performing Arts Center in Marsh Valley May 2 for the official DYW competition.  The contestants have been working hard since the beginning of the year to make their curtain calls at this amazing annual event.  Malad has a long and proud history of success at DYW (formerly Junior Miss), and this year will undoubtedly be no exception.  Here are the participants for 2026.  For space, some of the information has been left out (community service, interests, etc), but will be available in the official program materials.

Participant # 1

 Name: Abbie Cox

High School: Malad High School

PERSONAL

College: Utah State University

Occupation: Elementary
School Teacher

Talent: Original Song with Vocals and Ukulele

Artistic Selection: Attracted to Light

Artistic Creator: Abbie Cox

FAMILY

Parents: Phillip Cox, Becky Cox; Sisters: Saigelyn Cox, Age: 12; Brothers: Kolton Cox, Age: 20, Crew Cox, Age: 5

ACTIVITIES & HONORS

Activities: FCCLA, FFA & 4-H, Chamber Choir, Theatre & Drama Club, Pep Band, Concert Band, Track & Field, Mayors Youth Council, Prom Committee, Stake Youth Council Committee, Work at Thomas Electric

Honors & Awards: Scholastic: 4.0 GPA Student, Freshman Year- Top 10%, Sophomore Year- Top 10%, On Track to Graduate High School with Associate's Degree, National Honor Society. FCCLA: District 5 Officer, Chapter Officer- 2 years, 2 Year Star Event Competitor, Competed at 2025 Nationals in Orlando, FL, Top 25, Parliamentary Procedure State, Qualified for Nationals, Power of One Award, Lettered Sophomore Year, Idaho Event Competitor- Placed Top Silver. 4-H: Won the 2024 Round Robin after qualifying & competing for 5 years, Dairy Goat Grand Champion Showman 5 out of 8 years, 2025 3rd Place Senior Horse Showman, 2025- Qualified & competed in Eastern Idaho State Fair for Dog Showmanship, Rally, and Obedience, 2021 Intermediate Horse All Around Champion. Chamber Choir: Soprano Section Leader- 2 years, 5th Place at State Ensemble. Pep Band: Lettered Freshman Year. Concert Band: Flute Section Leader- 2 years. Mayors Youth Council: Current Chairman, 2024-2025 Standby Officer

Participant # 2

 Name: Kaycee Venable

High School: Malad High School

PERSONAL

College: Weber State, University, Oregon State University

Occupation: Pediatric Nurse

Talent: Dance

Artistic Selection: "Brother" by Matt Corby

Artistic Creator: Izzy Willie

FAMILY

Parents: Nicona Venable, Parker Venable; Sisters: Tylee(18) Brittyn(12) Brinklee(8); Brothers: Tucker(20)

Activities: Certified Nursing Assistant, National Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization, (Peru) Youth wilderness experiences participant. High School Teams: Girls' high school soccer team: freshman year, Malad High School Drill team: freshman-sophomore years, Track: freshman-junior years, Cross-country: sophomore-junior years, Boxing: all years, winning all rounds both years

Honors & Awards: Academic honor role freshman, sophomore, and junior year; 23-24 school year track awards: 5th in 300 hurdles, 4th in 400 relay, 5th in 100 hurdles at the State competition; Drill team: 4th overall in State competition; 24-25 school year track awards: 4th in 100 hurdles, 6th in pole vault, 2nd 4x4 relay, 2nd 300 hurdles at the State competition; 24-25 school year cross country awards: 19th overall individual at State; Drill Team: 4th overall at State competition.*25-26 school year cross country awards: 1st 3A girls cross country team, 11th overall individual at State; 25-26 winter track season: 5th in co-ed Simplot Games earning a Malad High School record

Participant # 3

 Name: Paityn Ward

High School: Malad High School

PERSONAL

College: Utah Tech University

Occupation: Project Manager

Talent: Personal Narrative

Artistic Selection: "To Believe is to Achieve"

Artistic Creator: Paityn Ward

FAMILY

Parents: Terra Ward, Brandon Ward; Sisters: Katelynn (23); Brothers: Traven (23) Jaden (21) Kendon (15)

ACTIVITIES & HONORS

Activities: MHS Basketball (2024, 2025, 2026), MHS Volleyball (2023, 2024, 2025), MHS Softball (2024), MHS Student Council (2023-2026), Junior Prom Committee (2026), LDS Young Women Class President (2024), LDS Stake Trek Leader (2026)

Honors & Awards: 3x State Volleyball Runner-Up (2023, 2024, 2025); 3x District Volleyball Champion (2023, 2024, 2025); State Basketball Runner-Up (2025); 3x District Girls Basketball Champion (2025, 2026).Idaho Volleyball First Team All-State Selection (2025); Presidential Award (2025); Academic Top 10% of Class (2023, 2024, 2025); MHS Athlete of the Week (2025); USU Leadership Conference Innovative Leadership Award (2025); BYU Basketball All-Star Award (2025); 3A Girls Basketball State Champion (2026); 3A Girls 6th "Man" of the Year Award (2026).

Participant # 4

 Name: Emree Hanks

High School: Malad High School

PERSONAL

College: Brigham Young University

Occupation: Secondary Education

Talent: Piano

Artistic Selection: Wedding Day at Troldhaugen

Artistic Creator: Edvard Grieg

FAMILY

Parents: Hailee Hanks, Travis Hanks; Sisters: Ali (12), Maylee (9); Brothers: Hyrum (15), Brig(6)

ACTIVITIES & HONORS

Activities: National Honor  Society (2025-Current), College Introduction to Folklore Teaching Assistant, Peru Youth Wilderness Experiences Participant (2025), Thailand Youth Wilderness Mentor (2026), Social Media Manager of Malad Rock, Early Childhood Education Internship (2025-Current), Student Council (2023-Current), Oneida Country Crisis Center Junior Board Member (2024-Current), Mayor's Youth Advisory Council (2024-Current). Prom Committee, Oneida County Crisis Center Gala Committee (2024-Current), Malad High School Chamber Choir (2023-Current), Track Manager (2023-Current), Food/Customer Service Employment (2022-Current), Religious Leadership (2025-current)

Honors & Awards: Junior Class President (2025-current); CPR CertifiedTop 10% (2023-Current); FFA Discovery Degree (2023); Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint, and Excel certification (2024); State Qualifier /Placer in Ensemble Music (2025); Class Pep Representative (2023-2025); Chamber Choir Secretary (2025-current); Lettered Varsity Music (2023); Lettered Varsity Basketball (2025); 3A State Girls Basketball Runner-Up (2025); District V Girls Basketball Champions; Student Poetry Competition High school Semi-finalist (2024); Star Essayist (2023-2024); Math Wiz (2023-2024)

Participant # 5

 Name: Kelty Thomas

High School: Malad

PERSONAL

College: Utah State University

Occupation: Daycare Care Provider

Talent: Dance

Artistic Selection: If I Can Dream Cover by Maneskin

Artistic Creator: Elvis Presley

FAMILY

Parents: Brianna Thomas, Matthew Thomas

Sisters: Kennadee Thomas (14); Brothers: Drisco Thomas (7)

ACTIVITIES & HONORS

Activities: FCCLA (2023 - Current), FFA (2023 - Current), Dancing, Hiking, Camping, Reading, Baking, Photography, Library Page (2025 - Current), Track Manager (2024 season & 2025 season)

Honors & Awards: STAR EVENTS IDAHO FCCLA DISTRICT 5 Chapter Service Project Display (Level 2): Silver; Greenhand FFA Degree; Chapter FFA Degree; FFA State Degree; District V Academic Excellence Award (Drill Team); FCCLA Idaho Event: Certificate of Achievement for Menu Planning and Table Display (Level 1): Top Gold; Microsoft Office Specialist for Microsoft Word 2016- Top 25%; 2025 FCCLA National Qualifier

Participant # 6

 Name: Delanie Walton

High School: Malad

PERSONAL

College: University of Texas at Austin Or Idaho State University

Occupation: ASL Interpreter or Social Worker

Talent: American Sign Language Interpretation of a Song

Artistic Selection: Blackbird

Artistic Creator: The Beatles

FAMILY

Parents: Natalie Walton, Ryan Walton

Sisters: Mckenzie(26) Rylie(20); Brothers: Noah (24)

ACTIVITIES & HONORS

Activities: Cheerleading, 3 years; Dance, 13 years; Teaching Gymnastics, 4 years; Young Women’s; Young Women's Leadership, President and First Councilor; Learning Languages, Spanish and American Sign Language

Honors & Awards:

Academic achievement awards