BFHS junior Shaleyna Higgins was selected to
serve as Bonners Ferry's 50th Distinguished
Young Woman on Saturday night at the annual
Scholarship Program for young women held at the
high school auditorium.Shaleyna, the daughter of Barry and Darlene Higgins, was sponsored for the event by Coeur d'Alene Scottish Rite Bodies.
In becoming the 2015 Distinguished Young Woman for Bonners Ferry, Shaleyna was awarded a $3,000 scholarship, along with a gift basket and photo shoot, gift certificates to several area businesses, a $150 allowance for travel to the Idaho Distinguished Young Women program, a dozen roses, and the official Distinguished Young Woman medallion.
"We had a wonderful group of participants this year and I defintely didn't envy the judges their job of picking a 'representative' out of what truly was a group of winners," said Bonners Ferry DYW Coordinator Andrakay Pluid. "Shaleyna will be a wonderful representative for the community and we congratulate both her and the other eight participants who made this year's program so enjoyable for the committee."
A total of $11,950 in scholarships was awarded to young women participating in the program, along with many gift baskets and gift certificates provided by many local businesses and families.
Margaret McCoy, daughter of Sean and Tanya McCoy, was named First Runner Up and winner of a $2,000 scholarship. Second Runner Up in the program with a $1,600 scholarship was Abby Davis, daughter of Barry and Crista Davis, and Third Runner Up was Veronica MacDonald, daughter of Ron and Summer MacDonald, who earned a scholarship of $1,400.
In the Distinguished Young Women program event, entrants are judged based upon interviews, talent, scholastic achievements, fitness, and self expression.
The panel of judges for this year's program included five individuals who have backgrounds in business, dance instruction, a high school science teacher, accounting, and fashion consulting. All reside in locations outside of Boundary County, and most have served as Distinguished Young Woman in other areas and/or have been involved extensively in the Distinguished Young Women program for several years.
Saturday evening's program was based on the theme "The Legend of the Gold Medallion." In the program, Mariah Rae, Bonners Ferry's Distinguished Young Woman for 2014, was the captain of the ship "the White Pearl," with First Mate Shaylee Ellson (last year's First Runner Up) and Second Mate Natalie Shelton (last year's Second Runner Up), helping Captain Rae manage the ship's crew of nine Distinguished Young Women contestants. Their mission: searching for the Gold Medallion.
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The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was KXLY TV anchor Mark Peterson, out of Spokane, who provided much guidance and commentary in his role as a shipmate. Mr. Peterson did a great job as MC, and had a lot of fun comments through the evening.
Many comments were made on the fabulous stage design, the decorations, and props used in the performance, all of which reinforced the high seas Legend of the Gold Medallion theme. According to Ms. Pluid, Program Coordinator, "Stage Design was done entirely by Abby Onstott and Jaime McKechnie including all painting, etc. The props were mostly 'loaners' from people, namely Abby and Tess Rae. Abby's incredibly talented and does a wonderful job with the stage design. We are really lucky to have her!"
Once the lights went down and the program got underway, the nine contestants filed through the audience, in all their swashbuckling regalia, to take the stage.
The nine DYW contestants then opened their performance with a rousing fitness routine, including dancing and swordplay.
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In the next segment of the program, each of the contestants staged a talent presentation. Margaret McCoy gave a unique presentation of Victorian bouquet making, explaining that the flowers used are not just flowers only, but have different meanings. A bouquet with a certain meaning might be assembled for an enemy, and another put together for someone special.
Lauren Wages performed a dance to a medley of Beatles music, assisted by Paul McCartney--well, actually a photograph of Paul McCartney.
Veronica MacDonald did a lyrical dance to the Sam Smith song "Latch."
Chandra Bennett showed why the BFHS cheerleader squad is renowned for its performances, as she presented a cheer routine.
Samantha Schneider presented a "Sand Animation," as she formed scenes of a ship and of a woman from colored sand, all projected overhead for the audience to see, and all accompanied by music and dance movements.
Shaleyna Higgins presented a beautiful rendition of a lyrical dance, "River Flows in You." Her performance won the Talent Competition.
Alaina Rushing performed a vocal solo, "I'll Be There," and indicated that it was her wish to always be there
for her friends and for her
family.Aaliyah Zarate, said she was going "back to her roots," and performed a Salsa dance that was very energetic and fun for the assembled audience.
Abby Davis indicated that one of her talents was managing the 18 head of cattle that she owns, and she reflected that talent in her performance of a comical skit and poem about a tussle with a bull.
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Each contestant was asked to respond to a question during the evening, "If you were about to be forced to walk the plank, what would you say to those you were leaving behind?"
Shaleyna Higgins stated she wouldn't walk, she would "dance the plank." Abby Davis responded that after advising everyone to "choose your own way," she would go out on the plank in true swashbuckler fashion: doing a cannonball.
In the next entertainment phase of the program, the Forget-Me-Nots (participants in last year's Distinguished Young Women program) performed a routine with the 2015 Young Misses, in which the storied Gold Medallion was found hidden inside a treasure chest.
A slide show was presented showing photographs of this year's DYW contestants as infants, along with photos of many of the activities the contestants have participated in during the weeks the program has been running and preparing, including their Kidnap Breakfast, their participation in the Penguin Plunge, the style show, wearing crazy costumes downtown, and others.
This year's DYW contestants then returned to the stage, wearing their formal dresses and accompanied by their dads. A farewell was given by outgoing Bonners Ferry Distinguished Young Woman 2014 Mariah Rae.
"This last year has been a huge blessing on my life with the many opportunities and honors I've had from the DYW program and being the current DYW," said Ms. Rae, who expressed thanks that her mother had been her biggest supporter.
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The presentation of awards then concluded the evening:
• 2015-2016 Distinguished Young Woman, Shaleyna Higgins. $3,000 scholarship.
• First Runner Up, Margaret McCoy, $2,000 scholarship
• Second Runner Up, Abby Davis, $1,600 scholarship
• Third Runner Up, Veronica MacDonald $1,400 scholarship
• Interview Winner, Margaret McCoy, $750 scholarship
• Talent Winner, Shaleyna Higgins, $750 scholarship
• Scholastics Winners, Margaret McCoy and Lauren Wages, each earning an $800 scholarship
• Fitness Winner, Shaleyna Higgins, $750 scholarship
• Self Expression Winner, Shaleyna Higgins, $750 scholarship
• Be Your Best Self Winner, Lauren Wages, $750 scholarship
• Spirit of Distinguished Young Women Winner, Abby Davis, $750 scholarship
All of the above awards also included gift baskets and gift certificates provided by many area businesses and families.
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Positive comments were heard all around following the program:
"Well-practiced and overall well done!"
"A top notch production!"
"The theme was unique and fun, and the production was well done!"
Support for the program from the Boundary County community is phenomenal.
Making some quick tallies from the official written program for Saturday evening's event, we at NewsBF found the following: Those who made financial contributions included 139 businesses, individuals, and organizations
Special Thanks or other recognition was given to another 44 businesses, organizations and individuals who provided services for the program.
Contributing prizes and gift certificates were approximately 42 businesses and families,
Volunteers who served as program staff, coordinators, or otherwise
assisting in the production itself were 38.
Each of the nine contestants had a sponsoring organization.
There were 5 judges, along with a Master of Ceremonies, and 3 Scholastic Judges.
Also participating and helping along the way: Last year's Distinguished Young Woman winner and the eleven Forget-Me-Nots, along with the 20 Young Misses.
All of this equals approximately 312 individuals, families, businesses, and organizations who contributed in some way in the form of monetary contributions, gifts, skills, services, time, talent, expertise, management, production, and in other ways toward the program.
Ms. Pluid summed up one big reason for the success of our local Distinguished Young Women program: "Bonners Ferry's support of this program is unparallelled in terms of financial contributions as well as the donation of time and talent by many community members. It's truly impressive that a community of our size comes together and outshines programs from significantly larger cities in the state of Idaho and across the nation.
"In fact the comment was made by one of the judges who works with a significantly larger program that she was jealous of the amount of money we were able to award in scholarships.
"The DYW program is very special and impacts the lives of girls in our communities for years to come. On behalf of the entire DYW committee, I would like to thank the community who makes this program possible."