Lauren Smith of Post Falls finished third out of 38 participants in the Distinguished Young Women of Idaho scholarship program in Idaho Falls last weekend.

She finished highest among local competitors.

Smith earned four awards, including a talent scholarship ($200), self-expression scholarship ($150), for making the top 10 ($200) and finishing third overall ($1,000).

Her talent was ballet en pointe preformed to music from Don Quixote.

"She's a beautiful dancer," said Cynthia Keck, organizer of the Post Falls DYW program. "She just had surgery on her knee five weeks ago, but she was right on track and didn't miss a beat."

Keck was also proud of Smith in the self-expression portion.

"She really thought on her feet," Keck said. "Her answer was from the heart and not memorized."

Smith is the only Post Falls participant to finish in the top three at the state contest besides Tracey Brown, who won it in 2004.

Coeur d'Alene's Jordan Finney also finished in the top 10. She received a scholastic scholarship ($200), one for interview ($250) and one for making the top 10 ($200).

Lakeland's Olivia Sparks also competed. Timberlake did not send a representative to compete.

Winners from 42 local programs - all high school juniors - were eligible to compete in the state contest for a share of more than $130,000 in cash scholarships.

The overall winner was Michelle Jang, who represented the Pocatello/Chubbuck area. She will represent Idaho at the national program in June at Mobile, Ala.

The program was formerly called Junior Miss.