SANDPOINT — Eight outstanding high school juniors will be participating in Saturday’s 2016 Distinguished Young Women of Sandpoint program.

The event, which is part of a national scholarship program that promotes and rewards scholarship, leadership and talent in young women, will be held at 7 p.m. at the Sandpoint High School auditorium. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets purchased in advance are $8 youth/student and $12 adult; at the door, $10 youth/student and $15 adult.

Participating in the program are Abby Johnson, Calli Laybourne, Ellie McCray, Eleanore Mearns, Rachel Meyer, Julia Neuder, Emma Reed, and Alyssa Webster.

Founded in 1958 in Mobile, Ala., Distinguished Young Women (originally called Junior Miss) is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls.

Distinguished Young Women’s goal is to positively impact the lives of young women and inspire them to develop their full, individual potential. It encourages continued education and offers college scholarships and helps the young women to develop self-confidence to interview effectively, speak in public and perform on stage as well as encourage and showcase excellence in academic achievement.

Each Distinguished Young Women program evaluates participants in the following categories: scholastics, 20 percent of overall score; interview, 25 percent of overall score; talent, 25 percent of overall score; fitness, 15 percent of overall score; and self-expression, 15 percent of overall score.

Cash scholarships are awarded at the local level and millions in college-granted scholarships are available — a total of $820 million nationally. Local winners will advance to the state program in Pocatello, where more than $20,000 in cash tuition scholarships are awarded.

Participants in the 2017 Sandpoint Distinguished Young Women program are:

- Abby Johnson — A student at Sandpoint High School, Abby Johnson says her goal is to become an engineer or physicist and her dream school would be Vanderbilt University.

She serves on the SHS Student Council and the Idaho State Student Council. Johnson is a member of the SHS Performing Choir, National Honor Society, the soccer team and a member of a local youth group.

For her talent, Johnson will sing the song, “Ireland” and play the guitar.

- Calli Laybourne — A student at Sandpoint High School, Calli Laybourne plans to attend Brigham Young University Hawaii with the goal of becoming a marine biologist.

She is a member of the SHS varsity girls basketball team, Performing Choir, Health Occupations Students of America and is a youth camp leader. She also works as a cashier at Winter Ridge Natural Foods and as a referee.

For her talent, she will sing the song, “Summertime”.

- Ellie McCray — A student at Sandpoint High School, Ellie McCray plans to attend the University of Hawaii to pursue a degree in environmental science or nursing.

In her spare time she enjoys swimming, playing the piano, aerial silks, baking, backpacking and hiking, photography, camping, art and kayaking.

For her talent, she will play the song “River Flows in You” on the piano.

- Eleanore Mearns — A student at Forrest M. Bird Charter High School, Eleanore Mearns plans to attend the University of Washington and major in either biochemistry or political science.

In her spare time she enjoys leisure reading, makeup (stage and casual), writing poems, acting, singing, and local politics. She also enjoys cooking and baking, swimming, and taking pictures.

For her talent, she plans a chemistry demonstration.

- Rachel Meyer — A student at Sandpoint High School, Rachel Meyer plans to attend Eastern Washington University with the goal of becoming a dental hygienist.

She is a member of the Sandpoint High School girls varsity soccer team and Sandpoint Strikers. She enjoys journaling, playing piano, working out, visiting the animal shelter, and walking her dog. She enjoys yoga, organizing, biking around town and playing sudoku.

For her talent, she will play the song “The Heart Will Go On” on the piano.

- Julia Neuder — A student at Sandpoint High School, Julia Neuder plans to attend Linfield College and become an elementary school teacher.

She is a member of the SHS AcaDeca Club and Performing Choir. Neuder enjoys theater and voice lessons, both giving them and taking them. She enjoys swimming, and also teaches swimming lessons.

She works at children’s birthday parties as a princess and with the catering company, Skye’s the Limit.

For her talent, she will perform the song, “Don’t Rain on My Parade.”

- Emma Reed — A student at Sandpoint High School, Emma Reed plans to attend the University of Washington with the goal of becoming a U.S. foreign service officer.

She is a member of the swim team, French Club, Model United Nations, Interact Club, GEM Club and the SHS Human Rights Club.

For her talent, she will do a speed painting of Malala Yousafazi.

- Alyssa Webster — A student at Sandpoint High School, Alyssa Webster plans to attend either Boise State or Auburn University with the goal of becoming a neonatal nurse practitioner.

Webster serves on the SHS Student Council and works as a hostess at 41 South. She plays tennis and is a member of her church youth group.

For her talent, she will perform sign language to “One Step at a Time”.