PRIEST RIVER — In accordance with this year's theme, 10 high school juniors will "Shine Bright" this Saturday during Priest River's Distinguished Young Women program.

Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women — formerly Junior Miss, Miss Priest River and Young Woman of the Year — is the largest and oldest scholarship program for high school junior girls. The 2018 Priest River participants are Samantha Kendle, Chloe Livingston, Victoria Millward, Dalaynee Cook, Gabby Hagman, Emily Butler, Abby Barnes, Tabitha Richey, Liann Kren, Christina Tefft.

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 $1.5 billion nationally. Local winners will advance to the state program in Idaho Falls where they give away more than $27,500 in cash tuition scholarships.

Priest River's Distinguished Young Women participants also take their talents into the community, hosting an event for a different local program or organization each year, said Tina Linton, Priest River's Distinguished Young Women fitness and self-expression coordinator.

"(The program's) motive is 'Be Your Best Self,'" Linton said. "So every year we do a 'Be Your Best Self' scholarship, where we do something for the community."

This year, she said, the group hosted a dinner for Priest River Animal Rescue, and then the girls each wrote an essay on what they learned from PRAR volunteers during the event.

As it is the 60th year of the program, and diamonds are the traditional 60th anniversary gift, this year's theme is "Shine Bright ... Like a Diamond," said program chair Terri Ivie.

All past representatives of Distinguished Young Women, Junior Miss, Miss Priest River, Young Woman of the Year and alternates are invited to attend and be honored during this Saturday's 60th anniversary celebration. Those interested need to RSVP with Ivie at 208-627-6703 or email [email protected].

The program starts at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Priest River Junior High School Auditorium.

Participants in the 2018 Priest River Distinguished Young Women program are:

- Samantha Kendle plans to attend the University of Idaho after graduation, with the goal of becoming a dental hygienist. For her talent, Kendle will perform speed painting.

- Chloe Livingston plans to attend Idaho State University after graduation, with the goal of becoming a physical therapist. For her talent, Livingston will sing and play an original song on the guitar.

- Victoria Millward plans to attend the University of Kansas after graduation, with the goal of becoming a psychologist. For her talent, Millward will perform a comedy impersonation of Australian cooking show.

- Dalaynee Cook plans to attend either North Idaho College or Lewis and Clark State College after graduation, with the goal of becoming a cosmetologist. For her talent, Cook will be dancing.

- Gabby Hagman plans to attend the University of Oregon after graduation, with the goal of becoming an FBI agent or a Spanish translator. For her talent, Hagman will perform a comedic poem reading.

- Emily Butler plans to attend the University of Montana after graduation, with the goal of becoming a journalist or art director. For her talent, Butler will tap dance.

- Abby Barnes plans to attend Carroll College after graduation, with the goal of becoming a physical therapist. For her talent, Barnes will perform the evolution of dance.

- Tabitha Richey is undecided on the college she will attend after graduation from high school, with the goal of becoming a history teacher. For her talent, Richey will lip sync.

- Liann Kren plans to attend Carroll College after graduation, with the goal of becoming a veterinary technician. For her talent, Kren will perform sign language to music.

- Christina Tefft plans to attend Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, with the goal of becoming an aerospace engineer. For her talent, Tefft will dance.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.