SANDPOINT — Nine outstanding high school juniors will be participating in the 2018 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. today at Sandpoint Middle School. 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 Hope Ambridge, Kirsten Baker, Avrielle Blaser, Briana Brosnahan, Kaysia Dills, Anna Hughes, Natalie Petit, Tara Rawlings, and Emma Riach.

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 2018 Sandpoint Distinguished Young Women program are:

- Hope Ambridge — After graduation, Ambridge plans to attend Brigham Young University with the goal of earning a bachelor’s degree in voice performance or become a chiropractic neurologist.

Ambridge is a member of the SHS Performing Choir, and was one of the leads in the recent production of “High School Musical”. She was a member of the varsity girls lacrosse and dance teams as a freshmen as well as the JV soccer team. She enjoys singing and writing music. In addition to gymnastics, she holds a red belt in taekwondo, enjoys skiing, and plays the flute.

For her talent, Ambridge will sing a song.

- Kirsten Baker — A student at Sandpoint High School, Baker says her goal is to be a clinical psychologist. She hopes to attend either the College of Idaho or the University of Idaho.

She is a member of the SHS Honors Performing Choir and enjoys acting.

A decision on her talent performance was not yet determined.

- Avrielle Blaser — A junior at Idaho Virtual Academy, Blaser plans to attend Utah Valley University or BYU with the aim of becoming either a forensic psychologist or an interior designer.

In her spare time, she enjoys teaching piano and giving sewing lessons.

For her talent, she will recite an original poem, “The Dragon of Grindly Grun”.

- Briana Brosnahan — A junior at Sandpoint High School, Brosnahan is one of nine students taking part in the Distinguished Young Woman program.

For her talent, she will perform a piece on the trumpet.

- Kaysia Dills — A student at Sandpoint High School, Dills plans to attend the University of Hawaii Hilo with the goal of becoming a teen counselor a veterinarian.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, art, working out and dancing.

A decision on her talent performance was not yet determined.

- Anna Hughes — A student at Sandpoint High School, Hughes plans to attend Weber State University to become a research scientist with a focus on genetics

She enjoys singing, reading, listening to music, cooking, theater, drawing, dancing, hiking and snowshoeing, and playing with her 4-year-old sister as well as, she joked, sleeping.

For her talent, she will perform the song, “It Don’t Mean a Thing”.

- Natalie Petit — A Sandpoint High School student, Petit plans to attend Montana State University to become a prosecuting attorney.

Petit enjoys softball and basketball as well as weight training. She is active in 4-H, taking part in art, woodworking and swine projects.

For her talent, she will be singing.

- Tara Rawlings — A Sandpoint High School student, Rawlings plans to attend Yale University and become an English teacher.

She is a member of Jobs Daughters, SHS Mentors, and Children of the American Revolution. Among her many interests is stagecraft.

For her talent, Rawlings will perform a puppeteering skit, “U Can’t Touch This.”

- Emma Riach — A student at Sandpoint High School, Riach plans to attend the University of Alaska with the goal of becoming either a teacher or an events planner.

She is a member of the SHS Performing Choir and enjoys musicals, drama, and church girls camp.

Riach is president of her church class.

For her talent, she will perform an aerial acrobatic routine to “Please Don’t Go”.