To cheers and applause, Ali Terry was named Sandpoint's Distinguished Young Woman for 2021. She receives a $3,600 scholarship and will represent the community at the state program in Idaho Falls on Oct. 1-2.

Amanda Steiner was named first finalist, and receives $2,600 scholarship. Adriana Foxx was named second finalist, and receives a $1,600 scholarship.

The five category awards — fitness, scholastics, judge's interview, talent and self-expression — were split between Amanda Steiner and Ali Terry.

Steiner received the fitness award, which includes a $450 scholarship, and the talent award, which includes a $550 scholarship.

Terry received the award for self-expression, which includes a $450 scholarship; the scholastic achievement award, with a $675 scholarship; and the judge's interview award, which includes a $675 scholarship.

Steiner also received the Spirit Award, which includes a $350 scholarship. The award is voted on by the participants themselves, individually voting for the girl they feel truly embodies the spirit of a Distinguished Young Woman. She also received the Be Your Best Self Award, which is voted on by members of the DYW committee and members of the community. The award is presented to the participants whom the committee feels best represents the five elements of the Be Your Best Self Outreach program. It comes with a $350 scholarship.

Also taking part in the 2021 DYW Sandpoint program were Maddie Gunter and Lucinda Meshberg.

The theme of this year’s program, which was held at Sandpoint Middle School, was “Unstoppable.”

Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women is a free program that encourages participants to reach their full individual potential through continued education, by providing over $1 billion in scholarship opportunities, organizers said. It encourages them to develop their self-confidence in a positive peer environment and participate in life skills workshops that prepare them for success after high school.

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