BLACKFOOT — Miiko Toussaint was named Distinguished Young Woman of Blackfoot on Saturday, earning a total of $3,100 in scholarship money.

    Toussaint earned awards in the fitness, self-expression, scholastic and talent portions of the event. She performed an interpretive dance during Saturday’s competition.

    Her father, Patrick Toussaint said his daughter’s participation in the DYW program helped her to develop her talent and her stepmother, Rebecca Toussaint, said the competition also got Miiko to think outside of the box.

    “It got her out of her comfort zone and helped her to explore her potential,” Rebecca said.

    In October, Miiko will compete in Idaho Falls along with 36 other DYW representatives from across the state. Blackfoot first attendant Meaghan Hintze earned $1,300 in scholarship funds and second attendant Justina Campbell earned $400 during the competition in Blackfoot.

    When asked what three words describe the Distinguished Young Women program, Toussaint used “life changing experience,” to describe the event, according to a press release issued Saturday.

    A junior at Blackfoot High School, Toussaint plans to attend Brigham Young University-Hawaii and study to become a physical therapist. Rachel Hanson, chairwoman for the Blackfoot DYW, said 14 contestants competed in the event.

    Hanson has been involved in the competitions for seven years and said the contestants receive interview and fitness coaching during the events. Natalie Stoker, Distinguished Young Woman for Idaho 2012-13, said the competition improved her interview skills and boosted her self-confidence.

    A senior at Idaho Falls High School, Stoker earned $10,000 in scholarship money and plans to attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, to study accounting and design. Her parents are Lance and Darlene Stoker.

    “My ultimate goal is to run my own photo design business,” she said.

    The youngest of 10 children, Stoker said all of her siblings paid for their own college education and so will she.

    “We have to work for it,” Stoker said.

    Distinguished Young Women is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls. In 2012, DYW bestowed more than $108 million in cash and college scholarship opportunities to participants at the local, state and national level.