Jon Leask Photography
Rachel Forest is in the center, in the blue dress is Mia Toussaint 2nd Alternate (Blackfoot) and in the Peach/Pink dress is Madeline Harker 1st Alternate (Bonneville County).
By Distinguished Young Woman
POCATELLO – On Oct. 7, Rachel Forest of Pocatello was named the Distinguished Young Woman of State and awarded $7,100 in cash scholarships during a statewide scholarship program for high school girls held at the Civic Auditorium in Idaho Falls, ID .
Forest was one of 37 high school senior girls from Idaho who competed to represent the state as the Distinguished Young Woman of State for 2018. Participants were evaluated in the categories of Scholastics (25%), Interview (25%), Talent (20%), Fitness (15%), and Self-Expression (15%). Forest is the daughter of Tony and Jun Forest. Forest is a senior at Century High School, Pocatello, ID. Madeline Harker from Bonneville County was First Alternate and Mia Toussaint from Blackfoot was Second Alternate.
Throughout the next year, Forest will represent the state at various public events and serve as a role model to young people by spreading the program’s national outreach message of “Be Your Best Self.” The outreach program is designed to encourage self- esteem and excellence in all young people through its five principles: Be Healthy, Be Involved, Be Studious, Be Ambitious, and Be Responsible.
The program finalists included: Alissa Dorman, Madison; Abbey Andersen, Magic Valley; Madeline Harker, Bonneville County; Anna Mae Walker, Boise Valley; Ashley Shirley, Mini/Cassia; Emily Turpin, Firth/Shelley; Rachel Forest, Pocatello/Chubbuck; Marie Zaragoza, Coeur d’Alene; Mia Toussaint, Blackfoot; Kellie Andrews, Sugar/Salem.
Scholarship awards went to: Alissa Dorman, Madison; Ashley Shirley, Mini/Cassia; Emily Turpin, Firth/Shelley; Olyvia Saathoff, Rigby for Fitness. Overall Fitness was won by Gracie Swainston, Franklin County.
Rachel Forest, Pocatello/Chubbuck; Madeline Harker, Bonneville County; Anna Mae Walker, Boise Valley; MaCall Smith, Malad won Self-Expression awards with Mia Toussaint from Blackfoot winning Overall Self-Expression.
Talent awards went to Emily Turpin, Firth/Shelley; Brooke Staszkow, Moscow; Madeline Harker, Bonneville County; Alissa Dorman, Madison with Kellie Andrews from Sugar/Salem winning Overall Talent.
Rachel Forest won Overall Scholastics with other Scholastic winners being Olyvia Saathoff, Rigby; Alissa Dorman, Madison; Hannah Sims, Bonners Ferry; and Alexandra Ozeran, Lewiston.
Interview awards went to Madeline Harker, Bonneville County; Rachel Forest, Pocatello/Chubbuck; Marie Zaragoza, Coeur d’Alene; Kellie Andrews, Sugar/Salem with Mia Toussaint from Blackfoot winning overall interview.
The Be Your Best Self scholarship was awarded to Madeline Harker, Bonneville County and Mia Toussaint from Blackfoot won the Spirit award.
The 61st National Finals will take place on June 28, 29, 30, 2018, in Mobile, Ala. Forest will travel to Mobile, along with 51 other representatives from across the country to participate in personal development activities and community service projects before competing for the opportunity to become the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2018 and for additional cash scholarships. The District of Columbia’s Skye Bork, who is attending Columbia University, was named the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2017.
About Distinguished Young Women
Founded in 1958 in Mobile, Alabama, Distinguished Young Women is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls. During its 60 years of operation, the program has provided life-changing experiences for more than 765,000 young women. Distinguished Young Women provided more than $106 million in cash scholarships and $1.5 billion college granted scholarship opportunities to program participants at the local, state and national level. Previously known as America’s Junior Miss, the program announced its new name in June 2010.
The mission of Distinguished Young Women is to positively impact the lives of young women by providing a transformative experience that promotes and rewards scholarship, leadership and talent. National sponsors include Mobile County, City of Mobile, Wintzell’s Oyster House, Encore Rehabilitation, Alabama Power Foundation, Master Boat Builders, The Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Regions Financial Corporation, Evonik, and The Alabama Media Group.
For more information about Distinguished Young Women, contact Adrienne Rea, National Headquarters Marketing and Communications Director (251-438-3621, Adrienne@DistinguishedYW.org) or visit www.DistinguishedYW.org. Find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. www.facebook.com/distinguishedyw; www.twitter.com/distinguishedyw; www.youtube.com/user/distinguishedyw.