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'A Night at the Oscars' a shining celebration

May 1, 2017

The 2017 Bonners Ferry Distinguished Young Women contestants in all their splendor.

It was a night of 20 young women, 20 incredible talents all on a single stage. There was pomp, there were tears. There was music, comedy, dance and of course, acting. It was after all, A Night at the Oscars Saturday night in Bonners Ferry, the night of the 2016-17 Distinguished Young Women Program, a night filled with glamour and emotion.

Before the final curtain went down, $15,350 in scholarships were awarded and 2016 Distinguished Young Woman Brittany Spangler graciously passed her crown to Bonners Ferry's 2017 Distinguished Young Woman, Hannah Sims.

While only one "winner" could be chosen in the 51st Bonners Ferry Junior Miss/Distinguished Young Woman gala, a most daunting task for the judges, not a girl who took part walked away empty-handed, as each; (top photo, l-r) Rayan Naylor, Jennica Branson, Bailey Jenkins, Courteney Facha, Ashlyn Hittle, Victoria Smith, Haley Wenk, Hannah Sims, Alayna Youngwirth, Alexandra Hough, Kaley Kramer, Kianna Higgins, Maya Roberts, Katie Onstott, Ada Bonnell, Miranda Wenk, Jaeda Schneurle, Michaela Worley, Sierra Brown and Ashlynn Rushing, along with Hannah, each gained an experience they will cherish and be enriched by throughout their lives.

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"This year's group of young ladies were truly amazing," said organizer Andrakay Pluid, "talented, kind, intelligent, spirited, community oriented and ambitious. Hannah is truly a representative from a group of winners, although definitely an outstanding representative.

"I am proud of each and every participant and I am excited to see what they go on to accomplish in their future. I would like to extend another thank you to the community who make this possible as well as the committee, who work so tirelessly to put on a great program."

Mistress of Ceremonies Kris Crocker, better known to most as the chief meteorologist on KXLY Channel 4, paid her third official visit to Bonners Ferry to emcee our Distinguished Young Woman program, was awarded an honorary "Oscar" for her gracious service to the community, and it by all appearances, it looked as if she was having just as much fun as the contestants!

The evening began in a darkened auditorium, the Star Wars theme rising in volume as the contestants, brandishing light sabers as they danced down the aisle through the audience, making their way to the stage.

Throughout the evening, the young women entertained to the familiar and much-loved music of Hollywood; "Rocky," "Jaws," "Indiana Jones," "E.T." and "Back to the Future," just to name a few.

In every DYW program, and through all the decades the program was known as Junior Miss, it seems there is always a moment that, more than any other, touches the hearts of those who both watch at take part, and one such moment came when Bailey Jenkins performed her original monologue during the talent portion of the program, paying tribute to her father, Ryan, and giving an account of his military service to our nation.

"I wasn't expecting that," an emotional Kris Crocker said, her voice breaking. She asked Bailey's dad to stand, and he did, to a strong round of applause from the audience.

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As mentioned earlier, with the exception of the contestants themselves, perhaps no one involved had a more difficult job than this year's judges; longtime educator Steve Casey, Boise, Coeur d'Alene High School science teacher and 2005 Junior Miss contestant Erika Lewis, Shelley Olson, Lewiston, who 40 years ago this year became Idaho's Junior Miss from St. Maries, Julie Turley, Spirit Lake, who chaired the Timberlake Distinguished Young Women program from 2008 to 2012, and Kim Washko, Hayden, a professional artist who has been involved in the DYW program at both the local and state level for more than a decade.

While they sat to their deliberations, several of the 2016 DYW contestants; Alaina White, Brittany Spangler, Cameron Haworth, Jill Alexander, Madalynn Kelly, Mary Fioravanti, Serenity Winey, Rachel Young and Taja Hoban, now known as the Forget-Me-Nots, kept the audience entertained as this year's contestants stayed backstage, reliving what theey had just accomplished, congratulating one another, hugging one another at the culmination of a process that has forged life-long friendships and memories.

Hannah Sims

You already know that Hannah received the judge's nod to become Bonners Ferry's 2017 Distinguished Young Woman. Her court is comprised of first runner up Haley Wenk, second runner up Ashlynn Rushing, third runner up Kianna Higgins and fourth runner up Alexandra Hough.

Kaylee Kramer won the interview, Kianna Higgins the talent, Haley Wenk the fitness and Hannah Sims the self expression portions of the program. Scholastic awards went to Rayan Naylor, Hannah Sims and Ada Bonnell, Be Your Best Self Awards were presented to Kaylee Kramer and Victoria Smith and the Spirit of DYW award went to Haley Wenk.

Thanks go out to the many local businesses who contributed to the gifts handed out to this year's contestants; Kootenai River Spa, Mica Jae's Photography, the Hair Connection, Alpine Linen, Homestead Coffee, Triple Play, Mandy's Gift Gallery, Katie Blumenauer Photography, Larson's, the Rusty Moose, Kootenai River Brewing Company, Twin Rivers Canyon Resort, Safeway, Love Light Creamery & Grille, Bamboo Room Day Spa, Mojo's Coffee, the Badger Den Cafe, Scentsy/Younique by Shauna, Far North Outfitters, Under the Sun, Northern Air, Oo La La Skin & Lash Boutique, Soulshine, Keep in Touch Yoga, Pluid & Sons Logging, Bread Basket Bakery, Subway, Mane Street Hair Design, Keep in Touch Reflexology, Goat Mountain Pizzeria, Liz Wood/Celebrating Home, Misty Mountain Espresso, T&T Farms and the Iverson Family, Keep in Touch Massage, Mugsy's and Carter Country Farm and Feed.

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Thanks, too to contributors P1FCU, Pace-Kerby & Company, Photos Plus, Pizza Factory, Pluid Law LLC, Rawlings Community Counseling, Regehr Logging, Rex and Shelly Hoisington, Riverside Auto Center, Roadway Accounting, Rod and Jeannie Robinson, Rod Benders Car Club, Ron and Evelyn Smith, Ron and Summer MacDonald, Ruth Ann Wilson, Sater's Auction Service, Schrom Therapeutic Home Care for Boys, Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Selkirk Kennels, Shelman Realty, Shutes Farms, South Hill Meat Lockers, Stephanie Chae Massage, Stephen Hawkes Piano Tuning, Stockton Business Services, Sugar Plum Floral & Greenhouse, Sukenik Family, Summit Reach Tree Farm/Dave and Laura Anderson, Svec Chiropractic, Tamie Bremer, Taylor & Sons Chevrolet, Teresa's Family Salon, The Dance Studio, Thick 'n' Thin Beams and Flooring, This Old Trunk, Three Mile Corner, TransCanada, Trees R Us/Tas and Sheila Hansen, Universal Well Drilling, Vinyl Expressions, White Mountain Chain, Wilson Law Firm, Wink Inc., Wood's Crushing & Hauling, Woody's Gun & Pawn and Youngwirth, Davis & Associates.

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	Ada Bonnell, sponsored by Echo Springs Transitional School, performed a piano recital.
Jennica Branson, sponsored by the Moyie Shrine Club, performed a lyrical dance.
	Sierra Brown was sponsored by the Knights of Pythias, and she performed a lyrical dance.
Kianna Higgins, sponsored by Beta Sigma Phi, performed a modern jazz dance.
	Courteney Facha, who was sponsored by the Bonners Ferry Rotary Club, performed a lyrical dance.
Ashlynn Hittle, sponsored by Boundary County Middle School Leadership, performed an original monologue.
	Alexandra Hough, sponsored by the Bonners Ferry Rod Benders Car Club, performed a lyrical dance.
Haley Wenk, sponsored by the Bonners Ferry Eagles Aerie, performed a comedic skit.
	Bailey Jenkins, sponsored by Alta Forest Products, awed the crowed with an original monologue about her father.
Kaley Kramer, sponsored by the Masonic Organizations, sang "Castle on a Cloud."
	Rayan Naylor, sponsored by the Bonners Ferry Chamber of Commerce, sang "Journey to the Past."
Miranda Wenk, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, performed a dance medley.
	Katie Onstott, sponsored by Girl Scout Brownie Troop 2171, performed an original monologue.
Victoria Smith, sponsored by Idaho Women in Timber, dressed up to perform her comedic monologue!
	Maya Roberts, sponsored by Bonners Ferry Masonic Lodge 43, performed an original monologue.
Ashlynn Rushing, sponsored by Bonners Ferry Masonic Lodge 43, didn't take long at all to create a speed painting.
	Hannah Sims, sponsored by Chapter AP, P.E.O., performed a piano solo.
Alayna Youngwirth, sponsored by Girl Scout Cadette Troop 3801, performed an original monologue.
	Michaela Worley, sponsored by American Legion Post 55, presented her monologue using American Sign Language.
Jaeda Schnuerle, sponsored by American Legion Auxiliary Post 55, performed a lyrical dance.
	Bonners Ferry 2017-18 Distinguished Young Woman Hannah Sims, the daughter of Dave and Stephanie Sims, will see an already busy schedule of activities become even more busy as she assumes the many responsibilities that come with the honor.