Reed enjoys distinguished, fun journey

SANDPOINT — For Sandpoint High School Senior Nichol Reed, being Sandpoint's 2017 Distinguished Young Woman is all about being a role model.

"I never thought I would actually win, it was quite a surprise, but after that night a big responsibility came to me," Reed said. "Being a role model, not only for high school students, but for younger girls, and living up to those expectations and being a good example." 

Since its inception in 1958, more than 740,000 young women across the country have participated in the Distinguished Young Women program, formerly known as America's Junior Miss. Distinguished Young Women is a national nonprofit, volunteer-run scholarship program. Julie Nolan, chairman of the Distinguished Young Women of Sandpoint, has volunteered with the program since 1977 following her own participation as a Junior Miss. 

"The focus is to award excellence in the young women in our communities that are looking to develop further skills and go on to pursue a college education," Nolan said, adding that any money raised through the program, statewide or nationally, goes to the girls who participate in Distinguished Young Women. 

More than $820 million in scholarship opportunities are available across the United States each year through Distinguished Young Women. Since 2009, Sandpoint's Distinguished Young Women's program has awarded more than $66,000 in cash scholarships to local participants. Some scholarships are available directly from colleges to any young woman who completes the program, including up to $4,000 for a four-year, annually renewable scholarship to the University of Idaho for residents and up to $8,000 for non-residents.

The mission statement of Distinguished Young Women is to inspire high school girls to develop their full, individual potential through a fun, transformative experience that culminates in a celebratory showcase of their accomplishments. The program's national outreach message to the young women who participate is "Be Your Best Self," which is made up of five elements: Be healthy, be involved, be studious, be ambitious and be responsible.

"One of the things the girls have shared with us throughout the years, and their parents, too, is how some of the life skills workshops they are put through during the program and the experience of the program has helped them tremendously when they go to interview for jobs, apply for colleges and throughout their careers," Nolan said.

Because it is a scholarship program and not a pageant, Nolan the Distinguished Young Women program centers largely around scholastics. Half of the criteria the young women are judged on is off-stage, including 25 percent scholastics where participants' high school transcripts are evaluated and 25 percent in a 10-minute interview with a panel of five judges. The other 50 percent of the judging criteria is made up by on-stage performance, including 20-percent talent, 15-percent self-expression, and 15-percent fitness.

As the Sandpoint competition winner, Reed traveled to Idaho Falls in October to compete against 40 Distinguished Young Women from across the state for the chance to go to the national competition in Mobile, Ala. Although she did not make it to nationals, Reed enjoyed competing at the state level, making new friends and having the "opportunity of a lifetime."

"She did very well and represented Sandpoint beautifully," Nolan said.

At the local competition, Reed said participants were prepared the night before in regards to the self-expression category where they are required to answer a posed question. Judging is based on communication skills and grace under pressure. During the state competition, Reed was given her question an hour before she went onstage. She said for those who made the top ten, the question was impromptu.

For her question, Reed was asked if she could go back in time, what event would she like to be present at and why?

"I said I would like to be present the day the Declaration of Independence was signed because that was the day we gained our freedom from the English tyranny," Reed said.

For the talent portion of the competition, Reed played the violin because music is one of her passions — and it's her back up if becoming a physician's assistant doesn't work out.

As the Distinguished Young Women of Sandpoint begin recruitment for the 2018 competition, Nolan said any girl from Sandpoint and surrounding area, which includes Sandpoint High School, Clark Fork, Forrest Bird Charter School and home-school, who is scheduled to graduate in 2018 qualifies to participate in the 2018 Distinguished Young Women of Sandpoint. Nolan said sophomore girls sometimes qualify if they are on a fast-track to graduation.

Orientation for the next group of Distinguished Young Women is 6 p.m. Dec. 13 at Sandpoint High School, room S4. There is no cost to participate in the program and parents are encouraged to attend as well. Those interested can sign up online at sandpoint.id.distinguishedyw.org. For information, email questions to sandpoint@distinguishedyw.org.