Palmer reflects on DYW Idaho experience

The memories she made will last a lifetime, said Aurla Palmer, Sandpoint’s Distinguished Young Woman of the Year.

“Every day was filled with great times, fun activities, great food, and great people,” Palmer said in reflecting recently about her time at the Distinguished Young Woman of Idaho program in early October.

Palmer was one of 36 young women from across the state who took part in the Distinguished Young Woman of Idaho program in early October. While the program was held Oct. 7, Palmer and the other DYW participants from throughout Idaho arrived in Idaho Falls on Oct. 1 to get to know each other and to practice the various routines as well as polish their talents, interview and public speaking skills.

“There were 35 other girls who I became close friends with in a very short week,” Palmer said.

The DYW participants had three dance numbers to learn — the opening number, a fitness routine and the non-finalist dance.

“The opening number dance was super fun and easy to do, we had a lot of fun rehearsing,” Palmer said. 

The fitness routine was a seven-minute workout of core, leg and arm exercises and required “a lot of stamina,” she added.

After the practices, the young women would get to know each other and bond, Palmer said.

“We would all sit in a circle and talk about the upcoming activities,” Palmer said. “Claire, 2023 Distinguished Young Woman of Idaho, gave us a couple of pep talks, and we made posters for each other. Circle time was one of my favorite times.”

When they weren’t practicing, or keeping up on school work, Palmer said the DYW participants completed several service projects, a key emphasis of the program. Among the activities were packing backpacks for The Village and the youth who go there during their time in foster care as well as making “period packs” for the Idaho Period Project.

During the state program, Palmer competed in the Self-Express and Fitness categories on Friday, Oct. 1, during the first preliminary. On Saturday, Oct. 2, she competed in Talent, performing a monologue entitled “Ten Girls Who…”

In her original monologue about 10 girls who changed the world, Palmer talks about how the youth used their talents to help others. When she performed the monologue during the local program, Palmer told those gathered like others who changed the world by doing things to help others, she also wants to make a difference by being a nurse.

In her self-expression speech, she also spoke on the importance of mentors and how being there for others can mean all the difference in someone's life.

Palmer said she was happy to get a short break after the second preliminary and see her family. The final showcase on Saturday featured the top 10 once again competing in all on-stage categories for the judges. 

While she was not in the top 10, she was onstage throughout the night with the other 26 non-finalists and had a lot of fun, Palmer said.

“The non-finalist dance was my favorite dance routine," she added. "All of us girls came together and composed it. We used bits and pieces of the fitness routine and made it fun. It was a super fun experience to have with all of the girls!” 

At the end of the night, Mikah Jones of North Mini-Cassia was named the 2024 Distinguished Young Woman of Idaho and more than $40,000 in scholarships were awarded. Throughout the next year, Mikah Jones 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 to be healthy, be involved, be studious, be ambitious, and be responsible. 

The 65th national program will be held June 27-29 in Mobile, Ala. Mikah Jones will travel to Mobile, along with other representatives from across the country, to participate. 

Sandpoint DYW committee members and Palmer said they wanted to congratulate Mikah and all participants on their accomplishments and wish them great success in the future.

“I have learned a bunch about myself, gained better public speaking and interview skills, and am now more ambitious," Palmer said. "I wish that every girl had the opportunity to participate in Distinguished Young Women."

Palmer said she wanted to thank her parents and family, Sandpoint Distinguished Young Women committee members, Aundrea and Julie, Merrelll, and all of my teachers and friends "for their love and support through this entire year and experience," Palmer said.

"Palmer made community extremely proud and we look forward to working with her throughout the year as we prepare for next year’s program for the Class of 2025," DYW Sandpoint officials said. Registration is now open and all young women graduating in 2025 are welcome to join. 

Those interested can register www.distinguishedyw.org. If you have any questions, please contact Aundrea Wolf at sandpoint@distinguishedyw.org.

Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women is a free program that encourages participants to reach their full individual potential. Our mission is to empower young women by providing over $1 billion in scholarship opportunities, connecting with a nationwide network of women, developing their self-confidence, and participating in our Life Skills Workshops that prepare them for success after high school. National sponsors include Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Mobile County, city of Mobile, Alabama Power Foundation, Shoe Station, Gant Travel Management, Wellington and Bonnie Coffeen, Regions Financial Corporation, Jostens and Alabama Media Group.

For information about Distinguished Young Women, contact Tara Principe, National Headquarters Marketing and Communications Director, at 251-438-3621 or Tara@DistinguishedYW.org or visit www.DistinguishedYW.org.

    Aurla Palmer is pictured during a practice for the fitness routine at the Distinguished Young Woman of Idaho program in early October. Palmer was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Sandpoint for 2024 in March.
  

    Aurla Palmer, center, is pictured at the Distinguished Young Woman of Idaho program in early October. Palmer was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Sandpoint for 2024 in March.
  

    Aurla Palmer, right, is pictured at the Distinguished Young Woman of Idaho program in early October. Palmer was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Sandpoint for 2024 in March.