Malad’s Distinguished Young Women program held their annual program on Saturday night at the Marsh Valley Performing Arts Center. Supporters enjoyed watching six talented young women from the county showcase their physical fitness, talent, poise, and public speaking skills. Emcees for the evening were Christie Schow and the 2026 Distinguished Young Woman Braylee Price.  

At the end of the night, the topline result was that The Malad County Distinguished Young Woman title was awarded to Kaycee Venable. She received a scholarship and will have the opportunity to represent Oneida County in the state Distinguished Young Women program held in Idaho Falls in October. If named Idaho’s DYW, she will travel to Mobile, Alabama to take part in the DYW National Finals.

It was an emotional evening and the crowning of Kaycee as the 2027 DYW was a truly celebratory culmination of a night that recognized the accomplishments and talents of all the women involved.

Kaycee was also a winner of several categories, including Scholastic, and Fitness.

 The night also served as an amazing benchmark in time, as in addition to the 2027 DYW participants, many of the women who competed for 2026’s DYW, now Seniors, returned to share the stage with their underclassmen.  They were further supported by the hostesses who guided and supported the women through the competition process, with countless hours of advice, preparation, tears, and smiles.  And to put an even finer point on the continued importance of DYW going forward, they were all joined by a energetic group of aspiring DYW young girls who took to the stage in what was likely the first but not the last time.

With skits, forget-me-not performances, a spotlight procession with Braylee Price and her family, the comedy stylings of Christie Schow, and an excited audience projecting their goodwill at the participants, 2027’s DYW contest was another amazing one for the books.  

We look forward to seeing Kaycee at the State DYW competition in the fall.

Malad’s DYW 2027: Kaycee Venable

1st Alternate: Emree Hanks

2nd Alternate: Paityn Ward

Spirit of DYW: Delanie Walton

Be Your Best Self: Delanie Walton

Scholastic Winner: Kaycee Venable

Scholastic Finalist: Abbie Cox

Scholastic Finalist: Kelty Thomas

Interview Winner: Paityn Ward

Interview Finalist: Kaycee Venable

Interview Finalist: Emree Hanks

Talent Winner: Emree Hanks

Talent Finalist: Kelty Thomas

Talent Finalist: Kaycee Venable

Fitness Winner: Kaycee Venable

Fitness Finalist: Paityn Ward

Fitness Finalist: Emree Hanks

Self Expression Winner: Abbie Cox

Self Expression Finalist: Paityn Ward

Self Expression Finalist: Kaycee Venable

The DYW women were joined by their young understudies.

Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women is a free program that encourages participants to reach their full individual potential. Its 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 Life Skills Workshops that prepare them for success after high school. National sponsors include Mobile County, City of Mobile, Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Alabama Power Foundation, Gant Travel Management, Regions Financial Corporation, The Coffeen Family, John Cauley Jeweler, Jostens and Alabama Media Group.

DYW chairperson Nikki Schwartz and the large number of supportive family members, friends, past DYW contestants and parents, and community sponsors are what make the program so successful year after year.