Wasatch High School had four Sterling Scholar winners with seven who were runners up. Park City High School had two Sterling Scholar winners and three runners up this year. Winners represent a variety of categories.
Earlier in the month, High school seniors from 16 school districts in North Eastern Utah competed in the annual Sterling Scholarship Awards Program. Scholarship Advisor with the Park City High School, Pepper Elliot attended the event. She says it’s an intense day for students, but it also provides real world experiences. Students start their application process in November and the judges are looking for more than top academic credentials.
“They look really closely at students that are very well rounded, that have just a really strong academic performance, especially within their category. And then that also that have shown like a real commitment to community service. So, they look at community service that they've done, and they also want to see you know any ways that they've just been really innovative within their field that they’re selected for.”
Senior, Shaun Roberts won the Sterling Scholar Award in Business and Marketing. Josie Slobodow received the top award for Dance."
“Josie had an original choreographed dance she performed for the judges and then as soon as she was finished, I mean still out of breath, they said all right now we want you to do a, you know, impromptu- here's a scarf - make up a dance right now to celebrate spring for us. You know, no music and she did it. Then afterwards they interview the kids for 10 to 15 minutes for leadership and service questions."
Park City’s three runners up were Camille Brieholtz in English, Claire Oberg for the General category and April Buys for Vocal Performance.
Wasatch High School Communications Director, Kirsta Albert says they had four winners from their district. Steven Rowe was the Mathematics winner, Alanna Linford won in World Languages, Maddie Willis won in the Visual Arts category and Emmelia Cieslewicz won for the General Scholarship. Wasatch School district had 11 runners up and their names will be listed on KPCW.org.
It’s a busy time of the year for Scholarship Advisors. Not only they help the Sterling Scholars prepare for the end of year competition, but also help with Financial Aid applications and Park City’s Pepper Elliot coordinates the community scholarship program.
“Right now, I’m working with a bunch of community members and businesses trying to put together all the scholarships for the kids. On Monday the scholarships open for them to apply and try for. And then yeah, the end of April the community members come in and they look through the applications to select someone to award their scholarship to. So yeah there's just a lot going on right now.”
Winners and runner ups receive cash prizes as well as scholarships from colleges across the state.
Wasatch High School participants included:
Steven Rowe - Winner for Mathematics
Alanna Linford - Winner for World Languages
Maddie Willis - Winner for Visual Arts
Emmelia Cieslewicz - Winner for General Scholarship
Runners up included:
Ellie Wilhite for Business and Marketing
Hayden Andersen for Agricultural Science
Hannah Chipman for Instrumental Performance
Dallin Huff for Computer Technology
Abby Knudsen for Social Science
Grace Nichols for Dance
Jack Sheehan for Theatre/Speech/Forensices
other Wasatch Sterling Scholars, included
Rachel Brighton - Representative for English
Ethan Hardy - Representative for Science
Gabby Huntsman - Representative for Family and Consumer Science
Ben McCullough - Representative for Skilled and Technical Education
Maggie Scott - Representative for Vocal Performance