Four winners for EHS in Sterling Scholars

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

The Emery High Sterling Scholars did well at the Sterling Scholar competition on March 6 at the College of Eastern Utah. Emery had four winners and five runners-up.Sterling Scholar is something the participants prepare for their entire lives. They build a portfolio with all of their accomplishments into a large scrapbook. The judges spent a few hours going over all of the portfolios. There are judges for each of the 12 categories.
The students participate in a 15 minute interview with the judges.
The program began with the Masters of Ceremonies Bill and Linda Boyle welcoming the scholars and their families and guests. The Charlie Company RSP from the Blanding National Guard presented a flag ceremony. Clarissa Jack and David Fellmeth sang the National Anthem. Monticello High was in charge of this year’s program and they made all of the arrangements.
Joe Peterson the chancellor for USU Eastern spoke to the students. He said that learning can be a very stimulating and challenging experience. You can even become addicted to learning. He thanked everyone involved with making Sterling Scholar day possible.
Doug Wright the Superintendent from the San Juan School District said a few words to the students. Wright said he has been the superintendent of San Juan school district since 2002. San Juan school district encompasses an area the size of the state of Rhode Island. “The Sterling Scholars is a wonderful event. I appreciate the parents and guardians, they are crucial to the success of these children.” Wright referred to Coach John Wooden a former UCLA Bruins coach. He viewed himself as more than a coach, he was a teacher. It’s what the teachers are that helps students the most, dedicated professionals who take an interest in their students success. In 12 years of coaching at UCLA, he won 10 national championships. He had four undefeated seasons and an 88 game winning streak. He passed away in June of 2010, just shy of his 100th birthday. One of his mottos was success is knowing that you made the best of what you are capable. You are only in competition with yourself. He said not to compete with others, but to learn from them; learn what they do that can make you better. Not just a better ball player, but a better person. Don’t dwell on what you can’t control.
Wooden in working with his athletes, didn’t mention winning. He told them if you give your full effort the score doesn’t matter. He felt like many times his team gave their full effort and still lost and vice versa, sometimes they didn’t give their best effort and still won the game. How do we know what our best is? It’s probably harder to give your best than you think. Win or lose, keep your heads up and your eyes up, you can achieve peace of mind knowing you made the best of what you are capable.
Linda Boyle said it is an honor to be recognizing students for their academic achievements in a world that honors abundantly rock stars and sports stars.
All of the major colleges and universities in Utah have offered scholarships to the winners of the sterling scholars.
Allison Anderson of Monticello High gave a tribute to parents and teachers. She encouraged the scholars to be proud of the work they have done whether they win or lose, be proud they stuck with it. “It’s a lot of work being a sterling scholar. Thanks for all our support from parents and thanks to the judges for being experts in their category,” said Anderson.
The music sterling scholar David Fellmeth played a piano piece. The drama sterling scholar Adrienne Carter from Emery did a skit from the musical, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.”
In the general scholarship category Udit Bhavsar, Grand, was the winner with Ashley Stilson, Emery runner-up and Jaylee Nielson, Carbon, runner-up.
In music, David Fellmeth, Monticello, winner and Olivia Burton, Emery, runner-up and Colton England, Carbon-runner-up. In Trade and Tech, Jake Allred from Carbon and Amy Reeve, Monticello were the runners up and Sierra Whipple from San Juan was the winner.
In business and marketing Wheeler Heck, San Juan, and Maya Hoyt, Carbon were the runners-up and Shailee Stokes, Emery was the winner.
In mathematics the runner-ups were Kendra Parker, San Juan and Dalan Weber, Carbon and Caleb Woolsey, Emery, was the winner.
In English the runners up were Katarina Benally, Whitehorse and Camie Whittle, Emery, and the winner was Audrey Luttrell from San Juan.
In Visual Arts the runners up were Savanah Duran, Emery, and Lacy Hook, San Juan, and Suni Gigliotti, Carbon was the winner.
In Foreign Language Larissa Hatch, Grand, and George Zamantakis, Carbon were the runners up. Cortney Macdonald San Juan was the winner.
In family and consumer science, Martha Beh, Monticello and Whitney Roper, Emery, were the runners up. Taran White from Carbon was the winner.
In speech and drama, Becca Black, San Juan, and Clarissa Jack, Monticello were the runners up. Adrienne Carter from Emery was the winner.
In science, Logan Bradford, San Juan, and Brandon Crowley, Monticello were the runners-up and Nick Hansen of Carbon was the winner.
Emery’s participants included: Ashley Stilson, Olivia Burton, Josh Knighton, Marqui Moss, Shailee Stokes, Caleb Woolsey, Camie Whittle, Savanah Duran, Jolynn Jennings, Whitney Roper, Adrienne Carter and Polson DeMott.