Emery High has three Sterling Scholar winners

By Patsy Stoddard
Editor

Emery High Sterling Scholars competed recently at USU Eastern. Emery High had three winners; Abbie Huntington-Family and Consumer Science, Elexis Dalton-World Language and Samantha Roberts in Mathematics. Lindsey McFarlane from Green River High was the Mathematics runner-up.
In Drama, David White was a runner-up. In Business and Marketing Brans Petersen was a runner-up. In Social Science Riata Christiansen was a runner-up. In forensics and speech Nathaniel Smith was a runner-up.
Other participants included: Danyale Service-English; Bridger Ivie-Music; Malone Moss-Science; Carlie Robinson-Visual Arts; Lexi Gale-Dance and Elizabeth Nielson-Computer Technology.
This year was Emery High’s year to host the competition. Superintendent Larry Davis spoke at the event. Jay McFarland is with KSL radio and he was the master of ceremonies.
Dr. Gary Straquadine from Utah State University Eastern welcomed the Scholars and their families to USU Eastern. He said these students are the triathletes of scholarship. The capacity to learn is a gift. These students have the ability to learn which they have executed so well. The word sterling is the pound or currency they use in England, an alloy of silver. Sterling represents how important and valued these scholars are. Most students are teacher driven, doing what the teachers ask, but these scholars are self driven. They drive themselves to excel. They are independent and innovative leaders because they want to be. They think outside the box. They are the future of our nation, the intellectual fire power. Utah State University Eastern congratulates our Sterling Scholars. We at Utah State are here to love and serve,” said Dr. Straquadine. David White from Emery High sang the National Anthem.
Superintendent Davis said, “There is nothing more important than the teacher in the classroom. We can’t thank them enough for all they do for this program. When I was a principal, one of the great honors was to lead the Sterling Scholars. I respect the work the principals do and all the superintendents in the region. They are constantly fighting the battle for rural education.
Superintendent Davis described his years at Emery High as the yearbook advisor. It’s a journey each year of planning a theme, color, design, photography, sales and marketing and deadlines. In the end the final product is a historical record of the year. “Students can reflect on their glory days. There’s nothing like the touch and smell of a new yearbook,” said Superintendent Davis.
A good yearbook includes the family and consumer science classes baking cookies, the welding classes creating, all slices of a school year etched for eternity in black and white. Now yearbooks are completed online and they are in full color. It’s an accomplishment for those who have invested their time and effort into the yearbook.
Davis told of the yearbook in North Summit that had a picture of a student along with her service dog. He told of the work that went into the portfolios of the Sterling Scholars. This was the first year the portfolios were submitted on line to the judges ahead of time for review.
These portfolios highlighted years of service, transcripts, recognitions and community service. “There have been unbelievable accomplishments. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, ‘cut these words and they will bleed. A passion goes into anything done well,” said Superintendent Davis.
The students prepared their portfolios and learned new skills, they had an interview with the judges, they have learned to problem solve. “There’s a fine line between a dream and reality. There is book learning and life long learning. As a creative writing teacher, we taught how to keep and feed a muse-the internal storehouse,” said Superintendent Davis.
He encouraged the students to be valiant and live life to its fullest. All experiences become part of the muse. One experience they will never forget is the total eclipse of the sun. Baby boomers remember Pearl Harbor, the assassination of John Kennedy and Sept. 11, 2001. The richest memories come from the challenges in life. Some are best forgotten, some are what was I thinking? Some I wish never would have happened. “We can’t choose our experiences, but we can learn from them.
“Sterling Scholars before, now and in the future, those who seek and arrive at greater truths and those who take skills to altruistic heights. These students benefit their communities. These students stick up for other students and raise their voices. I am the father of two Sterling Scholars and they have taken these experiences with them forever. The things they have learned have gone on into their jobs and lives. There’s a fine line between winners, runner-ups and those who don’t win. It doesn’t matter. It only matters what you do next. Take this moment and all that’s gone into it and make it matter,” said Superintendent Davis.
Samantha Roberts gave a tribute to parents and teachers. “No Sterling Scholar achieves without people behind us. Our teachers who helped with interview skills, the opportunities we were given to serve. That’s why we are here because of you. We are successful because of teachers and parents who made it possible for us to be here to compete,” said Roberts.