Seniors from Emery, Carbon, Grand, Monticello, San Juan, Whitehorse and Monument Valley high schools participated in the 36th annual Southeastern Utah Sterling Scholar competition held Thursday at USU Eastern and Carbon High School. Grand County High School hosted the event.
School nominees were chosen to represent their high schools in various areas of academia including English, Mathematics, Social Science, Science, World Languages, Family & Consumer Science, Drama & Vocal Performance, Music, Business & Marketing, Forensics & Speech, Computer Technology, Visual Arts, Skilled & Technical Education and Dance.
Nominees were judged based on an original portfolio highlighting the students’ achievements in scholarship, leadership and citizenship. Each student also participated in a 15-minute interview with a panel of judges to determine their expertise in their category. Each category had one winner and, on average, two runner-ups.
Carbon had seven students walk away with region titles including Kalen Gunter in Mathematics, Dalton Latimer in Social Science, Andrea Hofer in Family & Consumer Science, Andrew Williams in Music, Taylor Gagon in Business & Marketing, Jac’lyn Bera in Forensics & Speech and Tyson Prince in Skilled & Technical Education.
Emery High School’s Camrey Johnson, Travis Fehlberg and Aniston Curtis were named as Region Sterling Scholars as well in Science, World Languages and Drama & Vocal Performance, respectively. Monticello’s Nathalie Reay and Averi Christiansen were named as winners in English and Dance.
San Juan High School’s Brandon Montella took first in Computer Technology and Symony Call from Grand High School walked away as the Visual Arts first-place finisher.
Winners of the Dance, Drama, Forensics & Speech and Music categories were also invited to perform at the event and amazed the audience an original dance solo, a vocal solo from the musical “Shrek,” an original oratory and a marimba solo.
Sponsors for the event included Deseret News, Zions Bank and Emery Telcom, which helped provide winners with an $800 reward and a tablet, as well as runner-ups with $400.
Students are also awarded with various scholarships depending on the institution they plan to attend.
