Southwest Utah Sterling Scholar Competition Winners Announced
One hundred and seventy two students representing nineteen high schools competed in the annual Southwest Utah Sterling Scholar competition on the campus of Utah Tech University in St. George Utah, on March 28, 2024. This regional competition is coordinated by the Southwest Educational Development Center.
Each of the students competed based on personal achievements and awards compiled in their portfolios as well as their interviews with the judges. The students were judged on scholarship, leadership, community service, and citizenship. The three judges in each category came from local communities, Utah Tech University, and Southern Utah University.
After the interviews, an Awards Ceremony was held in Utah Tech’s Burns Arena.. Students and their parents were welcomed to the UTU campus by the Associate Provost Darlene Dilley. Dr. John Taylor served as the Master of Ceremonies where the winners and runners-up were announced. Winners and runners-up received a sterling silver pin and a sizable college scholarship provided by the Deseret News, KSL, and the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation. Colleges and Universities in Utah offer additional scholarships to both the winners and the runners-up. Winners and runners-up can be seen here- https://ss.sedck12.org/.
The fifteen categories of the competition included: Agriculture Science, Business and Marketing, Computer Technology, Dance, English, Family and Consumer Sciences, World Languages, General Scholarship, Mathematics, Music, Science, Social Science, Speech and Drama, Trade and Technical Education, and Visual Arts.
For more information please contact:
Selene Corbridge at Selene@sedck12.org or call (435) 586-2865.
Regional Winners
Livestream
Nominees
Utah Tech University is preparing for the annual Sterling Scholar competition on March 28, 2024. Students from nineteen high schools will meet on the campus to complete the final round of judging. The day’s events will include competitive interviews followed by an Awards Program in the evening.
This statewide academic competition recognizes the achievements of Utah’s high school seniors in the following fifteen categories: Agriculture Science, Business and Marketing, Computer Technology, Dance, English, Family and Consumer Sciences, General Scholarship, Mathematics, Music, Science, Social Science, Speech and Drama, Skilled and Technical Science Education, Visual Arts and World Languages.
Each of the finalists will be interviewed by judges and given time to explain their personal achievements and awards compiled in their digital portfolios. The winners will be chosen based on their experience and skills in scholarship, leadership, and citizenship. A winner and two runners-up in each of the categories will be chosen. These deserving scholars will receive a scholarship and a Sterling Scholar pin. Finalists from each high school will also receive a Sterling Scholar Certificate. The three judges in each category come from local communities, Utah Tech University and Southern Utah University.
Many colleges and universities in Utah offer scholarships to both the winners and the runners-up to help these students in achieving their goals. Some of these scholarships include cash amounts up to $2500 or full tuition waivers. The support from the higher educational institutions in the state is much appreciated and utilized by Sterling Scholar recipients.
Since its inception, the program has expanded from its origins in Salt Lake City to include 5 region-wide competitions throughout the state that continue to publicly recognize outstanding seniors and encourage academic excellence. The program began in the early 1960’s, when Steve Hale, a Deseret News columnist; Lavor Chaffin, an education reporter at the Desert News; and Keith West, the Deseret News’ director of marketing realized that while their newspaper had been recognizing outstanding athletes for years, there was no mechanism in place to recognize outstanding scholars. Together with the Utah Board of Education, they developed the Sterling Scholars program.
We applaud all those who labor to make this program a reality each year. The parents and teachers of all nominees have dedicated untold hours to ensure the success of these students. We give a heartfelt thanks to all that have donated so much time and energy into providing this opportunity for the best and brightest in Utah.
Congratulations to all the finalists and we wish you the best in all your future endeavors.
Contact Selene Corbridge for additional information
selene@sedck12.org 435-586-2865 https://www.sedck12.org/sterling-scholar
