2024-25 Bonneville High School Sterling Scholar Information

Categories 

• English: For scholarship and achievement in one or more of the following areas: creative writing, English, journalism, literature and related subjects. Two examples of work either published or prepared as classroom assignments must be submitted. There will be an additional four portfolio pages allowed for this submission. The quality of thought, maturity, originality and technical skill will be considered.

• Mathematics: For scholarship and achievement in mathematics and related areas. Scholars may exhibit outstanding records in mathematics competitions and evidence of potential contributions to mathematical knowledge. Nominees should be prepared to calculate a mathematical equation(s) in the judging interviews. Nominees should submit state and national math scores and other standardized mathematics test scores.

• Social Science: For scholarship and achievement in one or more of the following areas: American government, geography, history, economics, social issues, world affairs and/or related subjects. Scholars should have a broad background in the social sciences and demonstrate, exemplify and practice good citizenship. The nominees may have shown inventiveness in relating social studies to existing problems and in translating concepts into experiment.

• Science: For scholarship and achievement in advanced work, inventiveness or outstanding service in one or more of the following areas: biology, chemistry, engineering, physics, health science, science and related subjects. Imagination, originality or special contributions will receive major consideration in judging.

• World Languages: For outstanding scholarship and persistence in the study of a world language. Nominees should have made unusual contributions to the field of world language study or demonstrated increasing interest in such studies at their school. Rankings received in world language festivals should be submitted. Nominees should also submit a brief resume of language projects or adventures in which they have participated. Nominees should be prepared to demonstrate their ability to communicate in the language by speaking, listening, reading and writing. For languages lacking a written component (for example, American Sign Language and some native American languages) the written component may be replaced by a translation, interpretation or literature exercise that demonstrates skills in grammar, syntax, and artistic forms.  For languages lacking a spoken component (for example, Latin) the spoken component may be replaced with a written  portion of the interview to display knowledge of the language. NOTE: World Language includes any language, other than English, offered for credit in the general curriculum (not as an independent study) of any high school, college or university within the state of Utah. A foreign-born nominee attending an English-speaking high school may not use English or their native tongue as a “foreign language.” CANDIDATES MAY NOT COMPETE IN A LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN THEIR HOME (NATIVE LANGUAGE). Deaf nominees, for whom ASL is their first language, are considered native language users. Children of Deaf Parents are considered in the same manner as children of first generation native world language users.

• Computer Technology: For outstanding scholarship and achievement in one or more of the following areas: Computer programming, interfacing, networking, repair, construction, design and illustration, media and multi-media, or other related fields. The nominee may have won awards or recognitions, implemented their skills in behalf of their school and community or demonstrated innovative progress in their field. Nominees are not expected to have experience in all listed fields, but expertise in at least one discipline.

• Skilled & Technical Sciences Education: For outstanding scholarship and achievement in one or more of the following areas: Agriculture sciences, automotive services, automotive collision repair, cabinetmaking/millwork, carpentry, cosmetology/barbering, drafting/CADD, graphics/printing technology, law enforcement, machinist technician/CNC, welding, film making and other related fields. The nominee may have won awards in competitions, devised equipment or materials for school use or shown unusual progress in this study. Nominees are not expected to have experience in all listed fields, but expertise in at least one discipline.

• Family & Consumer Sciences: For outstanding scholarship and achievement in one or more of the following areas: child development and care, interior design, family living, food and nutrition, culinary arts, clothing and fashion and other life skills. Nominees are not expected to have experience in all listed fields, but expertise in at least one discipline. Nominees may have won awards in youth organizations, other competitions or may have used skills to render service to their school, church or other organizations.

• Business & Marketing: Demonstrate a high level of scholarship and achievement in one or more of the following areas: Business management, non-profit management, accounting, entrepreneurship, sales, marketing and other fields related to business occupations. Nominees may have won awards in competitions or exhibited proficiency in working with or in small or large businesses. Nominees may have held elected offices, captainships, and other evidences of peer acknowledged leadership. Nominees are also encouraged to provide evidence of successful outside activities that support business career development and interests. Evidence of excellence in standardized test scores, GPA, class ranking, IB classes and quantitative AP courses should be provided. 

• Speech/Theater Arts/Forensics: For scholarship and achievement in one or more area of speech, theater arts and Forensics: debate, public speaking, oral interpretation, and/or (non-musical) theater. Nominees are not expected to have experience in all listed fields, just expertise in at least one discipline. Nominees should include in their portfolios two examples of their work or descriptions of their activities related to this category. Where possible, students are encouraged to submit their student record of accomplishments from the National Forensics League and/or International Thespian Society. They should also be prepared to give a brief demonstration of a past speech and theater arts performance, appropriate to their specialty, approximately two to three minutes in length. (Nominees should not be discouraged if judges interrupt the performance so that they can continue the interview.)

• Vocal Performance: Nominees demonstrate outstanding scholarship and achievement in one or more of the areas of classical or musical theatre or vocal performance. Exceptional talent in composition will be considered, but service to school or community through this talent also will be among determining qualifications. Nominees are not expected to have experience in all listed fields, just expertise in at least one discipline. Nominees should include in their portfolios two examples of their work or descriptions of their activities related to this category. They should also be prepared to give a brief demonstration of their talent appropriate to their specialty, approximately two to three minutes in length. Nominees are allowed to bring pre-recorded accompaniment but must supply all the necessary equipment for playback purposes. (Nominees should not be discouraged if judges interrupt the performance so that they can continue the interview.)

• Visual Arts: For scholarship and achievement in creative expression in one of more of the following areas: drawing, artistic photography, commercial art, mixed media, graphic art, painting, sculpture and related fields. The nominee may have demonstrated professional potential in one or more disciplines, contributed outstanding service to the school and successfully completed in district and state art shows. Nominees are allowed to display actual artwork during judging but only if the piece can be carried without assistance of any kind. Visual arts nominees must show some examples of artwork in their portfolio.

• Instrumental Music: Nominee demonstrates outstanding scholarship and achievement in one or more of the areas of music. Exceptional talent in composition will be considered, but service to school or community through this talent also will be among determining qualifications. Nominees should be prepared to demonstrate their musical talent during a period of two to three minutes by performing with an instrument. (Nominees should not be discouraged if judges interrupt the performance so that they can continue the interview.)

• Dance: For demonstrating exceptional skill, achievement and creative expression in artistic dance (ballroom dance included). Portfolios should include training received, dances choreographed, major performances and dance service rendered to the school or community. Nominees should be prepared to demonstrate their technique and choreographic skills by performing a self-choreographed solo composition, approximately two minutes in length. Nominees competing in ballroom dance may use a partner for the performance portion of the interview. The dance partner must leave the room upon conclusion of the performance. Nominees will also be asked to respond to an improvisational problem during part of the interview. No performance videos required – but should be included in the electronic portfolio. (Nominees should not be discouraged if judges interrupt the performance so that they can continue the interview.)

How do I become a Sterling Scholar?

The Sterling Scholar Awards are open to Utah public high school seniors. It is expected that each school will nominate one candidate in any of the 14 categories. Each school may nominate only one nominee in each of the 14 categories and a nominee may be nominated in only one category. The selection process and nomination of nominees as Sterling Scholar nominees is left entirely up to each high school. Sterling Scholar officials consider a nominee a high school senior if he/she will be graduating with the senior class during the year 2025. For more information, you may review the Sterling Scholar Handbook. 

High school seniors who attend college classes full or part-time or are classified as foreign exchange nominees are eligible for the Sterling Scholar Awards.   However, the program is designed to recognize scholastic achievement in Utah public high schools.  

To be selected a Sterling Scholar nominee, students must have extraordinary scholarship scores as well as service in leadership and community service/citizenship opportunities at their Utah public high school.  It is up to each school to determine if an individual has been in attendance enough to experience these leadership and community service/citizenship opportunities.   Each Sterling Scholar nominee’s entire school experience will be considered, although emphasis will be placed on the high school years.  

High school officials are urged to nominate scholars for categories in which the nominees are genuinely interested and qualified.

Ultimately, selecting nominees is the responsibility of the school principal and not the Deseret News or KSL Broadcast Group.   No specific method of selection is required, although the process outlined below provides an excellent opportunity to encourage scholarship. Accordingly, the opportunity to apply to the Sterling Scholar program should be open to as many nominees as possible.  The following procedure is encouraged to determine each school’s Sterling Scholar:

• Principal  selects  and  assigns  a  committee  of  school  faculty,  including  a  Sterling Scholar coordinator, to  administer the nomination process  of  public high school seniors  for Sterling Scholar Awards participation.
• The  committee  should  create  a  questionnaire  that  is  distributed  to  nominees  as  a guide  for evaluating activities, achievements and ambitions within an area of high school education that is characterized by one of the Sterling Scholar categories.
• The completed questionnaire and supporting materials should be submitted to the principal and/or assigned committee for review.  Departmental advisors should be contacted for aid in nominee recommendations based on the submitted questionnaire and additional information.

Ultimately, the principal will determine which individual in each category will be submitted as the school’s official nominee.

PLEASE  NOTE: The Deseret News and the KSL Broadcast Group do NOT take part in the selection of nominees.  All questions must be directed to the school and NOT the Deseret News or KSL Broadcast Group.  All inquiries must be handled by the school coordinator, principal or assistant principal, who is responsible for contacting the Sterling Scholar director for clarification (this includes parents, nominees, teachers, etc.).

Past Recipients

2022-2023 BHS Sterling Scholars
	Lilian Drake English Wasatch Range Semifinalist
	Emmaline Degroot Social Sciences Wasatch Range Semifinalist
	Eli Neff Science
	Elisa Yang World Languages
	Kavan Proctor Computer Technology Wasatch Range Semifinalist
	Brenna Hansen Skilled and Technical Sciences Education
	Linzee Smith Family and Consumer Sciences
	Ivy Hunsaker Business and Marketing Wasatch Range Semifinalist
	Elizabeth Baxter Speech
	Jaden Moss Vocal Performance Wasatch Range Semifinalist
	Matthew Hunt Instrumental Music
	Annie Crookston Visual Arts Wasatch Range Semifinalist
	Trinity Citte Dance
2021-2022 BHS Sterling Scholars
	Bella Larsen - English
	Coleman Vasas - Math
	Isaac Staten - Social Studies
	Kai Hurst - Science
	Stephanie Backman - World Languages
	Fischer Bowcutt - Computer Technology
	Sydney Evans - Skills & Technical Sciences
	Natalie Harbertson - Family & Consumer Sciences
	Kaden Richter - Business & Marketing
	Ryan Park - Speech/Theatre Arts/Forensics
	Shayla Florence - Vocal Performance
	Luke Bowthorpe - Visual Arts
	Gavin Smith - Instrumental Music
	Alyiah Ryan - Dance
2020-2021 BHS Sterling Scholars
	Spencer Heywood - Business/Marketing
	Malin Scharman - Computer Tech
	Madison Johnson - Dance
	Madysen Gailey - English
	Allison Bird - FACS
	Cal Cornaby - Instrumental Music
	Laura Lindquist - Math
	Jared Moss - Science
	Joseph Dwyer - Social Science
	Macy McCormack - Speech/Theater/Forensics
	Trinity Gross - Visual Art
	Brecklyn Noble - Vocal Performance
	Alexandra Michaels - World Language
	Sam Archer - Skilled/Technical Education
2019-2020 BHS Sterling Scholars
	Ben Laughter - Mathematics
	Courtney Cutler - Dance
	Douglas Williams - English
	Dylan Hunter - Vocal Performance
	Hudson Iverson - Visual Arts
	Katelyn Halbritter - Science
	Kaylee Morgan - World Language
	Leilani Christensen - Family And Consumer Science
	McKenzie Leininger - Social Science
	Nicholas Evans - Computer Technology
	Olivia Stephens - Skilled & Technical Education
	Sage Speth - Speech Theater Forensics
	Thomas Davies - Business And Marketing
	Zane Chavez - Instrumental Music