2008 Sterling Scholar winners

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Mar 27, 2008

SCHOLARSHIP: Ranks first out of 620; overall GPA is 4.0; 31 composite ACT.

AWARDS AND PROJECTS: Drama Club president; Great Barrier Reef volunteer head; first place in the Shakespeare Competition: AP Scholar with Honors: Academic Letter Award; International Thespian Society; co-host/co-master of ceremonies Brighton Idol Talent Show; peer tutor; Best Male Vocalist in a Musical; Best Sophomore Performer at BHS; first place in region and state competition for the role of George in 'Of Mice and Men'; regional and state competition for one-act, 'Bang Bang You're Dead'; regional and state competition for the one-act, 'Godspell.'

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VISUAL ARTS

Jan Joseph Voitehovich

West High School

Parents: Joseph and Irina Voitehovich

Salt Lake City

"I came to the United States when I was 9. My parents decided to migrate to the United States from Belarus for many reasons, one of which was to provide a better future for me. We were the classic immigrant tale; we left our lives in Belarus and came here only bearing a suitcase. Since then we've managed to settle quite well. My family and I all learned English here. It was tough for a few years going to school and not knowing the language. The challenges for me were learning the language, assimilating and helping my parents during the first few years. Our transition taught me to be tough and dedicated. This I can relate to art easily; art's not an easy thing. In order to get one perfect print, it may take 10 that aren't perfect, and it's important to stay dedicated to this work that you hate to love.

"I am a blue belt in Okinawan Karate. This is the physical outlet that I have for my energy, love and frustration.I have been practicing it for six years now and it has been tough all the while. Through arduous workouts, fighting, scraping and bruising, I have learned about the karmic effects of hard work; it seems to pay off. In this way I can relate fighting to art. There have been a lot of times when art has been a struggle for me. It has been a battle to fight the creative cramps and personal eccentricities. Art is also a temple, my type of meditation, comfort really. It makes my life sweeter and sometimes keeps me up at night. You can't really win if you don't fight for it."

SCHOLARSHIP: Ranks 17 out of 449; overall GPA is 3.9; 29 composite ACT.

AWARDS AND PROJECTS: AP Scholar Award; National Honor Society; National Arts Honor Society; Key Club; Bend-in-the-River Urban TreeHouse & Green Space planting trees and cleaning up local parks; first place Printmaking Award Salt Lake District; Gallery Choice Award at the pARTnership Gallery; intern at Spy Hop Productions; peer mentor at Spy Hop Productions; IB program.

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DANCE

Jenessa Frampton

Lone Peak High School

Parents: Paul and Jennifer Frampton

Highland

"Three characteristics that I am proud to have are determination, confidence and being a good friend. I had to learn to have confidence. I love people and I am willing to give of myself for a friend in need. This attribute greatly influences who I am and what I do. When I am in dance class I feel that I can create a positive environment by loving others. The ability to do this is the ability to be closer to my fellow dancers, my younger students and my teachers. This enhances our performance as a whole. This is one of the attributes I cherish most about my personality because I believe one of the greatest tools you can use in life is love. I love dance and I love my friends.