Uintah High School honored its 13 Sterling Scholars this week. The local awards night was the final one for Uintah High Sterling Scholar advisor Kay Baker, who will retire at the end of the school year after 39 years as a teacher with the Uintah School District and 36 years as the Sterling Scholar advisor for UHS.
Uintah School Board Vice President Robin McClellan heralded Baker during Monday night’s event as Uintah High’s “golden scholar” and a “pillar” of the school. “We just love Kay. Kids love Kay,” McClellan said, relating quotes she received from UHS administrators and staff. “She is the heart and soul of Uintah High.”
UHS has had 538 Sterling Scholar candidates over the years, according to Baker. An impressive 244 of those students, or 45 percent, placed at the regional competition. Ninety-four won their Sterling Scholar category, and 150 were the runner-up in their category.
The Uintah High students honored Monday night received a $4,000 scholarship from Utah State University Uintah Basin, a Presidential Scholarship from UBTECH covering the full cost of tuition for any of the technical college's certificate programs, and $100 from the Uintah Schools Foundation funded by the Showalter Endowment.
This year's Uintah High Sterling Scholars are Scotlyn Williams (Agricultural Science); Sydney Migliori (Business and Marketing); Thomas Driggs (Computer Technology); Ashlyn Meier (Dance); Marcy Reynolds (English); Brinley Jones (Family and Consumer Sciences); Kelsey Alexander (General Scholarship); Laura Anderson (Instrumental Music); Randon Davis (Mathematics); Caleb McKee (Science); Johnathan Porter (Social Science); Lyndee Johnson (Visual Arts); and Jeffery Langley (World Languages).
They will represent UHS at the Northeast Region Sterling Scholar Competition on Monday, March 21, at Wasatch High School. The regional awards ceremony will be held virtually on March 28.
Lapoint Elementary Participating in Food Drive
The Lapoint Elementary Wolves are participating in the Lapoint Community Food Drive. So far, they have collected more than 2,400 donated food items. As of this morning, the 2nd grade was leading the way with nearly 900 donated items. The Lapoint Community Food Drive runs through the end of the month. All donations will be delivered to the local food pantry to help area families. Great work, Wolves!
Partnership Helps NHS Members Grow as Leaders
A partnership between Uintah High and USU Uintah Basin is helping National Honor Society members further develop their leadership skills. “The National Honor Society Leadership Luncheon is the realization of a vision I had three years ago to foster networking and leadership development opportunities for our chapter members,” said Machelle Maxwell, who serves as the NHS advisor at Uintah High.
More than 70 UHS students have participated in the luncheons this school year. During Wednesday’s luncheon, Uintah High juniors participated in a discussion about different leadership styles. USU Uintah Basin Associate Director/Director of Students Bob Peterson led the discussion, which featured three guest speakers: Vernal City Manager Quinn Bennion; owner/broker of Ashley Valley Realty Inc. and former Vernal Mayor Sonja Norton; and Wes Porter, the director of the state Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Accelerator. Porter also serves as an officer in the Utah Army National Guard.
To read more about the NHS Leadership Luncheons, click
HERE.
UHS Choir Concert - March 23
Choir students attended the Region Vocal Solo, Ensemble and Chamber Choir Festival on March 9 and did an incredible job. UHS’s advanced choir, Polyphony, received superior ratings from all three judges and qualified for the State Chamber Choir Festival.
Allison Despain and Scotlyn Williams sang a duet and Sydney Huber competed as a soloist. Despain, Williams, and Huber received superior ratings to qualify for state. Annabelle Johnson, Briel Pettit and Tyler Franklin, and UHS’s small ensemble, SoVoce, also performed wonderfully. Congratulations to these students for all the work they have put in!
Members of Uintah High’s Choir Program will perform a concert for the community on March 23 at 7 p.m. in the UHS auditorium.
Vernal Utah Storytelling Festival – March 25 & 26
The Uintah Schools Foundation will present the 18th Annual Vernal Utah Storytelling Festival on March 25-26 at Vernal Middle School. Featured storytellers Adam Booth and Corinne Stavish will delight audiences with stories that fill the heart and mind. Friday, March 25, is Family Night. Saturday, March 26, is recommended for audience members 14 and older. More information, including ticket prices, is available at www.vernalutahstorytelling.com.
Celebrations
Uintah High’s FFA Chapter did extremely well at the 2022 State FFA Convention, which was attended by nearly 2,000 FFA members from across Utah. The Uintah Chapter’s Parliamentary Procedure team took 1st place and will represent Utah at the 95th National FFA Convention in October. Scotlyn Williams, Aysia Massey, Houston Harrison, Kamlyn Williams, Drew Huber, and Emerson Hackford make up the Parliamentary Procedure team.
Aysia Massey, Scotlyn Williams and Tanner Birchell received the Utah FFA Degree. Jodie Speir placed 1st in Star Greenhand Agribusiness. Emerson Hackford placed in the top eight in Prepared Public Speaking. Taylor Murray placed in the top 10 in FFA Creed Speaking. Audie Christensen was 3rd runner-up in Star Greenhand Placement. Kamlyn Williams competed in Employment Skills, receiving a silver rating.
The Uintah FFA Chapter received a superior rating and earned a $1,000 grant from the Utah FFA Foundation. Bradley Wilson also gave his retiring address, ending his year of service as the Utah FFA State Treasurer. Congratulations, Uintah FFA!
Ten students from Uintah High participated in the Region Solo and Ensemble Competition yesterday Isabella Atherton and Ryanna Baldwin qualified for state with their viola duet. Great job! There will be a band and orchestra concert on March 30 at 7 p.m. in the Uintah High auditorium. Admission is free. Tickets are available at
www.uintahband.net.
Four Uintah High student-athletes have earned All-Region honors for the winter sports season. Jordan Woodford and Josh Speirs were both voted first team all-region in girls basketball and boys basketball, respectively. Ella Wright and Kyrsten Bake were also recognized with all-region honorable mention nods for girls basketball. All-Region honors are decided the Region 7 coaches.
Finally, good luck this weekend to the Uintah High boys soccer team, track and field team, baseball team, and softball team. Boys soccer plays on the road against Hillcrest High tonight and Waterford School tomorrow. Track and field competes at Carbon High on Saturday, while baseball plays in a tournament in Farmington, New Mexico, and softball competes in a tournament in St. George. GO UTES!