Nineteen locals earn Sterling Scholar honors

Two students from San Juan County earned the title of Sterling Scholar and 17 more were named runners-up at the annual Southeast Utah Sterling Scholar competition.

The initial competition, scheduled to take place on March 18, was delayed because of the new coronavirus pandemic. Judges and officials worked with the Sterling Scholar Committee of Southeastern Utah to complete the competition online. They announced the winners of the 14 categories on April 13.
Tyler Shumway won the sterling scholar award in the Skilled and Technical Education category. She is a senior at San Juan High School. 
Tess Bayles won the Sterling Scholar award in the World Language category. She is also a senior at San Juan High School. 
Approximately 100 students from San Juan, Grand, Emery, and Carbon counties competed in 14 categories, including 30 nominees from schools in San Juan County.

A total of 19 local students earned honors, which is the largest number in recent memory.

Ten students from Monticello High School earned runner-up honors, including Madison Freestone, Naomi Mantz, Dillon Slack, Adri Lewis, Ivy Fellmeth, Shelbie Musselman, Quay Walker, Alexa Peterson, Morgan Maloy, and Alejandra Carranza.

Students from Whitehorse High School who earned runner-up honors are Daan Filfred and Kaia Jay.

In addition to the two winners, five additional students from San Juan High School earned runner-up honors, including Alexander Lott, Brittany Grover, Hayley Shumway, Brandon Walker, and Thomas Perkins.

Eight students from Carbon High School earned top honors.

Sponsored by the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, Deseret News, KSL, and Emery Telcom, the Southeastern Utah Sterling Scholars honors the top graduating seniors from schools throughout southeastern Utah. Similar contests are held in other geographic areas of the state.

Nominees are judged on scholarship, leadership, citizenship, and character. They prepare a portfolio outlining scholastic and extracurricular accomplishments.

In addition, nominees are interviewed by three judges in their respective categories. A winner and two runners-up are selected in each category.

Winners receive $2,500 and a tablet computer, while runners-up receive $1,000.
Utah colleges, universities, and technical schools also offer full- or part-tuition scholarships to winners and runners-up.

Tess Bayles: World Language • San Juan High
Tess Bayles, the World Language Sterling Scholar, is a linguist, a friend, and a leader.

She always looks for ways to help out, and her biggest goal in life is to change the world.

Tess has been studying languages since she was in elementary school and fell in love with French over the past four years. She is the student body president at San Juan High School and historian over the FBLA chapter.

As a dance teacher, she has demonstrated patience, creativity, and empathy while working with young girls from various backgrounds. She is a leader as well as a supporter and is always looking for a way to make a difference. Tess is the daughter of Lyle and Cindy Bayles.

Tyler Shumway: Skilled & Technical Science Education • San Juan High
Tyler Shumway, the Skilled and Technical Education Sterling Scholar, is a creative and industrious scholar and leader. She has participated in remodeling her family home, raising animals for 4-H, and selling succulents plants.

Tyler’s time in 4-H has helped her in various ways, such as developing leadership skills, assisting other youth the importance of nutrition and health, and volunteering with community improvements. In school, she is involved with the student council, serving as a Junior Class President and as Spirit Representative during this last year of high school. She played basketball, tennis, softball, and volleyball. She belongs to the National Honor Society and participated and placed at state competitions associated with the Future Business Leaders of America.

All these experiences have contributed to her becoming a well-rounded, hard-working individual that exemplifies a candidate from the Skilled and Technical Educations Category. Tyler is the daughter of Jason and Shantil Shumway.