Sanpete Students take home 16 awards from 2026 Sterling Scholars

EPHRAIM—As in most years, Sanpete County high school students captured more than their fair share of honors at the Central Utah Sterling Scholar awards program on Monday, March 23, held in the Eccles Center at Snow College.

The Central Utah Region takes in 12 high schools including North Sanpete, Manti and Gunnison Valley. Students competed in 15 subject categories. One winner, or “Sterling Scholar,” and two runners up were named in each category.

That adds up to 45 awards. The three Sanpete schools captured 16 of those slots, or just over 35 percent of the total. North Sanpete had four winners and three runners-up. Manti came out with four winners and two runners-up. Gunnison Valley had three runners-up.

All finalists from the various schools submitted portfolios online. Judges spent 10 days reviewing them. On the day of the awards ceremony, all of them had face-to-face interviews with judging panels.

KariLyn Cox of Manti, who was volunteer coordinator of the Sterling Scholar program at Manti High for several years, was one of two coordinators for the whole region this year. North Sanpete High School was the official host of the program.

Cox introduced Tyler Bailey, a social studies teacher at North Sanpete, who served as master of ceremonies. Besides teaching, he is student government adviser and assistant athletic director and serves as announcer for many sports events.

In remarks before scholars in various categories came on stage, he talked about the difference between pure silver and sterling silver. Pure silver is beautiful but not very functional, he said. Sterling silver has additives that make it more durable.

He told the scholars, “You have been added upon in your life by your parents, grandparents, teachers. All of you are a product of many other people. One day you will contribute to the lives of others.”

Following are brief profiles of Sanpete County winners:

Miley Clawson, North Sanpete, general scholarship—This category is possibly the most competitive in the Sterling Scholar program. Miley has a 4.0 GPA (grade point average) and scored a 32 (96th to 97th percentile) on the ACT.

She has participated in choir and honor band, and been clarinet section leader in the school band. She is president of the Just Serve Club, and helped start, and is president of the Youth Court at North Sanpete. She is the only student to ever be named managing editor of the N.S. Times, the school newspaper in her sophomore year, and to serve as editor-in-chief in both her junior and senior years.

Madison Shelley, North Sanpete, English—Madison has maintained a 4.0 GPA through high school and scored in the 91st percentile in English on the ACT. She has participated in speech and debate; Family, Community and Career Leaders of America (FCCLA); and the Poetry Out Loud poetry recitation competition.

She has been a reporter for the N.S. Times for four years and managing editor for two years. She also worked as an intern for the Sanpete Messenger.

According to her Sterling Scholar biography, “she has a passion for writing and hopes to one day have books to her name.”

Mary Ivory, North Sanpete, North Sanpete, visual arts—For three years, she participated in a program involving painting portraits of children in underdeveloped countries. According to her biography, “She is know for her genuine curiosity about people and their stories (and) believes that listening and creativity both have the power to strengthen communities.”

Mason Murphy, North Sanpete, trade and technical education—According to his Sterling Scholar biography, Mason “is a student defined by grit, discipline and exceptional drive.”

He has maintained a 4.0 GPA while developing into a nationally ranked goalkeeper in soccer. He has been named to the soccer all-state team twice. He also serves as mayor of his city’s Youth Council.

He has job-shadowed and gained hand-on experience in electrical work, plumbing, HVAC and construction.

Natalie Dowding, Manti, speech and drama—Natalie’s biography says she was, “born to act.” In first grade, she sang a solo, ‘I Have a Dream,’ from Abba “and was immediately hooked.”

Her biography says she has performed in nine musicals, five plays, “and just about every talent show and performing group she has can find.”

She is student body vice president, theatre president, speech-and-debate vice president and has given more than 230 hours of community service. Her goal is to become a theatre educator.

Evelyn Olsen, Manti, computer technology—Evelyn has been in student government at Manti for three years as well as in leadership position in her church youth group. She has completed Career-Technical Education (CTE) pathways (defined sets of high school courses) in software development, broadcasting, digital media and business. She is president of Manti’s E-sports team.

Addison Howell, Manti, family and consumer science—Addison, who has a 4.0 GPA, picked up some of her knowledge of food preparation during the three years she worked at Candies on Main in Manti. She learned sewing through work on humanitarian projects.

For eight years, Addison led her own humanitarian baking project called “Addy’s Fulfilling a Knead,” which has donated more than $2,000 to causes locally and around the world.

She has sewed baby wraps for women in Zimbabwe; sewed blankets and has for Teeney Tears, an organization that supports families who have had stillborn babies. She also went on a humanitarian trip to Mexico.

Porter Mikesell, Manti, science—Porter likes to build whatever pops in his mind, from a go-cart to a mechanical hand. He has participated in state-level and national science fairs. Last year, he placed first in medical engineering in a science and engineering fair sponsored by Southern Utah University. He designed inflatable devices that sit on the corner of a hospital bed mattress. They automatically inflate to adjust the pressure the mattress puts on the patient, helping prevent bedsores.

For recreation, he likes to play the hit video game, “Geometry Dash.”

Following are the runners up by school:

North Sanpete—Quincy Benson, science; Tori Shirley, social science; Courtney Mitchell, world languages.

Manti—Kyle Olsen, music; Benjamin Steinfeldt, trade and technical education.

Gunnison Valley—Garrett Carter, computer technology; Emma Beard, English; Aaden Donaldson, mathematics.

Deseret Management Corp., KSL and the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation sponsored cash awards for the winners and runners-up. Winners received $2,500 and runners up $1,000.

Bailey summed up the awards program saying, “It has been a wonderful evening celebrating every one of our Central Utah Sterling Scholars. We are grateful to be able to live and learn beside each other in rural Utah.”