Four local students win top honors at the 2015 Sterling Scholar competition

Four students from the San Juan School District earned top honors at the 2015 Sterling Scholar competition, which was held on March 26 in Monticello.
Josefina Begay, a senior at Whitehorse High School, is the winner of the English competition.
Three students from San Juan High School are winners, including Carsyn Endres in drama and vocal performance, Samantha Walker in dance, and Jennifer Webb in music.
Carsyn Endres, the winner in drama and vocal performance, is devoted to theatre and music. She is an actress as well as a technician for San Juan High School.
Carsyn has earned several leading roles in musicals and in straight plays. She is the current Drama council president and Senior Class President. She is qualified for, and performed a monologue in, the Utah High School Shakespearean Showcase. Carsyn is the daughter of Mark and Carla Endres.
Samantha Walker, the winner in dance, is determined, dedicated and ambitious. She has a love for life, learning and anything related to dance. When she sees an opportunity, she takes it.
Samantha has excelled in her high school years academically as well as being involved with sports and various clubs. She’s danced on the drill team for four years and is currently the president of the drill team. She has carried her love for dance with her as she has helped inspire youth in the community’s dance classes.
As a lifeguard for three years and swimming instructor for two, Carsyn has demonstrated responsibility, dedication and ambition. Samantha is the daughter of Kay and Jennifer Walker.
Jennifer Webb, the winner in music, is consistently and constantly involved in many extra-curricular and community activities.
Jennifer is devoted to anything involving music and has successfully performed with many percussion instruments as well as the piano and organ. She is president of the school Concert Band and accompanies the Concert Choir.
Furthermore, Jennifer is vice-president of the school’s chapter of the National Honor Society. Also an athlete, she is co-captain of the girls’ cross-country team, vice president of the drill team and a member of the track team.
As a four year lifeguard and swim instructor for the local wellness center, she has demonstrated her ability and willingness to assume responsibility. Jennifer is the daughter of Kevin and Lori Webb.
Josefina Begay, the winner in English, has been involved with Student Council since her freshman year, serving as class president, vice president her sophomore year and Student Body Secretary her junior year. She is currently serving as DECA Secretary. She believes the youth of our generation should make a difference in their community.
With her involvement with Student Council, Josefina was able to organize multiple volunteer activities in her community. She helped plan and participate in a local walk-a-thon to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital; she organized the annual food drive for elders in her community, and community trash pick-up day. She also started an Astronomy Club at her school to teach others about Astronomy, as well as managing a Facebook page called “Whitehorse Raiders Astronomy Club”.
She writes and edits her school’s monthly newsletter, the Whitehorse Tribune. This hard-working woman has excelled in her academics and received awards for excellence in Language Arts and has been recognized as a top writer on district-wide writing assessments. Josefina is the daughter of Susie and Joseph Begay.
In addition to the winners, a number of local students were named runner-up in their category.
Runners-up from Monticello High include Jens Brewer in Forensics and Speech, McKade Maloy in Mathematics, and Parker Lewis in Skilled Technical Sciences.
Runners-up from San Juan High include Isabelle Burge in Visual Arts, Samuel Pugh in Business and Marketing, Jessica Swenson in English, and Hannah Parker in Mathematics.
Desmarie Handley, from Monument Valley High School, is the runner-up in English.
Mishayla Mitchell, from Whitehorse High School, is the runner-up in Science.
Students from Monticello High School who participated in the annual competition include Trent Duke, Bailey Goodwine, and Mariah Halls.
Whitney Jacobsen, Braxton Brown, Skyler Pionke, and Arizona Carr from San Juan High School.
Melanie James, of Monument Valley High School, also participated in the event.
Students from nine schools in southeast Utah compete in the annual competition.
They compete in 14 separate categories, including Drama and Vocal Performance, Family and Consumer Science, Mathematics, Dance, Social Science, Science, Forensics and Speech, Music, English, Skilled and Technical Science Education, Business and Marketing, Visual Arts, World Languages, and Computer Technology.
Winners are eligible for aid and scholarships from a variety of local colleges and universities.