More than 150 Utah students from four districts and five high schools were honored Tuesday for having a leg up on the competition and for working harder than most of their counterparts.

In a pilot year for the Utah Scholars program, the group of graduates pushed themselves to take four years of math, three years of science, three-and-a-half years of social studies and at least two years of a foreign language. The more rigorous course work promises to make them more prepared to enter college or the workforce and "more likely to become a self-sustaining adult," said program director David S. Doty, the state's assistant commissioner of higher education.

"We are finding more and more students aren't taking the steps they need to get into college or don't succeed when they get there," he said.

The Utah Scholars program, created last year through federal and state appropriations, hopes to reach students from eighth grade through graduation in future years.

"We want to get as many students as possible to voluntarily, on their own and with incentives, take this course of study," Doty said.

Scott Coggin, a Hillcrest High School senior, said he's very proud of himself because of the extra effort he put into his high school years.

"It's worth it, and for most of it I get college credit," he said. "It will help me understand the subjects better in college and get through it all sooner."

The students were told their hard work would pay off in the future but were encouraged to continue their pace.

"You need to remain competitive to keep your standard of living as strong as it is today," said Troy R. Justesen, assistant secretary of the Office of Vocational and Adult Education for the U.S. Department of Education.

Justesen said the challenges this year's high school graduates will face will be global rather than local or national.

"No other generation will be called upon for more invention," said Terese Rainwater, program director for the national State Scholars Initiative. "We've given you a pathway to move forward."

Utah is one of 21 states currently participating in the initiative. The state plans to expand the program's reach from the four pilot districts to every school in the state and to any student interested in putting forth the extra effort, Doty said.

Richard Kendell, Utah's commissioner of higher education, told the group there is no better time to earn a degree than now.

"Resist the temptation to take a year off," he said. "You're off to a wonderful start."

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com