When Sheen Beard, 18, walks across the stage to get his high school diploma this month, it may seem like just another important step in his life.

As the Riverton High School student body president, he's probably more well-known than some of his peers. However, Beard doesn't fit the mold of what most people would consider a typical student body president. What is not easily visible is the challenges he's overcome.

"I wanted to change lives," he said. "I've been through hard times in my life but came out on top. I wanted to be someone again, so I ran for student body officer, and I got it."

In elementary school, Beard was in all resource classes. His teachers called him slow and said he wouldn't amount to much, but he worked hard to prove them wrong.

"I was really shy and didn't talk to many people," he said.

His father died, and when he was in junior high, his mother remarried. However, the marriage didn't work out, and she ended up divorced, which set Beard back again.

When Beard hit high school he wanted to get more involved, so he joined the football team. He couldn't finish the season because he broke his hip, but the coach allowed him be the water boy — a task he took seriously.

"I went above and beyond (the call of duty)," he said. "I wanted to be able to be myself and able to let people know who I really am and have fun."

Toward the end of his sophomore year, Beard decided to try something else new, so he ran for junior class officer, and he won. He had such a great experience that at the end of the next year, he decided to run for student body president. He won the election and has served in that capacity for the 2006-07 school year.

Not only is Beard the student body president, but he is also a member of Riverton High's Hope Squad, a group of students available for anyone who may be struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts to talk to. Nancy Webster, who does public relations for the school, said Beard often goes above and beyond the call of duty to reach out to people.

"When he talks about something (he's concerned about), he puts his whole heart and soul into it," she said.

Debi Warr, Riverton High counselor and student council adviser, said even with the large student population at Riverton, which is around 2,800, Beard is still concerned about every student.

"He's outstanding," she said. "He's so involved and so tuned with the students. He just loves them."

Following graduation, Beard plans to study at Utah Valley State College for a year before going on an LDS mission. He's not sure what career path he will take but says he wants to do something to help teens get what they need.

What's helped him get through the opposition in his life is to challenge himself and not give up.

"You have to believe in yourself and don't put yourself down," he said. "Always tell yourself you can do it and always have a plan. It's going to take time, but accept the challenge and go for it."

---

E-mail: twalquist@desnews.com