When Elisa Marcheschi performs on stage, her whole persona changes from a light-hearted, self-proclaimed "people person" to a dark, turbulent Shakespearean character.

That complete transformation may earn Ogden High Senior Marcheschi a spot among 39 winners in the Deseret Morning News Sterling Scholars competition. Marcheschi and 194 other finalists competed for those top spots Wednesday at Alta High School with interviews and performances to sell their credentials.

A winner and two runners-up for each of 13 categories including math, social science, foreign language and drama will be announced March 28. The scholarship program originally started out with 676 competitors from around the state.

"I kind of portrayed myself as a happy, actively involved girl, but the piece I chose was dark and emotional," Marcheschi said of her monologue from Richard III that she performed for the speech and drama judges. "That's why I love theater because you can be someone else."

She was so wrapped up in her performance, in fact, that she didn't even realize that Michael McLean, a songwriter and actor popular with LDS audiences, was one of her three judges.

"Well, now I'm intimidated," she said after learning of her local celebrity judge.

Many of the Sterling Scholar finalists faced well-known judges, including singer Peter Breinholt in the music category and artist Greg Olsen in the visual arts category.

Students in the 13 Sterling Scholar categories are judged on their content, as well as scholarship, citizenship, leadership and community involvement.

Judges review the nominees' ACT scores, GPAs, class academic ranking and AP classes along with volunteer project and other activities.

"This is very prestigious. In order to get the judges I have, it has to be," said Sharon Johnson, scholarship coordinator at the Deseret Morning News.

Austin Strong, a senior at Viewmont High School in Bountiful, said he was impressed by the caliber of his judges, Utah Valley State College President William Sederburg and Salt Lake Community College President Cynthia Bioteau.

Strong, who is applying in the social sciences category, said he wants to eventually be a college professor after becoming a high school teacher.

"I love social sciences because it's not only fascinating but it has shown me how to appreciate all types of people that make up the world today," he said. "It helps us appreciate, accept and understand those people."

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E-mail: estewart@desnews.com