Final act: High school Sterling Scholars compete for regional title

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COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — Erik Jensen had several impressive pieces of art to show the final Sterling Scholar judges on Wednesday, but the most impressive was his ear piece.

Jensen, the Sterling Scholar of visual arts from Granger High School, was born deaf. He couldn't hear until midway through his teenage years when he had surgery and got a hearing aid. But even then, learning to hear was starting at square one.

"At first it was just static; that's all I could hear," he said. "It's like a fan in your ear all the time, and someone is trying to talk in the other ear. But slowly the brain starts to cut off the static, and you can hear."

Jensen said art helps him express himself through his hands, just like sign language. Jensen's fascination with ears and hearing prompted him to create a sculpture made up of different people's ears, including everyone from his cousin to his physics teacher.

On Wednesday, Jensen and 194 other finalists from the Wasatch Front region gathered at Brighton High School to compete for the regional title in every category from dance to mathematics for the regional title. Fifteen finalists from each category came from 56 schools from Smithfield to Payson to be judged by professionals in their fields, including LDS artist Greg Olsen and folk artist Eric Dowdle in visual art, songwriter and performer Michael McLean in speech and drama, former Mormon Tabernacle Choir conductor Craig Jessop and opera singer Michael Ballam for music, and Utah Valley University President Matt Holland.

After the interviews, judges picked a winner and two runners up in each category to be announced March 31 at Cottonwood High School.

As he warmed up to play his bagpipes in front of the music judges, Matthew Earl from Copper Hills High School said the judging panel was a little intimidating. But no matter what they decide, Earl said the experience of representing his school and his Scottish roots is something he wouldn't trade for anything.

"It means a lot to represent myself, my school and my heritage," he said. "It's helped me find out a lot about myself," like how to accept criticism and balance humility with confidence.

Aileen Christensen, Sterling Scholar of social science at Timpview High School, said the other candidates were just as inspiring as the judges.

"Everyone can be a scholar," she said. "Looking at the range of categories makes me respect everyone else. There's a variety of strengths."

While some students admitted dreams of winning, most said putting together a portfolio and realizing all they had done and all they were capable of was worth it all, regardless of what happens on March 31.

"Nothing for me is ever really about winning," said Amy Smith, Sterling Scholar of speech/drama from Timpview High School. "Putting that (portfolio) together and looking at all I've accomplished helped me realize what I can accomplish."

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