Sterling Scholar nominees called 'leaders,' 'best of the best'

PROVO — Nervousness was a common feeling at Timpview High School Wednesday after school as hundreds of seniors in business attire waited to be interviewed for one of the most prestigious awards a Utah high schooler can receive — a Sterling Scholar Award.

Groups of students gathered in the library talking strategy as they waited for the first round of judging in the 50th annual Deseret News KSL 5 Television Sterling Scholar Awards program. Only about one in four would go onto the finals.

William Palomo, from Bingham High School, was pacing back and forth, mumbling to himself, in front of a door with a bright pink sign that said English as he waited for his turn to be interviewed.

English is one of 13 different Sterling Scholar categories for which seniors could apply. Palomo said he has been writing poetry since he was in the first grade and hopes to pursue an undergraduate degree at a place like Princeton, Harvard or Westminister.

"Poetry for me is a way to intimately reach out to someone else," Palomo said. "Some poems have changed my life."

He said the title of Sterling Scholar would be an "honor" and would help him financially, as his family does not have money for him to go to college.

"I look at my family living in different parts of the world, and I feel that if I don't seize every opportunity I have, like this one, I would be careless."

Like Palomo, many students were nervous before stepping in to be interviewed Wednesday afternoon.

Sean Pearce, from Timpanogos High, was quickly discussing the best way to answer certain questions with his three friends as they waited to be escorted to their interviews on science, social studies, math and computer technology.

Pearce said he had his parents hold mock interviews for him after dinner this last week, asking him questions like why he applied for the science award and what his future plans are. Pearce became interested in pursuing science after he was diagnosed with type I diabetes at 16. He hopes to some day come up with a cure for the disease.

Many other students had been preparing for this day for at least the last few weeks if not for several years.