Sterling Scholar: English

Jasmine Fierro

American Fork High School

Parents: Elisandro and Petrita Fierro

American Fork

As with any other Mexican last name, the name Fierro automatically comes with an often unjustified stigma in America. Before they have even met me, they question my American citizenship, my ability to speak English and even my intelligence — suspicions that are only amplified when they learn that Spanish was my first language and that I am still fluent in Spanish. For this reason, my goal in life has always been to shatter this unjust view of me by succeeding in ways that no one ever expected me to. One of the reasons I want to be a teacher is so that I can influence my students to be more sympathetic to people who are different from them.

SCHOLARSHIP: Ranks first out of 495; GPA is 4.0; ACT is 32.

AWARDS AND PROJECTS: Academic letters in English, French, social studies, math, science, orchestra and renaissance; 2008 National Hispanic Scholar; American Fork Youth City Council.