Eleven Tooele High School seniors participated in the 2010 Sterling Scholar competition. Sterling Scholars are required to demonstrate excellence in general academics, leadership, citizenship/service, and one of 13 different categories. They compete in a rigorous school nominee competition, interviewing with an administrator, category specialists, and a committee chair. The selected nominees create a portfolio of their high school years and then participate in one of three regional interviews. Five nominees from each region then compete in the finalist interviews, from which a category winner and two runners-up are chosen.

Tyler J. Boehmer: music

Born to Jim and Mary Boehmer, Tyler grew up in Cardston, Canada, and moved to Tooele when he was 9. He started playing the piano at age 4, and has since branched out to include the organ and French horn. He made state twice in both the French horn and piano. Tyler is currently taking AP Physics, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics and AP English. He has previously taken AP Calculus AB and AP US History, earning a score of 5 and 4 respectively, and plans to take the AP Music Theory test this spring. Tyler attended the summer program, Pipe Organ Encounter, at the University of Missouri-Kansas receiving one-on-one instruction in playing a pipe organ. Tyler is ranked No. 1 in his class, earned a 34 on the ACT and has accepted an invitation to attend BYU.

Sarah M. Clark: foreign language

Born to Patrick and Jennifer Clark, Sarah has four brothers and sisters. Sarah earned a 91 percent on the AATG National German Test level 2 and was nominated to be an exchange student to Germany. She has hosted Japanese foreign exchange students for the last six years. Sarah plays the viola, and is a member of the Chamber Strings and Orchestra at Tooele High School. She has taken AP Calculus AB, earning a 4, and is currently taking AP English, AP Physics, AP Psychology and AP Statistics. After struggling with undiagnosed diabetes through her freshman year, she has excelled in school, earning a 32 on the ACT and looks forward to attending BYU in the fall.

Jessica L. Crane: speech/drama

Daughter of Ron and Tracy Crane, Jessica excels in debate, competing in oratory, prose/poetry, student congress, public forum and humorous and dramatic interpretation. She has competed at region and state debate tournaments since the ninth grade and has earned superior ratings throughout her career. She twice won the Best Attorney Award in Mock Trial competitions. She is ranked fifth in her class with a 3.96 GPA and has earned a 30 on the ACT. She is a member of the National Honors Society and will be graduating with honors before attending BYU.

Braydn DeGraw: computer technology

Son of Vint and Kim DeGraw, Braydn maintains a 3.85 GPA and earned a 30 on the ACT while being a member of the THS Web Page Design Team, an assistant editor in chief for the yearbook and a member of the band presidency. He will soon complete his Boy Scouts of America Eagle Award, including a project of landscaping the Benson Grist Mill, specifically planting a baker’s dozen of 20-foot trees. He assisted in the building of an amphitheater at the Blue Mountain Ridge near Monticello, assisted in restoring two railcars at the Tooele Railroad Museum, and assisted in the installation of park benches at the England Acres City Park. Braydn plans to major in graphic design.

Sarah L. Gibby: family & consumer sciences

Daughter of Ronald and Sherrie Gibby, Sarah is a member of the Key Club, Psychology Club and the Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Club. During her sophomore year she helped establish the Psychology Club. She has completed numerous service projects, including the sewing of hats for cancer patients and quilts for children in the homeless shelter. As president of her Young Women’s, she planned other opportunities, activities and lessons for the young women in her LDS ward. She was on the Stake Youth Committee discussing plans for youth dances, activities and the summer trek, which reenacted the Mormon pioneer experience.

Erik E. Houghtby: mathematics

Son of Evelyn VanZanten, Eric is ranked eighth in his class and has earned a 31 on the ACT. Last year he passed the AP Calculus AB and the AP Physics C: Mechanics tests earning a 4 on each and this year he is currently taking AP Statistics and AP Calculus BC. In the 10th grade Eric was awarded the EnergySolutions Foundation Scholarship and has since been awarded and applied for several other mathematics- and science-based scholarships in his pursuit of a dual major in mathematics and physics at the University of Utah. Eric has enriched his education by playing on the THS boys tennis team and managing the girls tennis team. He is also the trumpet section leader for the THS band.

Gabrielle Jensen: social science

Born to Shawn and Judi Jensen, Gabrielle plans to become an archeologist. Gabrielle is currently the editor in chief for the Buffalog, and has been a feature writer and a staff writer. She organized a motorcross race as a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, raising close to $10,000. Gabrielle plans to graduate high school with her associate’s degree in hand.

Rachel Nichols: science

Daughter of Ruth and Tony Nichols, Rachel drives toward excellence at every opportunity. She has taken AP Biology, earning a 4, and is currently taking AP Calculus AB, AP Physics and AP English. Additionally, she will have completed another 15 concurrent enrollment courses. Rachel is ranked third in her class, earned a 34 on the ACT, is a member of National Honors Society and will graduate with honors. She conducts her own scientific investigations, analyzing the water quality and factors that influence it in a local pond and investigating DNA characteristics. She plans to become a neurologist investigating Parkinson’s disease and has been admitted to MIT and BYU. She is an accomplished musician playing and gives lessons in piano and violin.

Emma L. Penrod: English

Daughter of Milton and Linda Penrod, Emma plans to be a professional writer. Her interests include journalism through fantasy novels. Emma was the driving force behind the Tooele High School magazine, The Literary Underground. She is an intern with the Tooele Transcript-Bulletin and is writing her third book and first full-length novel, “Bloodline.” Emma plays the piccolo and is the flute section leader. This summer she will complete her associates degree from USU and then attend BYU in the fall.

Beth A. Snarr: dance

Daughter of Alan and Heidi Snarr, Beth is or has been a member of the ballroom dance team, Z-Motion, the drill team, Sha-Ronns, the Tooele High Dance Company and the Utah Artists School of Ballet. Beth has expanded her ability through numerous opportunities including: Classical Ballet with director Jan Clark Fugit, the Ballet West Academy Spring Showcase, the Central West Ballet Summer Intensive program in Modesto, Calif., under director Rene Daveluy, and had a scholarship to the Walnut Hill School Summer Intensive Program in Natick, Mass., under director Michael Owen. Beth is the in-depth editor of the Buffalog, head of the 2009 Homecoming Parade Committee and is involved with YouthLINC, an international youth service organization, spending time each summer in Santa Rosa, Peru, where she teaches children and adults English, reading, geography and sanitation classes.

Jacob B. Taggart: visual arts

Son of Barry and Susan Taggart, Jacob grew to love the arts, including painting, drawing and photography. He has placed several pieces in the Tooele High art shows, earning multiple first place ribbons for drawing and painting; the Tooele County Fair, receiving ribbons in drawing, painting and photography; and the Utah State Fair, placing second in photography. Jacob is the Art Club president and serves on the Seminary Student Council. Additionally, Jacob enjoys playing the piano and writing his own compositions and musical arrangements.

Biographical information provided by Michael Cox, THS Sterling Scholar coordinator.

The Grantsville High School Sterling Scholars will run next Thursday, and the Stansbury High School Sterling Scholars will run April 22.