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Mendon Sterling Scholar semi-finalist's last-minute application a good thing By
Andrea Nixon MENDON -- Mountain Crest senior Melani Hanrion didn't know what she was getting herself into when she applied to be her school's family and consumer science Sterling Scholar. Now she does. Chosen as a state semi-finalist, the 17-year-old has the chance to cash in on a portion of the $21,000 scholarship money that will be awarded to Sterling Scholar winners and runners-up at the final awards ceremony tonight. Pretty good for someone who didn't even know she was going to apply. "I actually wasn't going to do it," said Hanrion. "Then a couple days before [the application] was supposed to be turned in, I thought maybe I'd just try it and give it a shot." Her last-minute decision was a good one. A few weeks later a letter arrived in the mail, announcing Hanrion had been selected to represent Mountain Crest in the family and consumer science category. "At first I was excited and then I found out that I had to do this big portfolio," Hanrion said. "I thought, that's a lot of work. I wanted to procrastinate but then I decided I just needed to get it done." The Sterling Scholar process begins in early fall when high school seniors from around the state are nominated to compete against other students in their category and regional division. At Mountain Crest, which is in the Wasatch Front region, a committee of faculty members selected Hanrion and the other students to fill the 13 different categories. Kris Evans, who teaches family and consumer science classes, was a member of the committee who chose Hanrion. "There were more [family and consumer science] applicants this year than there has been in the past," Evans said. "We thought she was a very good candidate and good representation of our department." After nominees have been selected, the preparation begins. Sterling Scholars are required to assemble a 20-page portfolio that displays their accomplishments. The opening pages include several required formsùsuch as an official transcript and test scores, while the remaining pages are dedicated to showing the student's participation in three areas: scholarship, leadership and citizenship. Hanrion estimates she spent about a month working on her portfolio. It was well worth it, as she was chosen as one of 195 semi-finalists -- 15 in each category -- who advanced to the final round after regional competition. The judges first reviewed each nominee's portfolio, then conducted a 15-minute interview with each scholar. Because of her category, Hanrion was also required to bring an exhibit of some of the projects she'd done, illustrating her sewing and other skills. Hanrion said she was excited to learn she'd made it to the final competition because she didn't expect it. Evans, who has taught Hanrion in several classes this year, didn't seem so surprised. "She's an excellent student. Academically she's right on top," Evans said. "She's very bright and willing to put in a lot of effort. "She's a very responsible, positive, happy girl who's nice to be around," Evans continued. "Just a real quality person. She's well-balanced in all she does." Aside from maintaining a 3.85 grade point average, Hanrion is a member of the National Honor Society, the Freedom Club, and is the senior representative of the Key Club. Last year she was a member of the ZCMI Fashion Board and is currently on the Bridgerland board. She also holds a part-time job at JC Penney in the Cache Valley Mall, working up to 20 hours a week. In her spare time, she likes to read, dance, hang out with her friends and family, do crafts, and scrapbook. Hanrion has always been interested in family and consumer science. When she was younger, she spent a lot of time cooking with her mom in the kitchen and learning various other homemaking skills. She's also taken several sewing andfoods classes over the years. Growing up as the second of six children helped too, she said, as she got a lot of childcare experience babysitting her younger siblings. "I like my category because I've done a lot of stuff in it in the past and in a lot of areas, too," Hanrion said. "A lot of people just focus on one thing, but mine is . . . kind of broad." Hanrion said she is apprehensive to hear the results of the final judging, but no matter what happens, she's happy just to have had the experience. She admits it was a lot of work, but well worth her time. "I'm just glad to get as far as I did," she said. "I really enjoyed it and I'm glad that I did it. It was fun." Hanrion may have something else besides just a good time to show for her accomplishment: scholarship money and the prestigious honor of being named one of Utah's top scholars. And all because she filled out that initial application.
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