Aaron Wang of Skyline High School recently was named the General Sterling Scholar winner of the 2023 Deseret News/KSL Sterling Scholar Program and won the top prize in its computer science category. He is an impressive example of the excellence many of today’s high schoolers are accomplishing, having excelled in college-level robotics research and paid research assistant for the University of Utah NeuroRobotics Lab before he even graduated high school.
Wang is working alongside graduate students at the university labs to create a wristband that would allow people with neuromuscular disabilities to control smart devices with hand gestures. He also co-authored a paper in the Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems that was presented to the Transportation Research Board. His commitment to research and determination to make the world better through technology have earned him this recognition, with recognition and scholarship to match.
The Sterling Scholar program is a yearly tradition that encourages academic excellence and recognizes some of the top high school seniors in Utah, awarding them scholarships to help further their education. Finalists must demonstrate excellence in academics, leadership and community service, with winners in each category plus a General Sterling Scholar chosen from them. This year’s General Sterling Scholar, Aaron Wang, was accompanied by runners-up and winners of the other categories, such as Divya Sundar from West High, who was selected top scholar in Skilled and Technical Sciences and is pursuing medical sciences; and Nevaeh Parker from Roy High, the top scholar in Speech, Theatre, and Forensics and aspiring to become a lawyer.
The Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation generously sponsors the scholarship program and also present the Gail Miller Community Service Award, with London Amado from Green Canyon High the winner of this year with a $2k scholarship. Timpview High School student Eliza Jenkins won the Philo T. Farnsworth Governor’s Award, a tribute to the inventor of the vacuum tube who, born in a log cabin near Beaver, is considered the “father of television”, with a $1k scholarship for her part in sustainable innovation.
Deseret Management Corporation, owner and operator of the Deseret News, provides generous support for the Sterling Scholar program, helping to create a nation filled with successful and passionate high school seniors. Keith B. Mullin, the president and CEO, expresses his admiration for the honoring of such dedication and passion, making the event one of his favorites of the year.
All in all, the Deseret News/KSL Sterling Scholar Program shines a spotlight on the innovators, researchers and future leaders of tomorrow, giving students the chance to prove their excellence and earn the recognition they deserve.
