Draper Journal | March 2024

Shauna Boyd wears many different hats. She runs her own dog training and pet sitting business, Pawsibilities Unleashed, and also works part time as a cashier in the cafeteria at Corner Canyon High School. Since 2012, the Draper mom has also run marathons all over the world, often accompanied by her extended family. Through her running, she has helped to raise thousands of dollars for charity. This month she will travel to Japan for the Tokyo Marathon, her sixth and final marathon major.

“My dad is the one who started it all,” Boyd said. “I ran my first half-marathon with my dad in sixth grade.”

Boyd’s father, Doug Perry, said that he took up running years ago to get in shape. It soon became an activity for the whole family. “It was something we always did together,” he said. “All four kids, it was just great fun.” The family often did community fun runs and “turkey trots” together.

By Katherine Weinstein | k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com

Growing up in Englewood, Colorado, Boyd started a running club at her high school and made the varsity team. “She was the No. 1 runner in her school. She really excelled at it and just kept at it,” Perry said. Running continued to be a major part of Boyd’s life as she married, had two sons and moved to Utah for her husband’s work.

In 2006, Boyd’s mother, Julie, and her father ran the New York City Marathon, making it to the finish line even though Julie was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer at the time. Boyd’s mother passed away in 2010. In 2018, the family ran the NYC Marathon together as a remembrance

Continued page 16

From left to right, Jennifer Sherwood, Kaaryn Child, Kristen Andersen, Shauna Boyd and Mark Sherwood, posed for a photo at the New York City Marathon in November 2021. (Photo courtesy of Shauna Boyd)

High school seniors encouraged to submit artwork to Draper Visual Arts Foundation competition

By Katherine Weinstein | k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com

Draper Visual Arts Foundation is seeking to spread the word about the upcoming 25th Annual Art Scholar Competition a little early this year. The goal is to encourage more students to submit their works of art and also to give them advance notice to complete pieces in time for the competition. High school seniors in public and private high schools within the Canyons School District area are invited to submit their work by the April 20 deadline.

The Art Scholar Competition accepts works of art in three categories: two-dimensional art works such as paintings, drawings or prints; three-dimensional pieces including woodworking, jewelry, pottery and sculpture; and photography and digital art. Crafts such as knitting, crocheting and quilting will not be accepted.

Interested students must complete an online application and deliver their works of art to Draper City Hall by Monday, April 22. The public is invited to see the art which will be displayed in the foyer of city hall from April 22 through 29.

On April 29, a panel of judges comprised of local artists will select the prize winners. An awards ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. in the Draper City Council room. The cash prizes offered by Draper Visual Arts Foundation range from $100 to $1,000.

Draper Visual Arts Foundation board member Jenny Haase commented, “The Art Scholar Competition is just one way that we’ve been working to promote young artists.” In previous years, the foundation also sponsored art classes for elementary and middle school students.

“We’ve seen firsthand what a difference it makes when a teacher encourages a student,” she added. “In fact, Draper Visual

Arts Foundation was founded by three retired school teachers.”

The nonprofit organization was initially formed in 1992 when former teachers Jean Hendricksen, Mary Sjoblom and Hulda Crossgrove determined to preserve artworks which had been collected by Draper students over decades. The art had been left to languish in storage when the old Park School closed.

Today, Draper Visual Arts Foundation’s mission is to conserve, promote and celebrate art in Draper. The role of art teachers in local schools is central to fulfilling that mission. Haase acknowledged their efforts. “We so appreciate the art teachers,” she said.

Tim McNeill, who teaches drawing, woodworking and guitar making at Corner Canyon High School, said of the Art Scholar Competition, “I really like to get my students involved in this competition. It builds their confidence and raises the bar. Even if they don’t win they still perform better.”

“We usually enter in the sculpture section,” McNeill continued. “We’ve entered a number of things that have done really well.”

Over the years, his students have submitted handcrafted furniture and guitars to the competition. “This is a no-brainer to enter. This is the only competition that I know of that gives so much scholarship money,” he said.

Participating in the Art Scholar Competition and winning a prize has impacted the career paths of many of the past winners.

One of McNeill’s former students, Spencer Johnson, won the Grand Prize in 2018 for his glass-topped table and now builds unique pieces of furniture by commission.

“Winning the competition was validation that believing in yourself is a very

powerful tool,” Johnson said. “Anyone is capable of achieving anything they put their mind to.”

Draper Visual Arts Foundation co-founder, Jean Hendricksen, loved the table so much, she purchased it for her home.

“It was a very big compliment to have someone in her position admire the work that I had done,” he said.

After studying at the University of Utah, Johnson worked in sales and construction while building furniture as a side business. Recently, Johnson made a blanket chest for a client who was mourning the loss

of an infant. “I found a curly maple wood for it and the grain pattern came out looking like a heart,” he said. Making one of a kind pieces that have special meaning to people is his passion. “I love capturing the beauty of wood and natural materials in a way that people can use in their everyday lives,” he said.

To see pictures of prize-winning works of art from past competitions and complete the online entry form, visit the Draper Visual Arts Foundation website at drapervisualartsfoundation.org. l

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Seniors from area high schools posed with their works of art at the 2023 Art Scholar Competition reception. (Photo by Kamette Harmer/Draper Visual Arts Foundation)

Mayor delivers State of the City, touts lowest property tax in Salt Lake County

Mayor Troy Walker delivered his State of the City speech, touching on subjects ranging from increased property values coupled with low property taxes, the water crisis and the city’s flooding issues, his participation in boards to advocate for the city’s interests, and The Point development within Draper. He strongly warned the city could lose zoning rights because of legislative actions.

“If you’re electing somebody to the legislature, you need to elect people that have a local government mindset. The super majority lends itself to legislation that I don’t think gets thought out,” Walker said.

District 4 Congressman/Draper resident Burgess Owens made brief remarks. The Point is within his district but the majority of Draper is in John Curtis’s District 3. Owens spoke about a business-ownership mindset in the state, values passed down from parents, and Utahns sending their children on missions “to get out of their comfort zones.” Owens went on to say, “Our president hates our country and hates our culture. We have an ideology of people that love power more than patriotism, more than the American people.”

Mary Squire walked out of the room in response. “My husband and I went to this event because we wanted to hear the mayor give an update on what was going on in our city. We were really disappointed when Congressman Owens took the opportunity to make divisive comments at what was supposed to be a nonpartisan event. Even though he lives in Draper, I don’t think he understands who we are. I’ve lived here for 17 years and the Draper I know is welcoming and inclusive,” she said. Squire returned to listen to the mayor’s presentation.

Walker started by saying he continues to work as a lawyer because his role with the city is part time. As mayor, he serves on boards including the Utah League of Cities and Towns which lobbies the legislature on behalf of cities. “I’m at every legislative meeting. It’s time consuming but worth it for our community.” He also serves on the Wasatch Front Regional Council to help plan all forms of transportation, and he continues his role on The Point of the Mountain State Land Authority to represent Draper in decisions about development of The Point.

Walker painted a strong economic picture of the city. He said the median single family home value rose from $589,800 in 2022 to $764,400 in 2023. “I don’t know if there’s another city other than Park City where the value is higher.”

According to Walker, the city has 310 employees. “We try our best to keep government efficient and small.” He touted the pursuit of sales tax through commerce to reduce property taxes for Draper residents. “It cuts down how much we have to tax you. We’re the lowest property tax in Salt Lake County and we’ve kept it there for a long time.”

Walker addressed the housing crisis, not-

By Mimi Darley Dutton | m.dutton@mycityjournals.com

vertical buildings will begin to go up in 2026. “The goal is to create a job-making entity so our kids can stay here and have a place to live and work. The state built a couple billion-dollar prison…with the concept of this is going to pay for it over time.” The current plan is for Draper to provide police, fire and garbage services at The Point.

The Point garnered the most questions with people concerned about increased population and traffic congestion problems, the Smart City concept, and the impact on schools. Walker said The Point will be car-centric to begin but developers will do traffic studies, mass transit will be available, and the school district is involved in the planning. “I don’t know how you stop people from coming. I hear you,” he said. “It’s better than a prison that generates zero tax dollars.”

gets. He’d also like to see term limits for city and state employees “so they don’t get stale.” He appreciated the information on the legislature trying to take away local control and he’s particularly concerned about The Point. “I’m very disappointed in the state legislature. The good old boy network is really enforced here. A lot of powerful people in Utah are trying to make money off The Point…it’s more than just a wonderful thing going on. But how will you deal with traffic adding 25,000 people? Public transportation isn’t a fit for Utah,” he said.

ing that Draper’s median home price is beyond the reach of many in the next generation. “Our kids don’t have a place to live…the gap in housing comes down to a lot of things.” He explained that the legislature approved Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in recent years to try to alleviate that problem and the city has since compromised by planning for a percentage of Draper where ADU’s would be allowed. Walker said changes at the state-level to city’s zoning rights started in 2018 with 17 different pieces of legislation, some of which are just getting implemented. “One of our messages to the legislature is give us time to show that we’ve facilitated it. Draper is mostly built out.” The mayor explained that if the city isn’t in compliance, it would result in fines from the state.

Walker warned of the city potentially losing zoning rights. “Right now, zoning is done at the city. We do studies, have a General Plan and try to layout the community. But big developers decided, rather than lobby city council members, they’d lobby legislators. They’ve convinced the governor and legislators it’s (the housing crisis) because the cities won’t zone for smaller units. The ultimate goal of the development community is to take away our authority. We can’t hate developers, they build houses…. but the housing crisis is most acute where the builder has three acres, I say.”

The mayor also warned about water conservation, “We’ve got to do better, and if you don’t, we’re going to get the heavy hand of government because there’s no new water.” He addressed last year’s flooding which resulted in millions of dollars in damages for the city and its residents. “You have a stormwater system built for a 100-year storm and get a 500-year water flow.”

Wrapping up his remarks, Walker discussed development progress at The Point, indicating buildout will likely take 25 years, but

Draper resident Dan Portwood appreciates the efforts of the mayor and council but has concerns about congestion and overbuilding as well as payroll of city employees compared to the average Utah income. “When you have a small-town city government with a massive payroll, we as taxpayers want to know what are these people doing with our money?” Portwood would like to see more frequent Town Halls for city officials to engage with the public in Q&A regarding spending, finances and bud-

Chad Smith and his wife have lived in Draper for two decades but he hadn’t attended a State of the City before. “It was more informative than what I expected,” he said. He found the statistics and pie charts especially helpful and he appreciates that the mayor thinks decades out “for long- term health rather than short-term popularity.”

But Smith was bothered by Owens’s statements.

“He took a meeting about Draper and tried to pull the divisive national politics scene down to our local level,” Smith said. “I wanted to say to him ‘You should know that our city is about finding commonalities, unity, and reasons for working together. What you said was inflammatory on any level, especially for Draper. That was offensive.’” l

Mayor Troy Walker spoke with people following the conclusion of his State of the City address. Walker works as an attorney and is a part-time mayor for Draper. (Mimi Darley Dutton/City Journals)

Extra! Extra! Draper Historic Theatre presents the musical ‘Newsies’

The stage musical “Newsies” is arguably one of the most popular shows in Utah. Just last year it was performed as part of the Broadway at the Eccles series in Salt Lake City and again at Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy. The version presented this month at Draper Historic Theatre will be a bit different from those larger productions. As actor T. J. Thomas explained, “Seeing this show in an intimate theater like this one lets you get swept up in the energy of the story. You can feel the heartbeat of the show when you’re so close to the audience.”

Director Derrick Cain said that mounting this production in a smaller space has been a challenge, but also rewarding. "It's a big show with a lot of moving parts," he said. "But it's been fun because it requires creativity and problem-solving to make a bigger show work on this stage.”

Thomas, one of the actors who plays the lead role of Jack Kelly, added, "You have this really young core group of people, everyone working together to make this big thing. It's a scrappy little production, kind of like the newsies."

As most productions at Draper Historic Theatre are double-cast, Jared Gaskill also plays Kelly. "The story itself is based on a true story," he said. The stage musical version of “Newsies” is based on the 1992 Disney film which was in turn inspired by the historic Newsboys Strike of 1899 in New York City.

"Newsies" or “newsboys” sold newspapers on the streets of New York City in the 19th and early 20th century. Most lived in poverty and had no recourse when newspaper publishers Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst decided to increase the amount they had to pay for the papers they sold. When the newsies organized and refused to sell the papers owned by Pulitzer and Hearst, the publishing giants were forced to agree to buy back unsold papers from the newsboys.

In the musical, things get even more complicated when Pulitzer’s daughter, Katherine—who aspires to be a reporter herself—falls in love with strike leader Jack Kelly and joins the newsies’ cause. “She plays a big role in the strike and their victory,” Gaskill said.

Hannah Spencer, who plays Katherine, said of the character, “She is very strong and very sure of herself. She understands she has a lot of work to do to prove herself and she is willing to do it.”

When the wealthy Katherine meets Jack Kelly, her feelings take her by surprise. In the end, though, “he helps Katherine find a way to channel her purpose,” she said.

Spencer described the overall theme of the show. “It’s about how a group of individuals can come together for a cause,” she said. “It’s about youth coming together and demanding a place at the table.”

“The big overarching theme is the importance of family,” Cain said, referring to the newsies coming together as a chosen family.

Several of the actors spoke of how the cast members also feel like one big family. Jagger Weichers, who plays Jack Kelly’s friend and fellow newsboy Davey, has performed in over 12 shows at Draper Historic Theatre over the years. “It feels like family every time I do a show, it’s amazing,” he said.

“I’m enjoying the camaraderie we have as a cast and in the incredible direction from our production team,” Spencer said.

Cain explained that the Draper Historic Theatre production of “Newsies” is unique in other ways, namely in its choreography. “We’re telling the story through dance,” he said. “I’m also more of a comedic director. We try to find the comedy in a scene.”

By Katherine Weinstein | k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com

Weichers added, “This show is a lot crazier than other shows we’ve done here. There’s a lot of tap dancing in this show, a big cast, a lot of singing, dancing, romance, drama— it’s awesome!”

Draper Historic Theatre presents “Newsies: The Musical” March 10 through 30. Performances are on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday evenings at 7 p.m. with Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. The theater is located at 12366 S. 900 East. For tickets, visit draperhistorictheatre.org. l

Jared Gaskill and Hanna Saunders-Smith play Jack Kelly and Katherine Pulitzer, respectively, in the Draper Historic Theatre production of “Newsies.” (Photo by Ashley Loewer/Draper Historic Theatre)

The newsies confront newspaper magnate Joseph Pulitzer in the Draper Historic Theatre production of “Newsies.” (Photo by Ashley Loewer/Draper Historic Theatre)

Newsies played by Dylan Manzanares, Jared Gaskill and Jaxston Wall strike a pose in the Draper Historic Theatre production of “Newsies.” (Photo by Ashley Loewer/Draper Historic Theatre)

Cast members from the Draper Historic Theatre production of “Newsies” seize the day. (Photo by Ashley Loewer/Draper Historic Theatre)

ABy Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

ndrew Sedillo is well known among the Juan Diego Catholic High School community, having coached wrestling from 2006 to 2020. He is now taking the “assistant” off of the title he had with the softball program for the 2022-23 season and will head up the Soaring Eagle team on the diamond this spring.

“We are excited to have coach Sedillo take over,” said JDCHS Athletic Director Danny Larson. “Softball is one of our programs on the rise and we couldn’t ask for anyone better than him to lead the charge.”

“I am excited and look forward to the challenge,” Sedillo said.

Larson noted that softball brought the school its first state championship in 2001. “As we get ready to celebrate our 25 years as a school this gets talked about a lot,” he said. “Coach Sedillo understands how important this is to many in our community and he is going to do everything he can to get us back to competing at a high level.”

Sedillo, who lives in Riverton, has been coaching the Utah Bullets comp team—where his youngest daughter Olivia plays second base, outfield and as a utility infielder—and the duo will be back

to help the JDCHS team improve on a 1612 season from a year ago.

Coach Sedillo was a two-time state champion in wrestling at Coconino High School in Flagstaff, Arizona, while also playing football and baseball, and went on to wrestle at Arizona State University. His athletic journey was heavily influenced by his own coaches who were role models to him and with whom he had good relationships.

“I want to pay it forward,” he said. “I have always been pretty good with kids and there were always opportunities when my kids were younger to coach them in a variety of sports. I do enjoy teaching and mentoring our youth.”

Sedillo said being able to have an impact on young people has been the highlight of his coaching career. “I have been around long enough to hear from former athletes that what they went through during their time as athletes in high school has had a positive effect on them and that I was a small part of it,” he said.

The coaching philosophy that he will bring to the JDCHS softball program involves “working hard in practice, playing hard in games and having fun while doing

it,” while showing respect to everyone, playing as a team and developing discipline.

“It is my privilege to coach these girls and hopefully be successful on and off the field,” coach Sedillo said. l

Andrew Sedillo, who assisted the Juan Diego Catholic High School softball team last season, is taking the reins of the program this year. (Photo courtesy Andrew Sedillo)

Juan Diego Catholic High School Skyley Hanna won the girls 3A state wrestling title at 120 pounds at the Sevier Valley Center Feb. 17. The senior defeated Grantsville Bailey Rainer in the championship match. Avie Hernandez, competing in the 235-pound division, took third after defeating Manti’s Danelynn Castro in the thirdplace match. Tiffany Nguyen, at 125 pounds, also came in sixth with all three state placers helping the Soaring Eagle girls program to an eighth-place finish as a team. The boys finished in 16th place at the state event.

Hanna completed her dominating run at the state tournament with a bye in the first round and wins over Union’s Taylonna Garcia in the quarterfinals and Canyon View’s Marley Castaneda in the semis to reach the final. Hernandez also had a bye in the first round before earning wins over Union’s Jayci Wood in the quarters and Carbon’s Grace Lamb in the consolation semifinals. Nguyen’s wins at state were against Canyon View’s Kenzie McIntosh in the first round, Richfield’s Bailey Mooney in the second round of the consolation bracket and Ogden’s Cailyn Knighton in the third round of consolation.

Other state qualifiers on the girls side were Lana Chan, at 105 pounds, Savanna Findley (110 pounds), Natalia Cardenas (110 pounds), Erin Chan (120 pounds) and Ricky Brown (130 pounds).

wrestler wins state

By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

Those helping the JDCHS boys take 16th were Mario Perez (126 pounds), Athan Gula (138 pounds), Corbin Buckley (165 pounds), Toby Hardin (175 pounds), Sebastian Ramirez (190 pounds), Manik Gill-Martin (215 pounds) and Loklan Cruz (285 pounds).

At the 3A Divisional A tournament at Uintah High School Jan. 31, Hanna and Hernandez both won their weight classifications and were named Outstanding Wrestlers for the lightweight and heavyweight divisions in helping the Juan Diego girls take fourth place.

Nguyen (third, 125 pounds), Erin Chan (fourth, 120 pounds), Lana Chan (fourth, 105 pounds), Findley (fifth, 110 pounds), Brown (fifth, 130 pounds) and Cardenas (sixth, 110 pounds) were also placers for the girls at Divisionals.

The boys finished seventh at the 3A Divisionals at Union High School Feb. 3, led by Perez—who took fourth at 126 pounds—along with Hardin (sixth, 175 pounds), Ramirez (sixth, 190 pounds), Gula (seventh, 138 pounds), Cruz (seventh, 285 pounds), Buckley (eighth, 165 pounds) and Gill-Martin (eighth, 215 pounds).

Juan Diego Catholic High School’s Skyley Hanna won the 3A state title at the girls state championship Feb. 17 at the Sevier Valley Center. (Photos courtesy Zac Petereit)

Corner Canyon wrestlers boast three state champions; teams place third

By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

Corner Canyon High’s Clarion Fager, Mana Fager and Kaydon Williams won 6A state titles in their respective weight classifications at the girls and boys state wrestling tournament Feb. 17 at Utah Valley University.

Clarion Fager, wrestling at 170 pounds, was named the Outstanding Wrestler in the 6A Upper Weights at the meet for her performance while her brother Mana received the same award on the boys side for his run through four championship rounds at 190 pounds. Williams also ran the table in the 285-pound championship bracket.

“We had a good state tournament,” said boys coach Jeff Eure, who is in his 11th year at CCHS. “I’m really proud of our team for finishing third, which is the best we have finished in program history. I’m happy for Clarion, Mana and Kaydon. They have worked hard to reach the top of the podium.”

After a first-round bye, Clarion Fager defeated Weber’s Lydia Jessen in the quarterfinals, Farmington’s Lydia Frandsen in the semis and Syracuse’s Ashlyn Packer in the championship match. Mana Fager had wins over Lone Peak’s Atticus Rodriguez in round one, Copper Hills’ Logan Buckner in the quarters, Riverton’s Gage Watt in the semifinals and Pleasant Grove’s Trevyn Gates in the finals. Williams beat Pleasant Grove’s Lincoln Willoughby in the first round, Westlake’s Deron Cofer in the quarterfinals, Lone Peaks’ Jared Smith in the semis and Layton’s Takoa Byrd in the title match.

Also placing for the third-place boys squad were Tanner Telford, who was second at 106 pounds, along with Collin Webb (third, 215 pounds ), Hudson York (fifth, 113 pounds), Caleb Robinson (sixth, 175 pounds) and Nathan Holladay (sixth, 285 pounds).

Others competing at state were Kacen Jones (106 pounds), Hunter Hurl (113 pounds), Brayden Bath (126 pounds), Karl Ledbetter (132 pounds), Liam Eller (138 pounds), Lincoln Eure (114 pounds), Payden Woolsey (150 pounds), Gage Brady (157 pounds), Kyle Nye (157 pounds), Deken Knowles (165 pounds), Tolu Fiaui (190 pounds) and Yitzhak Contreras (215 pounds).

For the girls team who finished third, Bella Morgan was second at 155 pounds with Kinsey Byrge (third, 145 pounds), Midori Kano (fourth, 125 pounds), Olivia Byington (fourth, 130 pounds), Mele Fager (fourth, 140 pounds), Gwen Curry (fourth, 190 pounds), Emerson Purser (sixth, 105 pounds), Amaya Kano (sixth, 135 pounds ) and Ava Morgan (sixth, 155 pounds) also placing. Gweneth Smart (135 pounds), Isabelle Chambers (145 pounds) and Makayla Walden (235 pounds) also competed at state for the girls.

At the Divisional A tournament at Syracuse High School Feb. 3, the boys took second place behind Mana Fager’s win at 190 pounds. Also top-eight at divisionals were Telford (second, 106 pounds), York (second, 113 pounds), Robinson (second, 175 pounds), Woolsey (second, 150 pounds), Webb (second, 215 pounds), Williams (second, 285 pounds), Ledbetter (fourth, 132 pounds), Jones (fourth, 106 pounds), Brady (fifth, 157 pounds), Holladay (fifth, 285 pounds), Eller (sixth, 138 pounds), Knowles (sixth, 165 pounds), Hurl (seventh, 113 pounds), Bath (seventh, 126 pounds), Nye (seventh, 157 pounds), Contreras (seventh, 215 pounds), Lincoln Eure (eighth,

We had a good state tournament. I’m really proud of our team for finishing third, which is the best we have finished in program history. I’m happy for Clarion, Mana and Kaydon. They have worked hard to reach the top of the podium.

Coach Jeff Eure

144 pounds) and Fiaui (eighth, 190 pounds).

For the girls at the 6A Divisional B event Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at Westlake High School, Meleana Fager, Morgan and Clarion Fager won their respective weight classes to help the girls take third as a team. Other top placers

at divisionals were Purser (second, 105 pounds), Kano (second, 125 pounds), Byrge (second, 145 pounds), Curry (second, 190 pounds), Byington (third, 130 pounds), Kano (third, 135 pounds), Morgan (third, 155 pounds), Chambers (fifth, 145 pounds), Walden (fifth, 235 pounds) and Smart (seventh, 135 pounds).

“The girls did great at divisionals,” said girls coach John Fager. “We scored a lot more points than last year which means that even though we qualified the same number of girls that we did last year and had the same number of champs we had last year, the rest of the girls earned higher placers. It was a good improvement. We also had a number of girls beat girls that they had multiple losses to during the season.”

“As a coaching staff, we are excited about the future,” said boys coach Eure. “Our young wrestlers gained valuable experience at the state tournament this year. With a dedicated offseason I believe we can contend for a trophy next year!” l

Corner Canyon’s Tanner Telford finished second in the 106-pound weight division at the 6A state championships Feb. 17 at Utah Valley University. (Photo courtesy Robin Simmons)

Corner Canyon’s Collin Webb finished third in the 215-pound weight division at the 6A state championships Feb. 17 at Utah Valley University. (Photo courtesy Robin Simmons)

Corner Canyon High’s Mana Fager won the 6A state wrestling championship at 190 pounds Feb. 17 at Utah Valley University. His finish helped the boys Chargers team to third place, its highest finish in program history. (Photos courtesy Robin Simmons)

Corner Canyon High’s Kaydon Williams won the 6A state wrestling championship at 285 pounds Feb. 17 at Utah Valley University. His finish helped the boys Chargers team to third place, its highest finish in program history. (Photos courtesy Robin Simmons)

WOMeN’S SECTION

A publication covering local influential women in honor of International Women’s Day

Utah-educated doctor chosen to lead National Institutes of Health

By Mimi Darley Dutton | m.dutton@mycityjournals.com

For the first time, a University of Utah medical school graduate sits at the helm of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in November 2023. She is the second woman to serve as NIH Director since its inception in 1887 and the first surgeon in that role.

The NIH is located in Bethesda, Maryland and is comprised of 27 institutes and centers. The organization has a budget of more than $47 billion and serves as the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world.

President Biden stated: “Dr. Bertagnolli has spent her career pioneering scientific discovery and pushing the boundaries of what is possible to improve cancer prevention and treatment for patients and ensuring that patients in every community have access to quality care. Dr. Bertagnolli is a world-class physician-scientist whose vision and leadership will ensure NIH continues to be an engine of innovation to improve the health of the American people.”

Bertagnolli first earned an engineering degree from Princeton University, then she attended and graduated from the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine in 1985. She was interested in immunology but discovered a different passion. “I signed up for surgery as my very first clinical rotation, just because I wanted to get it out of the way. I still vividly remember my first day in an operating room because I immediately knew that’s where I belonged,” she told the ASCO Post.

In more recent years, she served as chair of the Huntsman Cancer Institute’s External Advisory Board. Bertagnolli was previously a professor of surgery at Har-

vard Medical School and chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She has been president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and leader of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology.

Prior to her current role at the NIH, Dr. Bertagnolli was the first female director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a role she took in October 2022. NCI is a component of NIH. One month into her time at the NCI, a routine mammogram led to Bertagnolli being diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Since then, she has called herself a cancer survivor. “Fortunately, my prognosis is excellent. And this is due to NIH-funded research over the last several decades. And the many women who participated in clinical trials before me,” she said.

Her upbringing on a ranch in rural Wyoming as the daughter of first-generation immigrants has shaped her professional approach by providing an understanding of the medical challenges rural communities experience. An NIH press release said, “Equity is a core value that drives all her efforts, which includes ensuring NIH research is equitable and accessible to all people from all walks of life regardless of income or zip code.”

Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO Mary Beckerle, who has known Bertagnolli almost since her Utah med school days, compares her to the late Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who also grew up on a ranch: A “bundle of wit, resilience, and can-do spirit,” Beckerle said in Science magazine, December 2023 edition.

Beyond being a cancer surgeon for more than 35 years, her research has

DR. MONICA BERTAGNOLLI is a 1985 graduate of the University of Utah medical school. She served on an advisory board for the Huntsman Cancer Institute and was recently confirmed by the U.S. Senate to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which is made up of 27 institutes and centers for biomedical research.

focused on the genetic mutations that lead to gastrointestinal cancer and how inflammation stimulates cancer growth. In her current role, she hopes to leverage commonalities such as how inflammation causes cancer but is also a component of Alzheimer’s, autoimmune disorders, arthritis, Long COVID and other diseases.

In 2023, she was named one of the 100 Influential Women in Oncology by Onco Daily.

Bertagnolli said in a December 2022 NCI statement, “Having been an oncologist my entire career, it was always—and still is—all about the patients and survivors. It’s one thing to know about cancer as a physician, but it is another to experience it firsthand as a patient as well. To anyone with cancer today: I am truly in this together with you.” l

Photo credit: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang/NIH

‘Look Good, Feel Good’ conference focuses on inclusion for Pacific Islander women

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

The inaugural “Look Good, Feel Good” conference, held in February at Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy, was organized to empower Pacific Islander women in Utah. In partnership with the Creative Pacific Foundation, the Women’s Executive Alliance held the event to celebrate women of the PI community through education and connection.

La Wolfgramm serves as president of the WEA, the women in business arm of the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce, that just celebrated its first anniversary. As the owner of Pasifika Kitchen, Wolfgramm wanted to bring women together and provide a fun environment where they could learn about holistic empowerment, covering physical and mental health, hair and fashion.

“We started WEA because we felt that there was nothing out there for PI women,” she said. “I wanted our PI women to see that there’s someone that looks like them, that talks like them and walks like them. It’s a comfort thing to know they can come in, and if they want to, they can start a business.”

The “Look Good, Feel Good” event marked the first time Utah PI experts in food, health, entertainment and fashion joined together in one place to offer support and information.

Guest speakers included Aveda beauty and hair expert Ben Powell, “Project Runway” designer Afa Ah Loo, mental health expert Celia Moleni (owner of Manaaki Mental Health) and wellness expert Alex Millions, RN, (owner of ModeRN Hydraesthetics). The conference ended with a keynote address from Sui Lang L. Panoke, senior vice president of culture at Zions Bank.

In addition to workshops, the event featured a DJ, a 360-degree photo booth, catered food and mocktails.

Analei Samasei’a serves on the WEA board of directors. She wants PI women to understand that they belong in these spaces and that what they contribute to the community has value.

“A lot of our women are caretakers. They stay home with their families, they take care of their aunties or uncles or mothers or fathers. That’s what we inherently do in our culture,” Samasei’a said. “So they’re not always available to go to these types of events, nor do they have accessibility. But now, we have all these experts here in the room. They were all mingling together and asking questions.”

Partnering with Creative Pacific allowed WEA to host the “Look Good, Feel Good” conference with a focus on inclusion while

strengthening bonds between PI women. Creative Pacific is a nonprofit that celebrates cultural diversity.

For information about WEA and the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce visit

Upichamber.org. To learn about Creative Pacific, visit CreativePacific.org.

“We had a mental health expert who walked us through some exercises to connect back to ourselves and understand the sensations we were feeling and how

our thoughts determine actions. It was like a good therapy session,” Samasei’a said. “And so it unified everybody in that room. We’ve all shared this experience together, and now we can talk about it to our friends.” l

“PROJECT RUNWAY” designer Afa Ah Loo talks to Pacific Islander women about fashion at the “Look Good, Feel Good” conference.

City Journals

MORE THAN 70 WOMEN attended the first “Look Good, Feel Good” conference for Pacific Islander women at Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy. The event celebrated women of the PI community.

City Journals

LA WOLFGRAMM is president of the Women’s Executive Alliance, the women in business branch of the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce.

City Journals

Salt Lake Community College President Deneece Huftalin leaves behind a legacy of student-centered leadership

By Rachel Aubrey | r.aubrey@mycityjournals.com

For more than 30 years Deneece Huftalin has been a student-focused leader at Salt Lake Community College serving in various capacities within administration. What began in September 2014, when she became president of SLCC, will come to a conclusion in June of this year as Huftalin officially retires. She will have been the longest serving female president within the Utah System of Higher Education.

With the most diverse student body in the state, Huftalin said she always aimed to keep true the SLCC mission “[to] engage and support students in educational pathways leading to successful transfer and meaningful employment.”

To “support students” is something that she spent her career being focused on.

A Salt Lake City native, and a University of Utah graduate, Huftalin spent some time outside of Utah on various higher education campuses including Northwestern University, Stanford University and University of California, Los Angeles. But it was a job at Harper Community College in Palatine, Illinois that helped open her eyes to the community college system.

“I worked in orientation, but they considered their student affairs people faculty, which was a really cool model,” Huftalin said. “I was able to teach a little and serve on the college senate, but also have kind of a staff role.”

That position at Harper, although brief, left an impression. As Huftalin found herself back in Utah, returning so her husband could take a job opportunity, she found herself looking for work again on another college campus.

“There’s something [magical] about campuses,” Huftalin said. “People are thinking, discovering, laughing, having fun and testing waters, and it’s a good place to be.”

As Salt Lake Community College was booming with growth and expansion in the early 1990s, Huftalin realized that her time at Harper’s gave her a bit of competitive edge when it came time to apply for positions at SLCC. She began her tenure as the director of academic and career advising in 1992.

“I always feel fortunate that Harper College gave me a little bit of knowledge and a kind of step into a community college role,” Huftalin said.

That first role led to her eventual “dream job” in the mid-1990s, as the dean

of students. Being involved with students was always where she saw herself.

“I just love being with students,” said Huftalin said.

Over the years, colleagues took notice of that student-centered persona. Alison McFarlane, who became the Vice President of Institutional Advancement in 2012, worked closely with Huftalin, who was the Vice President of Student Services at that time.

“Deneece is the most student-focused leader I could have possibly imaged,” McFarlane said. “You always hear about Deneece being the voice for students.”

Cassidy Behling has been the Administrative Assistant to the President for the last 10 years, and has watched as Huftalin, who often gets pulled in so many different directions, has been able to focus on what truly matters in higher education.

“Her care and concern for her students is always her guiding force,” Behling said.

Huftalin admitted that she worries

about current and future students and how heavy the world is on them, especially when it comes to mental health.

“It takes a lot to break through and come and be courageous and learn and try something new,” Huftalin said.

Despite never seeing herself in the role of president of SLCC, Huftalin said that being in leadership roles has allowed her to model behavior that she has witnessed over the years. Throughout her career, she was able to be a part of women-led communities, allowing for the formation of friendships and connections.

“Younger women are experiencing things differently than I ever have,” Huftalin said. “But I do think there’s some continuity of support…and having lived longer and navigated different things, I can give advice and support or encouragement.”

While in office, Huftalin realized several goals such as, but not limited to, the addition of the Westpointe Workforce Training and Education Center in Salt Lake City and

the Juniper Building in Herriman which has increased geographical access to classes and the Open Education Resources (OER) initiative that allows students access to public domain textbooks for general education courses.

According to McFarlane, who retired in October 2023, one of the many ways that Huftalin has been able to accomplish these goals is because she is a “connector” of people and ideas, fostering collaboration within the college and the surrounding communities.

“When she sees opportunities, she’s very [eager] to give them to other people,” McFarlane said.

Those connections have led to great relationships with students, faculty and staff, and Huftalin said she will miss those the most after retirement.

“…Those relationships are hard to step away from,” Huftalin said. “Because they’ve just meant so much.” l

DENEECE HUFTALIN has been president of Salt Lake Community College since 2014 and when she retires in June, she will have been the longest serving female president within the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).

Photo courtesy of Salt Lake Community College

Longtime Alta High teacher honored by legislature for dedication to public service

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

RiqueOchoa has seen a bit of history in his time.

He saw 1968 presidential candidate Bobby Kennedy the day before he was shot. He lived in the neighborhood of the Zoot Suit Riots and his school had Cold War rations on hand for emergencies. He’s met and invited Pulitzer Prize winners to speak to students and he’s taken students to see the presidential inaugurations of Bush, Obama and Trump. He’s made the call for some outstanding athletes and listened to students debate during his 45-year tenure at Alta High.

He retired this past summer, but his impact was far-reaching.

As part of his instruction, he encouraged students to volunteer to get involved in public service. That has gotten him recognized.

First, after several students volunteered for Suzanne Harrison’s campaigns, she met Ochoa and was so impressed, Harrison and her husband established an annual $1,000 student scholarship in Ochoa’s name at the high school.

Recently, former Advanced Placement student Gabby Saunders, who was involved in the Ochoa’s pilot of the Rutgers University women’s leadership program at Alta High, presented her former teacher a letter at his retirement inviting him to the Utah House of

Representatives.

“She learned she had a voice and should use it. So back in 2015, the Utah legislature was getting set to cut funding for domestic violence shelters and that was important to her. She started working the system, met with Sen. (Wayne) Niederhauser, who was president of the senate at the time, and worked with him and other members in the legislature. Not only did they not cut the funding, they increased it. As a result, she became more active.”

Fast forward and this past spring, Saunders was working on a project with Rep. Anthony Loubet.

“He was astounded at how good she was and wanted to know how she got started. She told him, ‘My government teacher Mr. Ochoa encouraged us.’ He opened up the idea of honoring my career,” Ochoa said.

On Jan. 29, Ochoa and his family stood in front of the Utah House of Representatives as a citation about his dedication to students was being read.

Ochoa received a standing ovation.

“I have to admit I was emotional as they read the citation,” he said, adding that he had tears. “It was a culmination of everything I’ve done it for so long. I’ve loved teaching, loved all of it. I’ve always thought teaching

high school was the place to be. You can provide direction, guidance, encouragement. I look back on and realize how big a difference it was to be in the classroom. Teaching is a tough job. When someone takes note and

appreciates that you’re putting in the effort, that’s what makes it special. This struck me more than at any other time. It’s a great acknowledgement and then to get a standing ovation at the end, it was incredible.” l

JDCHS swimmer wins state; teams take fourth

By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

Juan Diego Catholic High School’s Charlie Gleason won the 100 breaststroke at the 3A state swimming championships Feb. 17 at Brigham Young University. The senior touched the wall in 1:02.51, edging out South Summit’s James Keddington. His finish highlighted the boys team’s fourth-place showing where they also had five other state placers and two top-three relays.

The girls team also came in fourth behind strong relays and individual swims by Isabella Hategan and Piper Fennell.

For the boys, Gleason swam on the second-place 200 medley relay which also included Bohdan Olevych, Zach Meehan and Saxton McKnight, and the third-place 200 freestyle relay squad with the same lineup. Other top finishes were Olevych (third, 500 free; fourth, 100 butterfly), Gleason (fifth, 200 individual medley), Meehan (sixth, 50 free) and Jack Bulf (seventh, 500 free).

Fennell and Hategan were part of the second-place 200 medley relay and 200 free relay teams along with Abagial Tenzer and Lauren Foy. Additionally, Hategan was second in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke while Fennell came in fourth in the 100 breast and fifth in the 50 free.

The Soaring Eagle program’s finishes at state came on the heels of their Region 14 meet performances Feb. 3 at the Draper Rec Center where the teams came in second with five individual region winners. Hategan won the 200 IM and 100 back with Gleason (200 IM), Bulf (200 free) and Olevych (100 free) also reaching the top of the podium in their events.

Other top-three finishes at Region for the girls were Fennell (second, 50 free; third, 100 breast), Tenzer (second, 500 free), Foy (third, 50 free), Carmen Montoya (third, 500 free) and the 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and 400 free relay lineups that all placed second.

For the boys at Region, Gleason was second in the 100 free with Meehan (second, 50 free), Olevych (third, 200 IM), McKnight (third, 50 free) and Bulf (third, 500 free) also taking top-three honors. The 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and 400 free relay squads were also second to add to the point total. l

Joined by his family, Alta High’s Rique Ochoa (right) was honored with a standing ovation by the Utah House of Representatives. (Melissa Lister/Alta High)

Cheerleading has been sanctioned by the Utah High School Activities Association for two years and Corner Canyon has owned the 6A title both seasons, winning its latest championship Jan. 25 at Utah Valley University. It also marks the sixth time that the Chargers have been the best in state since the school opened its doors 11 years ago.

“State was crazy in the best way!” said head coach Whitney Lunt. “We compete against some amazing teams in Utah, and we knew we would have to be at our best to defend our title. We told the girls going in that they had to hit their routine, that there was no option but to be perfect if they wanted to have a chance at going back-to-back.”

This year, Corner Canyon placed first in Show and second in the Game Time Dance & Cheer, Dance and Cheer categories.

“Our girls went out and did their show routine first and they got a hit!” said Lunt. “We did make some minor mistakes and had a few hiccups, so we weren’t 100% confident, but the girls did everything that we asked of them and that was to perform a zero-deduction routine. We also thought they did a great job at their game-day routines,

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of her. “After that, we decided to run six world majors together,” Perry said. “This year, Shauna and I are finishing our sixth.”

The world majors consist of marathons in six cities: New York, Chicago, Boston, Berlin, London and Tokyo. “Boston is the only one that you have to qualify for,” Boyd explained. Runners in the other marathons are chosen by lottery, or, in some cases, “you have the opportunity to run for charity,” she said. “Whoever sponsors the race has a list of charities you can raise money for.”

For this month’s marathon major in Tokyo, Boyd is raising money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. In Chicago, the family raised funds for Mercy Homes. The charity that they have worked with most closely over the years is Shoe4Africa. Twenty-five years ago, Perry started his own nonprofit and partnered with Shoe4Africa to help build the first children’s hospital in sub-Saharan Africa.

“We wanted to build a cancer hospital for children and just finally broke ground on it three weeks ago,” Perry said. “It’s named after Shauna’s mom. It’s been a great family project we’ve all contributed to.”

“My dad and I are a lot alike,” Boyd said. “We like to have a goal. We’re both kind of, ‘go big or go home.’ We choose things to do because they look hard and ask ourselves, ‘what am I capable of?’”

In addition to running marathons, Boyd has also participated in ultramarathons. In 2021, she took second place out of 45 runners in a 100-mile ultramarathon in Michigan. Starting that year, Boyd started running in a Wonder Woman costume.

“I saw an 81-year-old man in Nevada

CCHS cheer back-to-back state champs

By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

but game day is so subjective and hard and you really never know what they want. But, our girls were loud and clean, and they had a ton of energy. Overall, we were very proud of their performances and what they put on the floor.”

The competition between Corner Canyon and Bingham was extremely tight this year, but the Chargers prevailed because of their Show routine which accounts for 70% of the final score.

“Last year, we won both categories and so it was super easy to feel confident about the final outcome, but this year it was super nerve-wracking,” said Lunt. “I felt some relief when they announced that we won show, but when I could actually take a deep breath was when we got second in the game day categories. That was when I knew that we had it. That moment of relief and joy and knowing that the kids gave their all and that it was enough was amazing! There is nothing like that feeling, and I am so proud of them.”

The team has been led this year by senior captains Ashley Macievic, Lizzie Boyle and Zoe Kener along with Reagan Alle-

man, Izzy Bagley, Nora Balderson, Jordyn Cromar, Paisley Draper, Cambreigh Dykman, Lexi Goodbar, Kyndall Hadfield, Ava Johnson, Sophie Kennedy, Bridgette Marsh, Mylie Matthews, Kate Nelson, Nikelle Nielsen, Maren Orten, Berkley Peay, Paige Rees, Payton Reese, Gigi Skirucha, Brinklee

Tebbs, Ellee Wilder, Sophie Wilson and Elisha Wong.

Lunt was assisted on the coaching staff by Bria Clark, Cameron Larsen, Baylie Clark, Christian Graf, Stephanie Sampson and Michelle Viveiros. l

running a 100-mile race,” she said. “He wore a cool costume—it made everyone smile.”

Boyd spoke of how much she enjoys participating in the big races. “The New York City Marathon was the best,” she said. “It takes you through all five boroughs. It feels like the entire city is lining the streets. It’s really motivating because there are people cheering along the way.”

“My family has these incredible memories to share,” she added. “I have some amazing

supporters, that's for sure! My sister, my dad, and my stepmom have been at every one of my big races, either cheering me on or running with me.”

In preparation for her upcoming marathon in Tokyo, Boyd is at the gym most days at 6 a.m. “I run four days a week, cross-train once a week, take two days off,” she said. “I do three to four days of strength training.” She works with an online coach to plan her workouts. “I don’t want to over-train and get injured,” Boyd

said.

“People might think, ‘I could never do that,’” she said. “But I think people can do anything with the right mindset and the right training.” l

The Corner Canyon High cheer team successfully defended their 6A state championship Jan. 25 at Utah Valley University. (Photo courtesy Whitney Lunt)

Draper runner Shauna Boyd, dressed in her Wonder Woman costume, took a selfie at the Chicago Marathon in October 2023. (Photo courtesy of Shauna Boyd)

Shauna Boyd, front, in her Wonder Woman costume, posed for a picture with members of her extended family at the Brandenburg Gate at the Berlin Marathon in September 2021. (Photo courtesy of Shauna Boyd)

Racing the clock:

Canyons high school students unleash creativity in four-hour art contest

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Jordan High junior Olivia Hill was surrounded by about 60 other high school artists all busily drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking and perfecting other art techniques.

The clock was ticking.

Their mission was to create a piece of work from scratch in four hours. While they could bring in any reference and could explore any medium, there was no theme. Their artwork only had to fit into five categories: fantasy, contemporary, traditional, 3D sculptural and 3D functional.

This is Artstock, Canyons School District’s art competition for students in six high schools: Alta, Brighton, Corner Canyon, Diamond Ridge, Jordan and Hillcrest. A Utah Arts Festival juror would judge their pieces and medals given to the top three in each category as well as best of show and Sweepstakes for best school overall. Every student would receive feedback from the art teachers and the students also could vote for a people’s choice award.

It’s a contest that has been around for at least 20 years.

“Competition brings out the best of us,” Brighton High art teacher Derek Chandler said. “It goes along with Canyons School District’s motto of getting students ready for college and career. This is what artists do. We not only compete with ourselves and try to make a living, whether or not it’s our full-time job, but we create and like to see what others create. This is a good way for students to see all the different spices and varieties, and what’s possible. It advances their own art tremendously. Students are seeing what works, what doesn’t, what others are doing, what’s possible.”

Hill had never participated in an art competition before.

“Just being around other people who like to paint and like art is cool,” she said as she used watercolor on her mermaid painting. “I wanted to do something that had a lot of movement so I thought mermaids and then I thought it would be cool if the mermaid was restrained somehow. I like acrylics but I wanted a challenge so I’m doing watercolor.”

She is enrolled in Advanced Placement Drawing, so she was planning to include this piece of art in her portfolio.

Chandler said that is the point behind not having a theme.

“A lot of these students are AP artists, meaning they submit a portfolio for college credit,” he said. “We wanted to keep the theme open so they could use their artwork from Artstock for that portfolio.”

Jordan High fine arts teacher Collette Baddley said that it’s “an awesome opportunity for them to pursue their interests.”

“My students tell me that it really helps them to learn time and how to pace creating their art,” she said. “They get to see techniques other schools are doing and talk to them about their common interest. I love watching what they come up with; it’s just impressive.”

Nearby, Brighton High’s Corbin Stewart has been doing art ever since he could remember.

At Artstock, he was using dip pens to create a comic art style painting.

“I like the DC Comics art; it’s pretty aesthetic looking,” he said. “I love dip pens and to experiment with textures that they can give me. I prefer how they work compared to other paints because you can do a lot with them.”

The high school junior is looking into architecture as a possible career.

“I thought this would be fun and something I can put on my resume. I can zone out and destress from school. It’s something I enjoy; art has always been a joy for me.”

Nearby Brighton junior Chiara Onwuegbu was using watercolor to create a humorous dog painting.

“I saw this on Pinterest, and I just think it’s funny,” she said. “I think I’m good at drawing animals so I thought I’d do it here. I’m going to put it on my wall of my room. Watercolor works well with this. It’s very forgiving; I can fix things easy. I love the shading that you can do with watercolors.”

Onwuegbu started art lessons in first grade.

“It’s fun, it’s creative, it can make you think, feel and be expressive,” she said. “The best part is finishing. It makes me feel proud at the end, seeing it all come together.”

This year, Alta High won the Sweepstakes, ending Hillcrest High’s two-year winning streak to claim the traveling trophy. Corner Canyon was second and Hillcrest placed third.

Overall individual winners went to Alta’s Blake Carter for best in show and Hillcrest’s Faith Furgeson for people’s choice.

Fantasy category winners were Elizabeth Nelson, Alta, first; Romana Beaver, Jordan, second; and Kripa Thapa, Corner Canyon, third. In contemporary, Mia Bell, Alta, first; Brooklyn Jackson, Corner Canyon, second; and Josilyn Stevens, Jordan, third. In traditional, the winners were Kale Davis, Corner Canyon, first;

Annika Amundson, Hillcrest, second; and McKenna Gibbons, Corner Canyon, third. 3-D functional winners were Evan Wolf, Corner Canyon, first; Taylor Allen, Jordan, second; and Ellie Bouck, Hillcrest, third. 3-D sculpture winning students were Kaden Huffman, Alta, first; Kay Allen, Diamond Ridge, second; and Tyler Pullmer, Hillcrest, third.

Honorable mentions went to Brighton’s Ohwnuegbu; Corner Canyon’s Vivian Huh, Alex Jensen, and Sarah Naylor; Diamond Ridge’s Hailey Dyoree; Jordan’s Grace Mahoney and Lynslie Calacino; and Hillcrest’s Cecily Bennett, Cassidy Boykin and Ares Lou. l

About 60 Canyons School District high school students took in the four-hour Artstock competition where they could explore any medium in the District-wide contest. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Painting was just one of several mediums high school students chose during the annual Canyons School District Artstock competition. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Four years later, decision regarding Geneva Rock’s expansion at POM still looms

Four years ago, a decision on the hotly contested issue of whether or not Geneva Rock could expand their operations at the Point of the Mountain (POM) seemed imminent. Geneva had applied to the city for a rezone of approximately 75 acres from agricultural to manufacturing. Draper’s planning commission forwarded a negative recommendation to Draper’s city council and the council was scheduled to vote on the matter March 25, 2020. The pandemic struck and that meeting never happened.

The city hoped to negotiate with Geneva. “The ball was in their court,” Mayor Troy Walker said in a previous interview. He hoped the public would understand the potential benefit to a negotiation versus the risk of having a judge decide. “It’s always better to make a deal because you get something from it,” Walker said at the time.

But Geneva Rock pursued other avenues to bypass the city’s local zoning ordinances. In August of 2022, they requested a ruling on the matter from the Division of Oil, Gas & Mining (DOGM), indicating that they’d be mining at the site. Walker commented at the time, “Their goal is to show that they are a mining operation, that they are no longer a sand and gravel operation. You become a mine especially if you extract a mineral. They claim they extract

By Mimi Darley Dutton | m.dutton@mycityjournals.com

quartz. If they are declared a mine, they are regulated exclusively by DOGM.”

Meanwhile, Draper City chose to fight Geneva in the court system. “Draper City asserts that Geneva’s operations at The Point of the Mountain Quarry do not meet the definition in Utah code of ‘vested mining use’ and Geneva must comply with Draper’s zoning laws,” said a September 2022 city statement.

This February, Draper City notified residents that arguments for a summary judgment were presented in court Jan. 31, that the judge would deliberate, and the city expected a final decision toward the end of March.

Walker explained, “We’re trying to win an upfront motion. If we win, the case is over. If we lose, we’re going to trial.” He estimates the city has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees, a fight that he and the council feel is worth it. “Because if you look at the parcel of property they have, they can cut a giant V in the middle of Steep Mountain,” he said.

Meanwhile, Geneva and other companies have pursued state legislative action that would override cities’ land use authority for their business purposes. There’s one bill in the House (HB502) and one in the Senate (SB172) this session.

The court decision expected in late March would be moot if either of the bills currently

being considered by the legislature is passed. The legislative session ends March 1.

“They’re equally horrible bills for city land use control. Gravel becomes king in a way that any business in Utah would enjoy. It’s like picking a specific sector of commerce and saying it’s more important than citizens… it eviscerates local land use authority. These problems shouldn’t be rushed through a 45-

day legislative session....Everyone should have a say and there should be a way to compromise on these things. When someone buys a house, they should be able to expect to not have a gravel mine in their neighborhood,” Walker said.

A spokesperson for Geneva could not be reached for comment at press time. l

Why A Locally Owned, Family Operated Mortuary Really Matters

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For more information, please visit www.larkinmortuary.com or call (801) 363-5781 for an appointment with an experienced funeral director.

This map from Geneva Rock circa 2020 shows areas (highlighted in pink) where the company could potentially expand their sand and gravel operations at The Point of the Mountain. (Courtesy Draper City)

The cost to play high school sports may increase next school year

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

The cost to participate in high school athletics in Canyons School District may increase next school year, but District officials say it’s to match inflation and the rising costs associated with sports.

The proposed bump “isn’t unusual; it occurs every couple years,” said Canyons School District Director of High Schools Tom Sherwood.

“The UHSAA (Utah High School Activities Association) has had an increase for the cost of officials the past few years; they’re paying more to attract more officials, so we have to account for that,” Sherwood said. “We don’t raise fees every year. We try to phase them in.”

One of the least expensive sports, cross country is proposed to cost a maximum of $2,560 per student-athlete, up $265 from last year and up $655 from 2021-22 season. While the UHSAA participation fee has increased $40 during the past few years, camp costs have increased $325 and team travel, $250.

Cheer, one of the more expensive sports, has risen from $3,950 in 2021-22 to a proposed $4,240. However, the increased from last year to this year is only $40. During the past couple years, UHSAA participation fees have remained the same, but its camps, clinics and team meals that have fluctuated.

“We tried to equalize the sports in terms of travel and camps and clinics. There’s no reason to have a camp and clinics cap different by sport. It should be the same for all sports and the same can be said for travel,” he said.

Canyons’ proposed camp and clinic maximum within each sport is $400. Travel, at $1,500, matches the current school year’s maximum cost.

“It’s important to realize that the maximum amount per student in athletics and in activities is $5,000. That doesn’t mean every student will reach that amount. Last year, we only had one student who did. It also doesn’t mean every coach will spend $1,500 per student on travel; we’re setting the boundaries and trying to make it fair across the board,” he said. “All this money goes to that program and to kids by rule. We don’t use it to pay for anything outside of that program or for the kids. None of this goes into the coaches’ pockets or to the school. This is just the operational costs for these activities. A few years ago, the (Utah) legislature made it so every activity had to be self-funded. The kids have to pay whatever it costs to play that activity. So, when the activities become more expensive than what we’re collecting, we got to adjust it.”

Canyons School District’s fees also increased for soccer, golf, track and volleyball. The proposed fees for Canyons’ sports and

In Canyons School District, cross country and other UHSAA-sanctioned sports may experience a price increase next school year by its school board to cover rising costs. Other school districts’ school boards also will review athletic fees. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)

activities can be found at www.feeschedules. canyonsdistrict.org/#/home/700.

The student fee proposal will be reviewed by the Canyons Board of Education through its March 12 meeting, said Canyons spokeswoman Kirsten Stewart. Patrons can address the Board through public comment or by contacting their school’s Board member.

“No child has ever been turned away from an activity,” Stewart said. “We always work with families.”

Families who qualify can apply for fee waivers. Schools, on a case-by-case basis, may grant fee waivers to a student who does not qualify for a waiver, but because of extenuating circumstances, is not capable of paying the fee, she said.

Sherwood added that most teams also provide fundraising opportunities.

The cost of student fees for athletics and activities is reviewed annually by school districts. While each district may break it down differently and can vary per sport, usually it accounts for participation fee, camps and clinics, uniforms and clothing, team activities and meals, travel and miscellaneous costs.

Murray School District’s proposed student fees for the 2024-25 school year can be found at www.murrayschools.org/highschool-fees.

Jordan School District’s proposed student fees for the 2024-25 school year can be found at www.proposedfees.jordandistrict. org/schedule/high.

Granite Board of Education will review their high school student fees at a March meeting, said spokesman Ben Horsley. l

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From the stage to the heart: Summit Academy’s ‘Seussical, Jr.’ inspires passion and friendships

Afew days after closing Summit Academy’s “Seussical the Musical, Jr.,” fifth-grade Lucas Bradshaw reflected on his experience.

The highlights weren’t singing or dancing in a few numbers, but rather, the cast.

“It was a really good opportunity to meet new people and spend more time with my (seventh-grade) sister,” he said. “I have a ton of friends who I can look forward to spending time with in middle school.”

Forming friendships was a common outcome among those in the musical and for choosing it in the first place, said director Aimee Rohling.

“It has a good message—a person’s a person no matter how small—so it’s about considering others and seeing things from somebody else’s perspective,” she said. “It’s about friends and supporting others when they’re going through a tough time.”

Thirty-five students in the production were supported by a 24-member stage tech class in the show that was performed in late January to packed audiences. Rehearsals began after the October auditions, which were open to fifth graders for the first time.

“We’re one school and they’re housed in this junior high hall now, so it was a great opportunity to include them,” Rohling said.

Seventh-grader Elsa Thomas chose and performed her 1-minute audition song, “I’m Just Ken.”

“It’s a fun show, so I picked a fun song,” she said.

Sixth-grader Laynie Bell, who grew up with family members involved in theater, said she auditioned because “I’m happier when I’m performing; it’s so much fun.”

Laynie portrayed the Cat in the Hat, the show’s narrator. She was joined by eighth-grader Will Stoker as Horton; seventh-grader Clara Hughes as Gertrude; sixth-grader Shelby Reardon as Mayzie; and sixth-grader Brett Carpenter as JoJo.

Eighth-grader Gianna Davis joined Rohling in directing the show.

Rohling said it was a student-driven production. She’d often empowered them, asking, “What can we do next? What do you want it to look like?”

“It’s always a highlight, seeing them teach each other, using their strengths to help everybody be better. We’d break into groups and every time, someone would step up, feeling confident with this part and lead the others through it,” she said.

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

fun that kids are going to enjoy sinking their teeth into,” she said.

During a typical school year, more than 100 students are involved in drama in either the musical or enrolled in one of the five theater classes during the school year, which is about 35% of student body.

“Theater is one of the best places to learn transferable skills no matter what you want to do in life. They’re learning teamwork and gaining confidence; they’re learning how to clearly communicate and being able to think on their feet. I tell them when they leave here, they should feel comfortable working with a group of people they’re not that familiar with and will not freak out speaking to a group of people they don’t know. They will have job interviews one day where they will speak to people they don’t know and theater will make them comfortable doing so. They’re having real world human interactions, which is becoming more important every year,” she said.

Rohling first got involved in theater as a preteen.

“We had some really exceptional sixthgrade singers this year, so they were helping their peers learn the music.”

Students also directed the art used for publicity for the show. Three students designed two program covers so they were both used throughout the run of the show and another student designed the flier that was distributed.

Stage crew students helped design the set and backdrops.

“We used a wooden box and painted it like a piano and pretended to play,” Shelby said.

Her mother, Megan, was a parent volunteer and music director.

“With the help of my music director, they had the opportunity to record their own background vocals for this show; they met with her over and she used her sound equipment and her studio,” Rohling said. “She took them through all of their singing parts and then they recorded it so when they are singing on stage, they had their own voices for their background. It was a new experience for them.”

That was an experience seventh-grader Clara appreciated.

“It was really cool to sing the music in the background and record it; it was awesome,” she said.

The show was supported by 10 parent volunteers who helped from hair and makeup to concessions and selling tickets.

Bluffdale Arts and Sandy Arts provided costumes for the student thespians.

The students learned to walk in heels and to quickly make costume changes that involved tails as well as learned how to improvise and recover from missteps.

They also learned stage skills.

“We learned timing and how to show more feelings, like having a giant smile to oversell our emotions,” Elsa said.

While Shelby said they learned to better project their voices, Laynie recalls working on diction, “especially on the rhyming, wonky words.”

“Seussical” was the 16th show performed at Summit Academy.

“I like watching their journey. I like watching them take it and just become more confident; I love watching them develop their talents,” Rohling said. “It is super fun to see it be sprung on the unsuspecting family or audience who think they know everything about their kid and then, see the kid do something they didn’t know they could do or that they weren’t expecting. I love watching that every single time.”

Next year’s production will be a yet to be announced play.

“When selecting our production, I look for opportunities for everybody to shine in some way. I look for something the audience can take away from the show for their own personal lives and something

“I was 11 and I watched the Tony Awards and the way they told those stories that can drag you in, just clicked. My family took me to plays relatively quickly after—when you experience theater in real life, I knew I wanted to do that,” she said.

Her first role at age 12 was a townsperson in “Cinderella, Jr.” in South Jordan.

“One of the fun parts of theater, and I still see it with my students, is forming relationships, the inside jokes, the time spent together and doing something creative and different with people every day,” Rohling said. “At the end, you feel so accomplished when you’re able to show it to people and that they appreciate it.”

Laynie agrees: “Seeing everything come together was awesome.”

“It actually surprised me that it did, but everyone got along, and we worked together,” Shelby said.

After those closing moments, they received hugs from teachers, families and friends and received praise. They remembered comments from one gentleman telling them that they “were as good as those on Broadway” to a youngster poking Clara saying, “she really is real.”

However, the highlight for them was “more than anything, the friendships,” said Elsa, who was echoed by her new theater friends. l

About 60 students took part in this year’s musical, “Seussical Jr.,” at Summit Academy. (Photo courtesy of Summit Academy)

Corner Canyon senior shares

It takes a lot for a two-time All-State pole vaulter to walk away from the sport she was dreaming of competing in college in, but that’s where Corner Canyon High School senior Emma Hamblin found herself last summer. After battling through anxiety for more than a year, she “chose myself over my sport.” This journey opened up a world Hamblin was unfamiliar with and one where she felt there were limited resources and assistance available within what she knew. The more she learned, the more she felt that she couldn’t be the only one looking for help in her struggles.

As a DECA officer at CCHS, she wanted to do something about that, so she organized the “Mindset For Success” event where mental performance coach Nicole Detling, Ph.D., spoke in early December to more than 100 team captains of the Chargers athletics teams.

“In surveying the athletes at our school prior to holding this event, I was shocked to hear that 88% of them admitted that they were dealing with some type of mental health challenge,” Hamblin said. “The national average is 40%, so I knew we were on to something that deserved our attention.”

At the event, Detling—who owns HeadStrong Consulting in South Jordan—discussed with the athletes the role that she plays in helping others as a coach rather than a therapist. “In my company, we talk about how we put the fence at the top of the cliff so people are less likely to need the ambulance down in the valley,” she said. “So, I work to optimize performance through mental skills training. While on the same continuum as mental illness, I work on the opposite end with the purpose of optimizing mental health.”

Detling said that typically athletes at the high school level deal mostly with emotional management, such as anxiety and handling adversity, and confidence. “Knowing this, I went into specific skills [including goal setting and emotional and breathing techniques] they can utilize in ways to optimize their mental health and ultimately their athletic performances,” she said. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Corner Canyon athletes and found them to

be receptive to the skills I was teaching them. They were fun to talk to.”

Detling added, “I am so proud of Emma for recognizing this resource and pulling it all together so her fellow athletes at CCHS could learn some mental performance skills.”

“We made attendance by the team captains mandatory because we felt the message was so important,” Hamblin said. “We learned a lot of practical ways to deal with our anxieties and stresses. The feedback afterwards was really positive. People loved it and said they really benefitted from what they learned. The administration also felt that it was ‘so impactful.’”

Emma Hamblin, the daughter of Lance and Marion (Meyer) Hamblin of Draper— who met as pole vaulters at Utah State—got a front-row seat to the realities of mental health just prior to the 6A state track championships in May of 2022 when, during practice, she suddenly began shaking, couldn’t breathe, be-

came dizzy and her body tensed up. Her dad, who is the CCHS pole vaulting coach, was right there trying to help her through what she was experiencing for the first time: a panic attack.

“I had no idea what was going on. It was so scary,” said Hamblin, who, as a sophomore, went on to place fifth for the second consecutive year at the 6A state meet. Following what she now knew were multiple panic attacks over the next month, she reluctantly pulled out of the Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships that summer. “I really wanted to go. It would have been at San Diego State, which was my dream school to compete at and I knew those coaches would be there,” she said. “But, I didn’t go.”

Instead, she worked with Detling over the next several months to find the source of this newly-discovered struggle. “What I realized was that I was putting a lot of pressure on myself and pole vaulting was simply consum-

athletes

ing my life. That’s who I was,” Hamblin said. “We went back to the basics with shorter runs and smaller poles, taking some time off and competing in long jump just for fun. Starting all over put pole vault in the background, and I started to see that I was so much more than just my sport.”

So, after her junior season, Hamblin put the pole aside for good. “Anxiety was just consuming me and when I actually decided I was done, I felt such relief. The weight that just lifted off of me helped me to really know that I had made the right decision,” she said. “My parents were right there with me through it all. They had seen the year of work where I was trying and pushing to get past things mentally and they knew that I had given everything.”

Since then, the senior said she is doing well and is “the happiest I’ve ever been,” spending her time on schoolwork, CrossFit and DECA. Her last panic attack was three months ago so she began medication to help her further prioritize and regulate her mental health.

Hamblin hopes Corner Canyon will continue events like these in the future that will keep an emphasis on helping athletes and others with their mental health and encourages other schools to also prioritize this education and training for their campuses.

“I want to continue to spread awareness about mental health in athletes and hopefully inspire more people to hold similar events for their student-athletes,” she said. “At our schools, there aren’t many resources and no one really talks about it so you almost feel like no one cares about it. We may not want to admit that there is a need, but the reality is that mental health is an issue, and we need to open our eyes so we can see it and open our mouths so we can talk about it.”

Hamblin’s new “dream” is to be a sports psychologist and she’ll head to Utah State in the fall to begin her pursuit so that she can help “others who are going through it find ways to be helped through it.”l

Captains of the Corner Canyon High athletic teams attended a “Mindset for Success” event organized by senior Emma Hamblin, who competed as an All-State pole vaulter from 2021 to 2023. Nicole Detling, Ph.D., a mental performance coach, spoke to more than 100 Chargers athletes in December about mental skills training and optimizing mental health. (Photos courtesy Emma Hamblin)

As I’ve gotten older (but never wiser), I expected the hot flashes, mood swings and irritability. What I didn’t expect was that my age would turn my hair into a mortal enemy. Each morning, I stare in the mirror and prepare for what feels like a battle to the death.

If the indignity of having my face turn a heat-blasting shade of scarlet at any given moment wasn’t enough, I suddenly developed cowlicks along my hairline, giving my head the appearance of constant swirling, like Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” My hair suddenly changed directions and refused to be bullied into lying flat.

In fairness, my hair and I have been through some stuff. We endured the spongy, pink curlers mom twisted onto my head every Saturday night. We survived my feathery Farrah Fawcett era, the spiral perms, the lemon bleaching in the summer, the sky-high bangs of the ’80s and a decade of nothing but ponytails when my daughters were little.

Maybe my hair never forgave me because now there is no amount of styling products or heated irons that make my hair manageable. It usually looks like newlywed hawks nested on my head to raise their young.

After another morning struggling to arrange my hair in some semblance of

Letting my hair down

control, I threw my hair straightener down the hall and burst into tears. My husband walked out of his office and asked what was wrong. I pointed at my head and kept bawling.

“I don’t care if your hair looks like a tornado emoji,” he said. “You’re always beautiful to me.”

“I don’t want to be beautiful to you,” I sobbed. “I want to be beautiful to complete strangers.”

He doesn’t get it. Men can be bald or gray or have a comb-over or just a Van Dyke beard and they’ll still be considered handsome, even distinguished. But if a woman can’t style her hair using a tube sock, a bottle of mousse and a barrette, the TikTok police jump out of nowhere and create harsh videos for public shaming.

But it’s not just the random cowlicks that give my scalp the appearance of a tropical storm weather map, it’s the breakage and the sensitive scalp and the way my

hair just refuses to comply. My hair breaks so often, it looks like my stylist started to give me a bowl cut and then got bored after trimming the first layer.

I’ve invested in expensive shampoos and luxury leave-in conditioners with no effect. My hair just twirls insolently from my head. I purchased soft brushes and vitamin supplements and I paid someone good money to rub my scalp for 45 minutes. The pampering hasn’t paid off.

There’s no such thing as “styling” my hair. I have to distract it, wrestle it into place, staple it down and spray it with a light coat of cement. It doesn’t matter.

Within minutes it’s spinning around my face like it drank too many mimosas for breakfast.

Maybe the lack of compliance is the reason many older women end up cutting their hair into cute pixie styles, easy crops or elegant bobs. But my face is too round for a short haircut. I end up looking like a basketball wearing a toupee.

I hope at some point my hair and I can become friends again. Between my mood swings and hot flashes, I don’t have the patience to be irritated at one more thing.