- Sarah Pace from Bear River High won the 2026 Sterling Scholar Award.
- She aims to work with NASA and grow plants on Mars in future.
- The event awarded $80,000 in scholarships to top Utah high school scholars.
SALT LAKE CITY — When the day comes that plants are growing on Mars, Bear River High School's Sarah Pace may well be their "gardener."
Working with NASA and cultivating flora on the red planet are just two goals for the Box Elder County teen who was named the 2026 Deseret News/KSL General Sterling Scholar, topping a field Thursday of 168 Sterling Scholar finalists from 79 Utah high schools along the Wasatch Front.
Pace and her fellow Sterling Scholars competed across 14 different academic categories, ranging from mathematics and family and consumer sciences — to dance and world languages.
The annual award ceremony was hosted at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Bountiful Regional Center in North Salt Lake.
"It's amazing to be recognized for the work that I've done," Pace told the Deseret News moments after claiming both the General Sterling Scholar and science top prizes.
"I have dedicated a lot of my life to science — I'm actually going to be presenting (my research) at the International Science and Engineering Fair coming in May. But it's amazing to be awarded for something that doesn't usually get recognized in schools, or get lots of funding."
Pace was raised in a science-loving family. Her father works at Utah State University and her mother is a middle school science teacher.
"My parents have always been focused on answering my questions scientifically and making sure I understand how the world around me works," she said.
"So they naturally instilled that interest in me. And as I've gotten into my high school years, and I've had more opportunities to explore this amazing field of science, I have just learned to love it.
"I love finding new things and learning new pieces of material about the world around us."
Thursday's prestigious academic honor was not the first for Pace. Last year, she received a first-place award from NASA at the Ritchey Science and Engineering Fair.
And she's well-rounded — serving as senior class vice president, mentoring middle school students and competing in cross-country and track.
Pace will soon be attending USU and plans to major in plant science research and physics before pursuing graduate studies in the field.
A gathering of young Utah scholars
Thursday's celebration of academic excellence marked the continuation of Utah's elite high school scholarship competition that began in 1962. The Deseret News and KSL Television launched the program decades ago to bring attention to young students excelling in scholastics, leadership and citizenship.
This year, more than 1,500 seniors from across Utah were selected by their schools to receive the title of Sterling Scholar.
Approximately $80,000 in scholarships were awarded Thursday to top Utah high school scholars by the Deseret News, KSL, the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, and Deseret Management Corp.
The event highlights the achievements of young Utah scholars in various fields, such as music, business, computer technology, dance, English, family and consumer sciences, mathematics, science, skilled and technical sciences, social sciences, speech and theater arts, visual arts, and world languages.
Each of the academics participating in Thursday's event had advanced through progressive rounds of judging.
The program was hosted by veteran KSL journalists Deanie Wimmer and Kevin Eubank.
Special awards were also presented to a pair of high-achieving Utah high schoolers.
Marjorie Morley of the American Leadership Academy received the Gail Miller Community Service Award, which celebrates the world-changing power of community service. Included with the award is a $2,000 scholarship.
Morley has been involved in a variety of charitable activities that include crafting thousands of blankets for refugees and first responders — and organizing a food drive that included the assembly of more than 270 meal kits.
In a videotaped message, Gail Miller saluted each of Thursday's Sterling Scholar Finalists.
"The hard work and the long hours you've dedicated to ensure a bright future will leave a lasting positive influence on you, your family, your friends and your community," she said.
Om Sanghvi, a senior at Hillcrest High School, was Thursday's recipient of the Philo T. Farnsworth Governor's Award recognizing student innovation. The award is named in tribute to Utahn Philo T. Farnsworth, who is widely considered the father of television.
Sanghvi, who was also a finalist in the computer technology category, has earned top placements in national and international programming competitions, developed an award-winning microplastic purification system and has conducted research at the University of Utah.
Utah's 2026 Sterling Scholar category honorees
Johnathan Chen from Skyline High School was awarded first place.
Runners-up: Brighten Braegger, Weber High School; Isaac Arens, Cottonwood High School.
Grant Larsen from Farmington High School was awarded first place.
Runners-up: Zachary Su, Corner Canyon High School; Ezra Jones, Davis High School.
Bella Fillmore from Timpview High School was awarded first place.
Runners-up: Foss Goodwin, West High School; Shelby Warner, Skyridge High School.
Ella Astudillo from Hillcrest High School was awarded first place.
Runners-up: Lien Hoa Torres, Highland High School; Katherine Downs, DaVinci Academy.
Elise Jensen from Brighton High School was awarded first place.
Runners-up: Rachel Ryu, Timpview High School; Maya Huntinghouse, Northridge High School.
Jacob Thiriot from Viewmont High School was awarded first place.
Runners-up: Samuel Matthew Miller, American Fork High School; Atlas Hutchins, Brighton High School.
Bryce Holland from Academy for Math, Engineering and Science was awarded first place.
Runners-up: Wilson St. Martin, Hillcrest High School; Juntian Deng, Skyline High School.
Sarah Pace from Bear River High School was awarded first place.
Runners-up: Senya Walker, Hillcrest High School; Rockland Stout, Stansbury High School.
Naomi (Mimi) Mills from Olympus High School was awarded first place.
Runners-up: Beneen Al-Saedy, Copper Hills High School; Khevna Navin, Skyline High School.
Colin Wallace from West High School was awarded first place.
Runners-up: Anna Clayton, Olympus High School; Asher Joseph Harmon, East High School.
Leif Kious from Highland High School was awarded first place.
Runners-up: Mary Ann Jensen, Brighton High School; Penelope Miller, West High School.
Emma Lewis from Beehive Academy was awarded first place.
Runners-up: Emily Parker, Salem Hills High School; Iosepa Reyes, Mountain View High School.
Ashley Barnum from Herriman High School was awarded first place.
Runners-up: Anneli Abbott, Skyridge High School; Emma Lamm, Maple Mountain High School.
Brielle Gulbrandsen from Mountain Ridge High School was awarded first place.
Runners-up: Adelaide Wingate, Timpview High School; Andie Anderson, Alta High School.
Most recent Education stories
Related topics
Jason Swensen
