Many students at Willow Canyon Elementary may not know Elijah Bludworth, but that wasn’t their primary concern when they took action to support him.
Bludworth, now a sophomore at Alta High, was once a student at Willow Canyon.
Patricia Morrison, his fifth-grade teacher, explained, “Once a…” before two student council members, Daphne Rich and Dylan Hose, chimed in: “Wildcat, always a Wildcat.”
The Willow Canyon Wildcats take care of their own and in this case, the 12-member student council led a fundraising campaign for Bludworth, who is battling cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.
One of their efforts included hanging a large banner on Bludworth’s garage and tying ribbons in Willow Canyon’s school colors around his home. The act was captured by the family’s security camera, which Bludworth’s parents watched from a hospital waiting room.
“Elijah was actually in surgery, and my husband and I were in the waiting room, panicking, because when he was in the ICU, and they kept telling us, ‘if he lays down flat, he’ll die,’” his mother, Shannon Bludworth, said. “Then, they decided to perform surgery on him lying down, so we were terrified.”
Amid their worries, their phone’s Ring camera notification went off.
“My husband looked at it, and said, ‘Oh my gosh, look at these kids, and that’s his (former) teacher.’ We started bawling in the waiting room, and all the other parents who were in the waiting room and heard what was going on, came to watch on our phone when the kids put up the banner,” she said. “It was really cool.”
Once Bludworth came out of surgery, he was also
able to see the heartwarming gesture.
At Willow Canyon, students created posters and collected donations for “Elijah Strong,” and the student leaders distributed silicone bracelets with the same message.
“We wanted everyone at Willow Canyon to show their support with the bracelets and also, to bring $1,” Dylan said. “We raised a lot more than our goal of $300.”
According to Morrison, the total raised was closer to $1,800 in cash, in addition to gift cards.
Dylan explained each student council representative worked with a specific classroom to collect funds for Bludworth. Many students brought in baggies filled with pennies, nickels and dimes.
“Everyone’s piggy banks added up to help raise the funds,” said teacher Wendy Winzenried, noting one student even raised $40 to contribute. “People were very generous; we were blown away.”
Daphne said the students wanted Bludworth to know they are supporting him on his journey.
“We knew he’d be in and out of the hospital for a really long time, and we wanted to get him stuff that he could do,” she said. “We know he likes videogames, so maybe he could get a Nintendo Switch or something else he’d like. It felt good knowing we were helping someone and every dollar we collected was going to his family.”
In addition to money, students also gathered video games, which they planned to exchange at GameStop for ones Bludworth would enjoy. Bludworth, who would turn 16 in late January, is a fan of the San Francisco 49ers and enjoys learning about whales and sharks.
Morrison and Winzenried, the student council advisers, delivered the poster and a basket of gifts to the Blud-
Willow Canyon student council member Daphne Rich collects a donation from fifth-grader Ari Boye for the school’s “Elijah Strong” campaign. (Photo courtesy of Willow Canyon Elementary)
worth home. Before they left the school, a photo was taken of the student council members with the poster. The Bludworth family sent a photo in return, with their son and family holding the same poster.
In a letter, the family expressed their gratitude: “Your Elijah Strong project brought us so much light in a dark time” and provided sparkly lights, which reminded them of the “sparks of light you gave us.”
Morrison said this sentiment was fitting.
“Elijah has the biggest heart,” she said.
Bludworth’s mother shared how Willow Canyon has supported her son, who also has a severe intellectual disability.
“School is difficult for him and often, he didn’t understand was going on, but the teachers were wonderful and loved him and made him feel like he was a part of the class,” she said.
His diagnosis came as a shock to his family.
“We learned he was diagnosed on Oct. 27,” Shannon Bludworth said. “It came out of nowhere. There were no symptoms. I thought he was having an asthma attack because the night before he told me he was having a hard time swallowing. The next morning, he woke up, and said, ‘I can’t breathe.’ His inhaler wasn’t helped so we took him to Alta View Hospital and within an hour, they were sending us via ambulance to Primary Children’s Hospital and diagnosed him with cancer.”
The doctors discovered a large tumor blocking his airway, compressing his blood vessels and arteries.
“He had multiple blood clots so he wasn’t getting any oxygen and his trachea was almost completely closed off. For nine days he was in the ICU and had to sit up
so he wouldn’t choke. They were able to get some chemo in him to try and shrink the tumor a bit. It was rough; he was in the hospital for almost one month,” she said.
Bludworth, who had played freshman football at Alta High, is now undergoing chemotherapy four days a week. His treatment plan includes a weekly lumbar puncture, during which doctors place him under anesthesia to administer chemo directly into his spine and cerebral spinal fluid. His mother said the treatment is for an aggressive form of cancer and treatments are slated for more than two years.
Ken Rowley, the principal of Alta High, and a school counselor also visited Bludworth, bringing a poster from his Alta classmates.
“We’re trying to keep him in a safe environment because (we don’t want him
to get) an infection so we don’t expect he will be able to be at school for the rest of the year,” his mother said. “That’s why he was so excited when we showed him what the Willow Canyon students did when they
put up the banner. The kids all waved and told him they were rooting for him. It was so tender and sweet. It meant a lot.” l
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Willow Canyon student council members led the “Elijah Strong” campaign for a former Willow Canyon student who is battling an aggressive form of cancer. (Photo courtesy of Willow Canyon Elementary)
Willow Canyon alumnus and current Alta High sophomore Elijah Bludworth and his family were grateful for the poster, donations and gift basket current Willow Canyon students gave. (Photo courtesy of Bludworth family)
Salt Lake County works to provide safe travel during winter weather conditions
By Collette Hayes | c.hayes@mycityjournals.com
Utah is known for its “cold smoke” powder snow. Certainly, from the standpoint of skiing and snowboarding, a convincing argument can be made that the “Greatest Snow on Earth” can be found in Utah. The famous snow, created from unique environmental conditions, may be unsurpassed on the planet for its quality. However, it can also turn a routine morning commute into quite a hazardous ordeal.
When the snow flies in Utah, the Salt Lake County Public Works Operations team rolls across the valley with large snow removal vehicles loaded with salt and equipped with 12-foot-wide, 2,000-pound blades to promote safe travel during winter weather conditions. The team works around the clock to ensure safe, accessible roads for residents throughout Salt Lake County.
According to the Director of Salt Lake County Public Works Operations, Steven Kuhlmeier, the Public Works team comprises about 81 department employees operating 60 large plows. The team is on standby 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Kuhlmeier says the goal is to address snow and ice events in contracted jurisdictions within 36 hours after the end of a storm. When a snow event occurs, street maintenance in the community is addressed according to a priority plan. First, the main arterial roads and priority roadways that provide access for emergency vehicles are cleared. Next, attention is given to school routes and areas in high-
er elevations and arterial streets in steeper neighborhoods. Snow plows then move on to public transportation routes and residential streets. Cul-de-sacs and dead ends, which are the most challenging to clear, are managed last.
“When dispatching our drivers, we have two snow supervisors for each day and night shifts who split up the valley” Kuhlmeier said. “They are monitoring weather conditions and assessing any reports coming in from law enforcement as well as going out and making inspections. So, we are not necessarily waiting for snow to be on the ground. If we are seeing what could possibly be icy or unsafe conditions, we will go out and wet the asphalt with a brine salt water solution which helps to mitigate ice formation and makes it easier for the drivers to plow and to get the salt down later.”
The drivers face several challenges that affect the effectiveness of snow removal in neighborhoods. Parked cars create an unsafe situation for trucks trying to pass, often leading to roads being skipped. However, the driver will frequently try to circle back, check for clearance, and try to plow again, which can cause delays in other areas needing service.
Many times, people assume an area hasn’t been cleared, but often, this is due to residents blowing snow back into already-cleared roads. This can create icy or unsafe conditions. Blowing snow back onto a resident’s property is best practice
for helping keep roads safe. When residents are clearing out the drive approach, it is advised to push the snow with the flow of traffic so the plows don’t push it right back into the drive approach. Additionally, navigating around garbage cans and untrimmed trees can be difficult for a 12-foot-wide plow. Following local ordinances and keeping trees trimmed improve access for plow drivers.
Cul-de-sacs and dead ends are specific challenges for drivers providing service. When drivers have difficulties navigating plows in these areas, such as when snow cannot be removed for various reasons or the truck cannot be turned around, more seasoned drivers may back the truck in and drop salt to help reduce the severity of ice and snow.
Have you ever wondered how soon your area will receive plowing service during a large snow event? To address these questions and concerns, Salt Lake County has provided an online Plow Tracker tool. This tool shows the locations of the snowplow trucks and highlights the areas that have recently been plowed.
“All of our trucks are equipped with a GPS that registers where the trucks are and when the plow blades are down,” Kuhlmeier said. “This is a publicly accessible tool that can show where drivers have
plowed within the past 12 to 48 hours. The tool can be accessed by visiting your city’s public works or county website. It allows citizens to see where we have been providing service. Also, we have 24-hour dispatch to address and track concerns.”
Great snow brings great responsibility. Salt Lake County Public Works asks residents to remember to be patient during large snow events, avoid parking on the street, understand minor arterial roads are lower priority, avoid blowing snow into the street when clearing walkways and driveways, and when cleaning out a driveway approach, push snow with the flow of the traffic.
Few things are as reassuring to a snowed-in neighborhood as the sight of flashing white lights piercing through the heavy snowfall and the deep rumbling sound of a snowplow blade scraping against the snow-covered asphalt. Snow removal is an essential service that helps ensure a safer, more accessible community.
If you have questions or concerns about snow removal in your area, use the Salt Lake County online Plow Tracker citizeninsights.geotab.com/#/pwops, call 24hour dispatch 385-468-6101, or email Salt Lake County Public Works Operations, pwops-online@saltlakecounty.gov. l
Salt Lake County Public Works Operations asks residents to remember to be patient during large snow events, avoid parking on the street, understand minor arterial roads are lower priority, avoid blowing snow into the street when clearing walkways and driveways, and when cleaning out a driveway approach, push snow with the flow of the traffic. (Photo courtesy Salt Lake County Public Works Operations)
Few things are as reassuring to a snowed-in neighborhood as the sight of flashing white lights piercing through the heavy snowfall and the deep rumbling sound of a snowplow blade scraping against the snow-covered asphalt. (Photo courtesy Salt Lake County Public Works Operations)
Career ready: Young Professionals Summit preps Canyons students for the workforce
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Hillcrest High junior Allisson Guerrero knows the importance of preparing for a job interview.
At the recent Canyons School District’s Young Professionals Summit, she learned essential tips from industry professionals: “what to do, what not to do, what to wear, how to ask questions to the employer, to always make sure to email them after your interview, and it’s OK to include high school activities on the resume that relate to the job and highlight them during the interview.”
More than 100 students from Canyons’ five comprehensive high schools attended the summit, featuring keynote speaker entrepreneur Bryce Smith from Beacon Medical Products. Students participated in workshops on professionalism with Sarah Simpson from the Utah Transit Authority, communication skills with Alyssa Olsen from Cyprus Credit Union, and interview techniques with Shaylee Pulham and Shari Laney from Prestige Financial Services.
Guerrero found the experience valuable.
“It was a good experience and very hands-on,” she said. “It was good being able to mix in with students for the other schools and learn to ask questions and network. I found the interview tips to be the helpful. I learned how to talk professionally with someone older than me and questions I need to be prepared for.”
The summit originated from a spring breakfast with Canyons’ work-based learning department’s business partners, said Janet Jefferson, Alta High’s work-based learning coordinator.
“We asked them, as educators, ‘What are some skills you feel students need more of as they move into the workforce?’” she said. “They came up with being able to interview well and present themselves professionally, having communication skills, working as a team and networking.”
These skills formed the foundation of the summit, with professionals leading breakout sessions to help students build confidence for their future careers.
The keynote speaker is an Alta alumnus and former aerospace engineer; he shared insights from his transition into the medical device industry.
“Bryce talked about the root of inspire, which comes from the Latin words ‘to breathe into’ to motivate students to be successful,” Jefferson said.
Smith shared the acronym of CPR — creativity, perception and reliability — as qualities essential for success.
“He said the C is to be creative and innovative, to look for ways to solve problems in a creative way,” Jefferson said.
“Then, the P to be perceptive, to notice details, to pay attention to what’s going on, to perceive what needs to be done and do it. The R is to be reliable, to be somebody people can count on, and to do what needs to be done and what you’ve been assigned to do.”
Hillcrest junior Prajeet Verma appreciated the message.
“His speech was essentially telling us to trust in ourselves and to be curious,” he said. “Don’t let other people tell you what is a good or isn’t a good idea.”
Guerrero appreciated hearing how Smith was able to “switch careers and still love what he’s doing.”
Verma said many of the workshops focused on effective communication and presenting themselves with confidence and competence, while also demonstrating a willingness to learn.
“We learned communication techniques, both verbal and nonverbal, such as specific hand gestures. We learned how to introduce ourselves, how to give an elevator pitch, how to find the most important person in the room. We practiced networking through a bingo game where we had to introduce ourselves and ask each other questions so we couldn’t be shy. We went over how to dress to impress and interview questions like, ‘tell me about yourself’ and ‘how do you deal with conflict in your team’ and some commonly asked questions which are difficult to answer, but they led us in simple responses,” he said.
Cher Burbank, Hillcrest’s work-based learning coordinator, noted the skills the students learned could be applied immediately.
“I noticed a lot of students who were going to be in FBLA competition the next week asked questions which they could apply when they communicate or present,” she said. “Some of the questions they were asking fell in line with that. They said, ‘OK, I’m presenting. How should I stand? Should I do this or that? How much is too many hand motions?’ They got in-depth answers and skills for them to apply. They learned how to emphasize a point when they’re presenting, and some students said they were going to practice it for when they give presentations.”
Burbank believes students now will have more effective communication and professionalism.
“This was a good opportunity for them to hear from our community business partners what they need to know and to practice it. I hope they gained insight from these industry partners that may give them a different edge, a skill, professionalism, something that might stand out, that they
learned, something they could apply when they communicate or network,” she said. Canyons Career and Technical Education Director Janet Goble, who hopes to offer the summit again next year, can see the benefit to the high school students.
“I hope our students took to heart the presenters’ messages, whether it was your elevator speech, how to network, how to talk to people, how to communicate better,” she said. “All are ways to help them become more successful.” l
Canyons School District high school students interact with one another while learning how to network and communicate with others through a bingo game at the recent Young Professionals Summit. (Cher Burbank/Hillcrest High)
High school students learn about communication skills from Cyprus Credit Union’s Alyssa Olsen during Canyons School District’s recent Young Professionals Summit. (Cher Burbank/Hillcrest High)
From struggles to success: Entrada helps adults achieve their dreams
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Matt Jungert once felt embarrassed to admit to his church priest, Father Anthony Savas, he had not graduated high school.
“It was a sore spot, and I was ashamed I hadn’t earned it, but I learned to face it and, not let it hold me back,” he said. “It got brought up when Father Anthony asked if I would consider becoming a deacon and to become a deacon I needed to have a bachelor’s degree.”
Jungert had attended West Jordan High and later Valley High, but his time in school was marked by frequent absences.
“I was just a hard-headed teenager and hung out with some kids I shouldn’t have,” he said.
After turning 18, Jungert stayed in Salt Lake City while his parents moved, working various jobs from Pizza Hut to working in warehouses living paycheck to paycheck. For the past 15 years, he has driven trucks, hauling oil to refineries, which offered more stability, but the thought of returning to school lingered.
Father Anthony’s encouragement led Jungert to pursue his GED through Entrada Adult High School.
“I was helping him light the candles for the service that night when he asked me, ‘Is becoming a deacon something you’d want to pursue?’ I said, ‘Yes,’” Jungert said. “I remember how beautiful the candles were around the altar. That’s when I started taking a computer science class at Entrada. Soon after, Mark (Mataya, Entrada’s adult education director) called me into his office. He took the time to talk with me about my plan, and I learned that getting my GED would be a better path than trying for a diploma. So, I completed packets in math, history and social studies and took the tests.”
Six months later, at the age of 39 and 21 years after his classmates graduated, Jungert spoke at Entrada’s commencement about his journey.
“There’s an energy at Entrada; the teachers want people to succeed. One teacher, David Dau, gave me some tips for the first test. When I passed, I went back and told him; he was so excited for me. Having the support of David and Mark really helps. They love their jobs, and it shows,” Jungert said.
Now, he is pursuing a computer science degree at Western Governors University with his next step, enter the diaconate program.
Jungert is just one student who found success at Entrada. The high school’s enrollment has surged in recent years, upward of 800 students, and graduates about 180 each year, driven by high demand for both Entrada and its sister school, Diamond Ridge High. The two schools moved to the former Bell View Elementary School more than two years ago to accommodate their growing student body.
This school year, Entrada was recognized as the state’s “Best All-Around Adult Education Program” by the Utah State Board of Education.
Mataya credits the school’s success to several factors, including the establishment of a mental health wellness program, apprenticeship partnerships and the implementation of personalized competency-based learning. This teaching strategy allows students to learn at their own pace while still participating in a traditional classroom environment.
Teachers Rachael Coleman and Lynn Gutzwiller team teach the course and emphasize students can start at their current skill level and focus on gaps in their knowledge, rather than repeating what they already know.
“Our students come from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and knowledge, so we don’t start from scratch with every student,” Coleman explained. “We tailor our teaching to meet students where they are so it’s an efficient way to help them progress.”
Mataya says Entrada’s hybrid approach, blending traditional and personalized learning, has been highly effective.
“When you walk into their classroom, it’s activity central. Students have the freedom to focus on what they need to learn, and they understand the expectations. They know how to push themselves to reach their goals. When they see working hard allows them to finish faster and move on with life, it becomes more rewarding,” he said. “They’re in control of their learning pace, not looking for ways to avoid work, but looking for what helps them in life—whether it’s getting a job or advancing their education. There’s a real energy in the room, an authentic, hopeful kind of learning.”
Mataya said not all of Entrada’s 200 classes use the same approach, but personalized competency-based learning has shown
impressive results. While about two-thirds of students are enrolled in traditional classes, the remaining students in the competency-based classes tend to achieve “probably four times as much, in terms of credit they earn.”
“Last year, five of our classes adopted this model; this year, it’s up to 15,” he said. “It’s intensive, and not every student is ready for that level of challenge, but for those who are, it makes a big difference.”
Gutzwiller said the goal is to create a hybrid class with both teacher-directed and hands-on elements.
“The course is designed to let students move from one skill to the next, and as instructors, we need to support them along the way. We work one-on-one or in small groups, meeting each student and it shifts the teacher-student relationship to more of an advocacy role,” she said. “Many of our students come in feeling beaten down. To see them believe in themselves is powerful.”
Mataya emphasized the goal is to guide students in their own learning journeys.
“We want to empower them, whether they’re in a competency-based or traditional class,” he said.
That philosophy resonates with Steve Wrigley, a former Canyons school board member who has been teaching at Entrada for three years. In his U.S. Government and Citizenship class, he encourages students to advocate for their own learning.
“We discuss issues around a topic, and at the end of class, I ask them, ‘What did you learn, and how can you apply it to your life? What’s important to you? Give me three things in your community that need to be addressed, and how would you do it?’” he said.
While the questions may seem simple, Wrigley admits they can be tough for students.
“Sometimes, the students don’t grasp the full magnitude of these issues. I have students tell me they’ve learned they need to pay more attention to their community,” he said. “Often, they’ve felt unheard in high school, so when I invite a school administrator or even the mayor of Sandy to speak, they’re surprised. They realize they have a voice, a vote, and the ability to make a difference.”
Last spring, Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski visited his class, along with Canyons School District Director of High Schools Tom Sherwood. Wrigley also has hosted city councilmembers and the district’s superintendent.
“The mayor told them she was no different than they are,” Wrigley said. “She was advocating for Dimple Dell, and realized she could make a difference in government. The students were impressed she came, shook their hands and answered their questions.”
During a discussion with Sherwood on topics ranging from transportation to mental health, the students were invited to email their suggestions and concerns.
“He promised to take their feedback back to share with others,” Wrigley said. “It showed the students that their voices matter.” His class covers diverse issues such as naturalization, voting, homelessness and the environment, but he’s aware many students don’t learn in a traditional way.
“I always ask, ‘Here’s the subject—how does it relate to you?’” Wrigley said. “Our goal is for students to believe in themselves, so they see they can succeed. Every teacher here wants these students to succeed. Our future depends on them.” l
Former Canyons school board member now teacher Steve Wrigley instructs a U.S. Government and Citizenship class at Entrada, which empowers students to become advocates and brings in key community speakers. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
By Rebecca Olds | rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com
The first council meeting of the new year held on Jan. 7 led to new committee assignments and a new appointments chair and vice chair of the Sandy City Council.
The previous chair, Zach Robinson, was replaced by At-Large councilmember Aaron Dekeyzer. Dekeyzer is one of the newest members of the council and is Sandy born-and-bred. His full bio can be found on the Sandy City Council website.
Additionally, Robinson announced at the meeting that he would not be running for reelection on the council for 2026 due to a decision made by him and his family.
The previous vice chair was replaced by At-Large councilmember Brooke D’Sousa who has been on the council since 2022. Her full bio can be found on the Sandy City Council website.
These two positions are up for reelection every six months with the next election during the
first week of July.
“The primary role of the Chair is to serve the City Council as a facilitator, helping the Council understand common objectives and assisting the Council in planning how to achieve these objectives,” reads a Sandy City Facebook post.
Sandy City Council members participate in at least 19 different committees. Each year, roles are assigned depending on the interests of the councilmembers. At least one representative is chosen to attend meetings and participate in the different committees and in some cases, an alternate is provided in case conflicts in schedule arise.
Here are the new assignments decided during the council meeting:
• Association of Municipal Governments - Aaron Dekeyzer, Marci Houseman (alternate)
• South Valley Chamber of Commerce Board - Brooke D’Sousa, Ryan Mecham (alternate)
• Council of Governments (COG) - Brooke D’Sousa, Alison Stroud (alternate)
• Jordan River Commission - Alison Stroud, Zach Robinson (alternate)
• Salt Lake County Convention Facilities Advisory Board - Cyndi Sharkey
• Sandy Club Board of Directors - Ryan Mecham, Zach Robinson (alternate)
• Senior Center Full Advisory Council - Brooke D’Sousa, Marci Houseman (alternate)
• Survey Approval Team - Ryan Mecham, Dustin Fratto (council staff) l
Aaron Dekeyzer and Brooke D’Sousa appointed chair and vice-chair of Sandy City Council. (Courtesy Sandy City Council Facebook)
Brighton wrestling wins Battle of the Axe this season
By Jerry S. Christensen | j.christensen@mycityjournals.com
Just after the Apollo 11 conquered the moon in 1969, Brighton High School opened its doors as a split off of Hillcrest High School. The relationship between the two schools sparked traditions and rivalries. The football teams began a rivalry called the “Battle of the Pig Skin.” The basketball teams continue to this day a “Battle of the Jug” complete with a travelling trophy jug.
“The basketball rivalry is alive and well whenever the two teams happen to meet in any given year,” said Athletic Director and former Brighton basketball coach Garrett Wilson.
The swimming teams developed a “Battle of the Paddle” through the years. The wrestling rivalry, however, took on a darker shade of intensity. Don Neff, the newly appointed and now legendary wrestling coach at Brighton, colluded with Tex Casto, the wrestling coach at Hillcrest, to “promote the sport of wrestling.” An old axe became the symbol of wrestling superiority and the “Battle of the Axe” was born.
Marielle Rawle, Brighton High principal and BHS ‘85 alumnus, recalls “the Battle of the Axe was the peak sporting event of the year at Brighton in the 80’s. The gym was full to the ceiling when Hillcrest and Brighton wrestled.” Coach Neff and assistant coaches Dave Chavis, Mark Montague and Manfred Lassig became fight promoters complete with handbills distributed to the surrounding Brighton community. Wrestling teams through the years counted the season a success or a failure based on the result of the single annual Battle of the Axe match. The sport thrived at both schools.
Neff, Chavis and Lassig were on hand last month to witness the 54th annual running of the rivalry that they nurtured
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through the early days. “The rivalry has diminished in quality and crowd size,” Neff said, “but the legacy continues.” It continues as the longest continual high school sports rivalry in the state of Utah. While there was a wrestling match in the Hillcrest gym, a celebration of the sport of wrestling broke out. Wrestlers from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s made their way to the new Hillcrest gym to relive high school wrestling glory. The match was officiated by 2018 Brighton graduate and two-time wrestling state champion Brayden Stevens. Many who wrestled as high school athletes in the Axe are still involved in the industry as officials and coaches. 1973 Brighton state champion Ralph Fallentine coaches the Cyprus Pirates girls team. Brighton’s first state champion, Steve Taylon, coaches the Taylorsville High wrestling team. All reflect on the Battle of the Axe rivalry as the pinnacle of wrestling rivalries. Alta and Corner Canyon patterned a wrestling “Battle of the Shield” rivalry after the Axe when Corner Canyon split off of Alta.
Brighton hasn’t owned the Axe since before the pandemic. The current batch of Brighton seniors were in danger of being the first class of wrestlers to never have bested Hillcrest as three consecutive green stripes grace the axe handle from 2022, 2023 and 2024.
For the first time, the battle wasn’t fought in January, but rather on Dec. 17, 2024 which Brighton won 55-24. There won’t be a 2025 duel.
Senior captain and wrestling All American Ben Tillman said “finally beating Hillcrest Wrestling is a milestone. It shows the progress we have made with our program over the past few years. We are back on track with the tradition that the Brighton wrestlers before us set. It is a successful season!” l
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Don Neff, Battle of the Axe founder, surrounded by the winning Brighton wrestlers and 54 years of rivalry match results. (Photo courtesy Larry Hansen)
Eastmont Middle ‘AVIDly’ shapes students’ futures
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Eastmont Middle School recently earned a prestigious distinction that sets it apart from about 950 other Utah middle schools or junior highs.
The Patriots recently were named an AVID National Demonstration School, which signifies the school’s excellence in using the Advancement Via Individual Determination system to help students achieve their potential. This recognition comes after a comprehensive two-year process involving multiple classroom observations and extensive documentation.
“This honor is a testament to the dedication of our staff and students, to their dedication and hard work; this is six years in the making,” Principal Stacy Kurtzhals said. “We are the only AVID National Demonstration School in Utah and it’s the best thing that I’ve ever seen for kids. We’ve seen our kids be able to do more rigorous academics. It’s good for every kid.”
After a panel discussion with students, parents and teachers sharing the impact of AVID, the Patriots celebrated the national recognition with a banner unveiling surrounded by confetti. The celebration culminated with a dance party.
With this honor, Eastmont Middle School will now serve as a model for other schools, showcasing its AVID strategies for others to observe and adopt. The school will need to recertify its AVID status every three years to maintain this esteemed designation.
Of the 115,000 schools nationwide, 6,000 are AVID-certified, but only 170 hold the title of AVID National Demonstration School.
While AVID was introduced in Canyons School District 16 years ago, Eastmont, Mt. Jordan Middle, Jordan High, Glacier Hills, and Sandy Elementary are the only schools in the District to fully implement the program. Kurtzhals believes all schools would benefit from incorporating AVID.
“AVID is in the forefront of every decision we make. Everything we do in our school; we focus through the lens of AVID. When there are implementations from the (school) District on different things, we see how AVID intertwines with it before we implement those things in our building,” she said.
While AVID is often associated with helping underserved or first-generation college-bound students, Kurtzhals emphasized that its strategies benefit all students by creating a culture of learning, equity and opportunity.
“AVID is how you teach students to use those skills within any curriculum they are already using. We have structures that are used in our classrooms every day.
We’re making sure we use the elements of WICKR, which is writing to learn, inquiry skills, collaboration skills, organization skills and reading to learn skills,” she said.
These AVID strategies are applied across all grade levels and subjects, resulting in a unified, schoolwide approach to teaching and learning, Kurtzhals said.
Teachers across all disciplines are encouraged to integrate AVID methodologies—such as inquiry-based learning, collaboration, and critical thinking—into their instruction. This approach unifies the entire school community around shared educational goals, ensuring all students engage in consistent, growth-oriented practices, she said.
In addition to academic integration, AVID prepares students for success both in higher education and in career readiness.
Kurtzhals said through the development of essential skills like time management, organization, and effective notetaking, AVID equips students with tools which are crucial not only for academic success, but also for professional life.
Students also gain exposure to the college research and application process, as well as career exploration, which empowers them to set and pursue post-secondary goals with added confidence, she said.
As students transition from foundational skills to more rigorous academic challenges, AVID encourages them to push their limits at all academic levels, Kurtzhals said.
“By enrolling in advanced courses such as honors, AP, or IB programs, students are pushed to reach their highest potential, with the necessary support provided to ensure their success,” she said.
With structured tutorials and peer mentoring, Eastmont students are deepening their understanding of challenging subjects, while simultaneously building confidence in their abilities to excel, Kurtzhals added.
As AVID cultivates a culture of high expectations, all students are held to rigorous standards, but they also are provided with the tools and support necessary to meet those standards. This culture encourages students to set ambitious goals for themselves, and it instills the perseverance needed to overcome obstacles and achieve those goals, she said.
“What it does is create the culture across the school of higher expectations. Our students are achieving at higher levels because we’re using these deeper levels of thinking with them,” Kurtzhals said. “As students rise to these expectations, they develop a growth mindset that will serve them throughout their lives.”
AVID places a strong emphasis on developing soft skills like communication, teamwork and leadership, which are essential for success in both academic and real-world contexts, she said, adding students engage in collaborative learning activities and public speaking opportunities that both enhance their academic experience and prepares them to navigate future challenges.
Kurtzhals believes AVID’s cohesive approach helps close opportunity gaps by offering additional support to students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.
“By ensuring every student has access to the resources and strategies that promote success, AVID helps level the playing field and ensures all students have the chance to thrive. AVID prioritizes equity and academic rigor with ongoing support, and it can transform the lives of students and inspire positive change,” she said. “Being an AVID National Demonstration School is not just a recognition of academic excellence—it represents our dedication to empowering students to dream big, work hard and achieve greater success.” l
The Patriots recently celebrated their national recognition of becoming an AVID National Demonstration School with a banner unveiling surrounded by confetti. (Frances Cook/Canyons School District)
Eastmont Middle School’s recent AVID National Demonstration School distinction came about after years of dedication and hard work to help students achieve their potential. (Frances Cook/Canyons School District)
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Jordan High DECA students make big impact in the community
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Jordan High School DECA students are taking action.
Throughout the school year, the group of business students organized various events and initiatives aimed at giving back to the community and recognize those who support it.
One of the first projects involved a carnival for preschool students at The Sammy Center, an organization which supports children with trauma-induced social and emotional needs. In addition to the carnival, students baked cookies in appreciation for local firefighters, conducted a cleanup in Dimple Dell Regional Park, and led a lesson for Mt. Jordan Middle School students.
“We wanted to show our appreciation for our community and provide service to those who live in it,” said junior Kiera Champion, who serves as Jordan High’s chapter community relations officer for DECA, an organization that prepares students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, management and entrepreneurship.
The DECA members’ work began with The Sammy Center, where they collaborated with the preschool’s director to plan and market a carnival. The event was hosted at St. Anna’s Greek Orthodox Church, and DECA members contributed through several ways, including organizing activities, selling tickets, assisting with food and interacting with the kids.
“We had about 15 volunteers that day, but overall, we had 35 members help market the event from creating fliers to getting sponsors to make the carnival successful for the kids,” she said.
This event follows a similar one held the previous year.
“It’s becoming a fun tradition for us to help The Sammy Center and it’s good because it benefits them and helps us to learn how to market a community event,” Champion said.
A few weeks after the carnival, the DECA
team used the school’s culinary room to bake 50 cookies, which they then individually packaged. These sweet treats were taken to the local Sandy fire station along with handwritten thank-you notes attached to each cookie bag.
“We wanted to show our appreciation to our local first responders because we feel they don’t get enough recognition,” she said. “So, we did something personal for them.”
In early winter, another group of DECA students participated in a community cleanup at Dimple Dell Regional Park. Armed with trash bags, they focused on removing plastic water bottles, food wrappers, papers and broken glass from the park’s trails.
“We wanted to clean up the gully so our community can continue to enjoy its natural
super into it and it was a lot of fun to hear their ideas,” Champion said.
Looking ahead, the DECA group plans to serve the senior community in Sandy in early 2025.
Champion and other club members also are working on several key projects for DECA’s upcoming international convention in Orlando, including their promotional campaign, community service campaign and membership campaign.
“These service projects meet the requirements for Orlando, but we’re also doing them because we want to get in touch with our community, and we want to become more involved with people who live here,” she said.
As part of their preparation for the international competition, the students share alumni success stories. They interviewed several former Jordan High students, including the head of the alumni association, a local lawyer, and the manager of Uintah Golf.
beauty,” Champion said.
Before winter break, two students led a lesson for a career and technical education class at Mt. Jordan Middle School. The lesson introduced DECA to the sixth-grade students and provided them with strategies for marketing ideas.
“We told them what DECA is and did an introduction activity with them to teach them how to market their ideas,” she said.
The activity involved the middle schoolers brainstorming products, which they then marketed to the DECA students. The products ranged from doughnuts to drawing tablets to a nail business.
“It’s similar to our DECA competitions where we’re given a scenario to market, but this was a bit more kid-friendly. The kids were
“We interviewed people asking them about their experiences at Jordan High and what they’ve accomplished after graduation. We’re including those write-ups, our report about community outreach, and a separate report for The Sammy Center in our chapter campaign,” she said.
Many of the DECA students also will participate in the state competition, scheduled for Feb. 20-21. Champion plans to compete in marketing or business management.
In addition to these projects, the chapter operates the school store, known as The Spot, and hosts social events for members, such as movie nights and ice skating.
“It’s a good opportunity to do things with other students who have similar interests and to learn how we can use our skills to serve the community,” Champion said. “It’s been a lot of fun.” l
Jordan DECA students made cookies and wrote words in appreciation of local firefighters. (Photo courtesy of Jordan High DECA)
A group of Jordan High DECA students pitched in to clean up the Dimple Dell Regional Park this winter season. (Photo courtesy of Jordan High DECA)
A Jordan High School student paints a young student’s face at a carnival they planned for The Sammy Center. (Photo courtesy of Jordan High DECA)
Valentine’sDay. A day of love. A day we often focus on showing such love to our family, our friends, our coworkers, and even through Valentine’s we get for our children to give to their teachers. However, regardless of whether we are single, married, or in a relationship, we can often overlook showing a little love to ourselves.
Jayna Marie, a renowned celebrity makeup artist in L.A. whose work has transformed many lives, says “Loving ourselves is so important because we teach other people how to treat us.” She cautions, “The way we see ourselves determines the love we are going to accept from other people.”
In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in societal expectations and lose sight of our uniqueness as we focus on our imperfections. We often struggle with body image concerns, seeking validation, or simply focusing on the challenges of life we face. Instead, Marie encourages us to embrace imperfections and celebrate individuality as an integral part of who we are through the following three steps:
1. Overcoming insecurities
2. Having gratitude for one's body
3. Understanding and accepting one's story
Overcoming our insecurities is not to
Embracing self-love this Valentine’s Day
By Holly Curby | hello@hollycurby.com
be expected overnight, but rather a lifelong process. Marie lives by a mantra of “breathe in self-confidence, breathe out self-doubt.”
Criticism often mirrors personal insecurities and by understanding this, we can better support one another's journeys. “Seeking validation from others can be both exhausting and unfulfilling,” Marie says. Instead, she encourages introspection and support for each other.
As for having gratitude for one’s body, Marie emphasizes, “We are never going to
be younger than we are right now. Before we know it another 10 years will be gone and we’ll be wishing we looked like we do now or had the energy we do now.” Marie believes we are in either a phase of glowing or growing. Growing can be painful, but the glowing part is the outcome after the difficulties and hard work have been put in. There is such significance in having gratitude for our current selves and the fleeting nature of time, so might we cherish the present and live authentically.
Marie advises, “Part of understanding and accepting one’s story is being courageous and believing it’s going to end beautifully no matter where we are at in our story.” She continues that, “sometimes we have a hard time embracing our story because we aren’t where we want to be.” She encourages embracing faith in what is to come compared to the fear of where you are at on your journey. Resilience is gained through faith during such challenges of life. Both self-love and self-acceptance are significant in overcoming life challenges as we seek to live authentically, celebrate our unique stories and differences, and build a supportive community of mutual support and growth. “No matter where you are right now, how hard or scary it might seem, it’s exactly where you are to be,” encourages Marie.
As we navigate our journeys, let us remember that we are wonderfully made and that our stories can be more beautiful than we ever imagined. Listen to this inspiring interview in full and embark on a journey of self-love and empowerment on Holly’s Highlights Season 4 Episode 3. Embrace your inner beauty and cherish the present moment as you transform your life through self-love this Valentine’s Day. l
Full interview on Holly’s Highlights podcast. (Photo courtesy of Jayna Marie)
Learning to self-love. (Photo courtesy of Caleb Jones)
Local actor Jack Jewkes, age 9, tours the U.S. in ‘Les Misérables’
actor Jack Jewkes, age 9, has been on the road since September performing in the North American tour of “Les Misérables.” The tour is the adventure of a lifetime for Jewkes whose career goal is to act professionally on both stage and screen. He plays the role of Gavroche, an orphan of the Parisian streets, in the Broadway musical which will make its way to the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City Feb. 26 through March 15.
“We can’t believe how fast it’s been. It’s just wild!” Jack’s mom, Kim Jewkes, said of her son landing the role. It was only September 2023 when Jack auditioned for his first show, “A Christmas Carol” at Hale Center Theater in Orem. He played Tiny Tim in that production and fell in love with theater.
“I loved it so much,” he said. “That’s how I got into acting.”
Jack’s journey to become an actor began with his school choir. He discovered that he enjoyed singing at school and auditioned for Rise Up Children’s Choir. Amy Oakeson, founder and director of Rise Up, suggested to Jack’s parents that he give acting a try. “None of this would have happened without Amy,” Kim said. “She noticed that he had something special and encouraged him to try theater.”
After “A Christmas Carol,” Jack played Bruce in “Matilda” at Draper Historic Theatre, landed roles in five commercials and signed with Utah’s Talent Management Group. While Jack has never taken formal acting classes, he takes private singing lessons and has had an acting coach.
A Los Angeles-based talent agency, Maxed Management, reached out to him over Instagram last July and started finding more audition opportunities for him, including the one for “Les Misérables.” Jack and his dad flew to New York City for callbacks.
The offer for “Les Misérables” came just after Jack was cast as Chip in “Beauty and the Beast” at Hale Center Theater last fall. The Jewkes family was disappointed to turn down that role but felt that joining a national tour was a once in a lifetime opportunity for Jack. The family’s decision to allow him to join the cast of “Les Misérables” was made after careful consideration. Jack’s mom and dad take turns accompanying him on the tour which means juggling work and care of Jack’s 12-year-old brother back in Draper.
As Gavroche, Jack sings and acts as one of the Parisian street dwellers swept up in the June Rebellion of 1832. He has solo verses in several of the musical numbers and sometimes speaks to the audience, introducing other characters. Jack’s father, Kevin, explained, “Gavroche is not one of the revolutionary fighters, but he gets caught in a battle. He has to lie perfectly still on stage.”
“I just stay limp,” Jack said, “It’s only two minutes!”
He is one of two young actors who alternate playing Gavroche on the tour. Both
By Katherine Weinstein | k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com
are present at each performance in case one has to fill in for the other at the last minute. Jack has two costume changes and applies makeup that looks like dirt to his arms, legs and face.
While he relishes performing, Jack said that the best part of being in the show is the people that he meets. “I like that I make tons of friends,” he said. “I love to meet people and sign autographs at the stage door.” He was thrilled to meet the cast of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” after one performance.
Depending on logistics, the touring company of “Les Misérables” travels by air or by bus from one city to another. “We get to see new places sometimes for as long as two weeks. I’ll be in Utah for three weeks,” Jack explained.
In visiting cities across the United States, Jack has had many new experiences. He enjoyed shrimp dinners in Virginia and went trick or treating in Hartford, Connecticut. His family celebrated Christmas together in Chicago. Jack visited the zoo in Cincinnati, Ohio and cat cafés in Rochester and Syracuse, New York. “I miss my cat very much,” Jack said.
He manages to keep up with his school work. “We have a set teacher and my school gave me workbooks so I could work on stuff on the tour. I go to ‘school’ every day. Everyone does different things. Everyone lives in different states and is in different grades.” He added that they go on field trips in many of the cities they perform in.
By the time “Les Misérables” comes to Salt Lake City this month, Jack will have performed to approximately 150,000 people across the U.S. as Gavroche. It is quite an achievement for a 9-year-old actor. “He has the most confidence of maybe anyone I’ve ever met,” Kim said.
Jack’s six-month contract with “Les Misérables” ends in April. He auditioned for and landed a guest role on a television drama series which has yet to air. Aside from that, the Jewkes family does not know what will be next for Jack. “His manager is very hard working,” Kim said. “She’s going to find more opportunities. We want to be selective and choose projects that will forward his career.”
With the knowledge that the life of an actor has its ups and downs, Jack’s family supports his dreams of working on both stage and screen. His future is looking bright.
Broadway at the Eccles will present Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s “Les Misérables” at the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater Feb. 26-March 15. The theater is located at 610 E. South Temple Street, #20, in Salt Lake City. For tickets and more information visit saltlakecity.broadway.com/shows/.l
Jack Jewkes as Gavroche from the Les Misérables National Tour. (Photo Matthew Murphy)
Bob Carter named senior vice president for health sciences at the U
By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com
The University of Utah Health’s new chief is a veteran brain surgeon, educator, health care administrator – and a BYU graduate.
The state’s flagship university announced that Dr. Bob S. Carter will be the new CEO of University of Utah Health and the school’s senior vice president for health sciences. He begins his duties at the university mid-February.
“With his own history of research and clinical excellence, Dr. Carter brings a unique ability to run an academic medical center going through exceptional growth and institutional change,” said University of Utah President Taylor Randall in a university release.
“With his leadership, we will ensure University of Utah Health continues to innovate, educate and provide high quality, responsive health care,” Randall said.
Carter will reportedly manage both the academic and research enterprises at University of Utah Health, with its nearly $500 million research portfolio across five schools and colleges and a health sciences library, according to the release.
He will also oversee a $6.3 billion academic health system comprised of nearly 27,000 faculty and staff, and 6,400 students.
Carter will be charged with integrating a clinical enterprise of 3,700-member faculty and 17 hospitals and community health cen-
ters.
“University of Utah Health, and its dedicated faculty, staff and students, are at a unique inflection point,” Carter said in the university release.
“I am impressed by what they have accomplished already as a team. And I am particularly drawn to the vision of the University of Utah as a public university striving to improve every person’s life, and U. of U. Health’s shared missions of leading-edge health care, curing through discovery and enlightening tomorrow’s leaders,” he said.
According to the university, Carter will be responsible for completing several in-process projects – including dedicating a new Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine Building in 2026; launching the West Valley City Hospital and Health Center; and opening several new Huntsman Cancer Institute and Huntsman Mental Health Institute facilities.
U“I expect Dr. Carter to help us make the case to state lawmakers, donors and others for accelerating the growth and achievement of the University of Utah’s world class medical discovery, health care education and patient care,” Randall said.
Carter currently serves as the William and Elizabeth Sweet Endowed Professor in Neuroscience at Harvard Medical School and neurosurgeon-in-chief at Mass General Brigham, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
He also has almost two decades of experience as a researcher and professor of neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School and another seven years at the University of California, San Diego, where he served as chairman of the faculty of the school of medicine.
A neurosurgical oncologist, Carter has also served as co-director of the Moores Cancer Center Brain Tumor Program at UC San Diego and the Brain Tumor Program at Mass General.
Carter brings to the University of Utah a rich history in health care administration, according to the news release.
He helped launch the integration of academic and clinical teams at Massachusetts General with Brigham and Women’s Hospital earlier this year. Carter previously served as the
clinical director of the UC San Diego Neurological Institute, a co-founder of Mass General Neuroscience, and as a member of the UC San Diego Health Board of Governors.
Carter received his medical degree and a doctorate in epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University in 1992. He claimed a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Brigham Young University in 1986.
Carter replaces Mike Good, who spent seven years at the helm of University of Utah Health.
During Good’s tenure, the system nearly doubled its budget, added a hospital and community health center and recruited nearly 8,000 new faculty, staff and students. Meanwhile, patient visits increased by 25%, and research funding grew from $365 million to $492 million, according to the university.
Randall saluted Good’s “steady and calm leadership.”
“Mike Good has been an extraordinarily perceptive and effective partner in the effort to guide this institution forward through times of transition, the global COVID-19 pandemic and unprecedented growth,” Randall said. “I am so grateful for his wisdom, patience and calm counsel. His leadership leaves us well-positioned to continue this effort.” l
UFSA board approves 23% tax increase in 2025
By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com
nified Fire Service Area board members voted in a public meeting in December to approve a proposed tax increase for 2025. The 23% tax increase would yield $11,473,218 in revenue, according to officials.
The increase will be implemented in two parts, with the first part of the increase – referred to as the second phase of the 2024 increase – costing an estimated $5,088,123, according to the Unified Fire Service Area.
The second part of the proposed increase would address additional staffing in Kearns and Eagle Mountain, and is estimated to cost $6,385,095, according to UFSA.
“Most of the increase we’re talking about here is going to the firefighters,” Board member and Millcreek Mayor Jeff Silvestrini said at the meeting. “If we don’t pay competitive wages, they’ll go somewhere else and we’ll be even more short-staffed than we already are.”
With the 2025 tax increase being approved, the annual tax would increase from $405.35 to $498.58 for residential properties, and from $737.00 to $906.50 for commercial properties. Before 2024, the last UFSA tax increases were in 2008 and 2018.
The 2025 tax increase would make a monthly difference of $7.77 (for an annual
difference of $93.23) and a monthly difference of $14.13 for commercial properties (or an annual difference of $169.51), according to the UFSA.
Many board members acknowledged that their own families would feel the effects
of the increase, but they said property taxes are the only revenue for the UFSA.
“This is not an organization that is abusing the system,” Board member Kathleen Bailey of Copperton told residents after the public comment period. “This is not being
done frivolously.”
The proposed tax increase would be used to address the cost of service, upgrade fire stations, add staff members and maintain a minimum fund balance, UFSA said.
The UFSA serves 12 jurisdictions: Alta, Brighton, Eagle Mountain, Emigration Canyon, Kearns, Magna, Millcreek, Taylorsville, White City and unincorporated Salt Lake County.
“UFSA’s primary source of income is property taxes which are collected from property owners located within UFSA boundaries,” UFSA explained.
UFSA is a “taxing entity that uses collected taxes to go directly toward fire service costs,” according to the Unified Fire Service Area. UFSA said it uses property taxes to pay its member fee to Unified Fire Authority, and that fee “is what pays for the actual service that UFSA residents benefit from.”
The taxes are also used to purchase and maintain property within UFSA boundaries (for example, building and maintaining fire stations). UFSA said taxes are also used to pay for administrative costs.
Full financial statements and annual budgets are available on the UFSA website. The tentative budget for 2025 is also available online. l
Dr. Bob S. Carter will begin his duties at the university mid-February.
(Photo courtesy of University of Utah Health)
Fire Station 124 is one of three stations in Riverton City. (City Journals)
Brighton High students gain insight from career day
Former professional linebacker Bryan Kehl recently shared powerful messages with Brighton High students during their career day, encouraging them to keep an open mind, find what excites them, and transform that passion into a career.
He also emphasized the importance of hard work in achieving success.
“He told them the first ingredient you need for anything — in sports, academics, music, theatre — is to do the hard work,” Brighton High work-based learning coordinator Eileen Kasteler said. “Kehl wasn't always the best, but he worked harder than others who were better than he was and he became better. The second ingredient (he said) is to make mistakes faster, so you can learn from them and move forward. Don't be afraid of mistakes — avoiding them will slow down your success.”
Kasteler said the Brighton alumnus was able to connect with students through his own experiences. Kehl shared even after playing in the NFL, he still had to work hard. He spoke about the risks he took when becoming a business owner, a decision which gave him flexibility, but also the realization that failure could lead to financial loss.
“He openly shared his career path, including both successes and setbacks, giving students an honest view. I think his encouragement helped them imagine all the possibilities that are out there and gave them confidence about choosing a career,” she said.
The career day, organized by the student business club with Kasteler’s assistance, was spread out over several days. Freshmen and sophomores learned from Kehl, while older students attended sessions with various professionals, including a pilot, an actor, a construction project manager and a mechanical engineer.
Entrepreneur Mike Deaver spoke to another group of students, offering advice based on his own experiences.
“What I see in my career is people are here to help you succeed,” he said. “We're here to help our partners; they say, ‘teamwork makes the dream work.’ If you haven't found a team, reach out to people to help you find that team.”
Deaver encouraged students to think about their futures beyond high school.
“It’s the time to start thinking broadly about your future. When I was in high school and in college, I knew I wanted to be the guy behind the scenes who was helping sports, politics and entertainment. So, I started working to make my team, and I feel super blessed I’ve been able to be in that field. But think beyond your school; there's a whole big outside world out there you can participate in and be connected.”
He also advised student to “pick up every piece of experience, every credential, every certificate, anything and everything you
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
can pick up as a tool” to “get connected and gamify your life.”
Brighton junior Caleb Vickers, vice president of membership for the school’s business club, was one of the driving forces behind the career days. This initiative also ties into the group’s project for DECA, an organization that prepares students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, management and entrepreneurship.
“There are multiple things that can be done for this project, but we picked the career fair because it’s a way we can reach out to the 2,400 Brighton students,” Vickers said. “It allows them the chance to hear from a speaker and engage with possible future careers they might go into.”
Vickers learned the event required flexibility and adaptability. Despite months of planning, the group had to adjust last-minute when a speaker canceled on the second day. Another speaker canceled on the final day, but they quickly secured a replacement.
“We started planning it early so we could coordinate speakers’ and class schedules. Even so, we had a speaker not show and we had to pivot as students were filing in for that speaker,” he said.
They also had to ensure students would be in attendance since Brighton has an open campus.
“We wanted to ensure they would come so we created a raffle for students in attendance,” he said, explaining the school club reached out to local businesses to donate gift cards. “I think we were pretty successful as there were about 800 students at Kehl’s presentation.”
Vickers, along with juniors Jonas Barnes and AJ Stanfield, will take their 20page paper to compete at the state DECA tournament Feb. 21-22.
“We’ll give the judges the paper and give an oral presentation of the planning, the organization, the execution and everything we did. We have 15 minutes to give them the highlights,” he said.
The trio is part of a 100-member student business club that has toured local businesses such as RSL, Hale Centre Theatre, and Crumbl, learning about operations, marketing strategies and business management.
Janet Goble, Canyons School District career and technical education director, praised the efforts of the Brighton High students in organizing the event and helping their peers explore potential career paths.
“It’s important students have these opportunities to learn about different careers than what they might know,” she said. “We want to open their eyes to these different types of careers as it might spark their interest in a career they never even thought about and give them a launch into their futures.” l
Actor Roger Malaga, known for “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” and “Star Wars Legends: Legacy of the Force,” engaged and inspired students at Brighton High’s career days. (Photo courtesy of Brighton High)
Former NFL linebacker Bryan Kehl suggested to freshmen and sophomores to find a passion and turn that into a career at Brighton High’s career days. (Photo courtesy of Brighton High)
Busting winter driving myths: what really keeps you safe on icy roads
Driving in the winter is a different kind of beast, especially when some of the most common advice for driving in the snow and cold isn’t always accurate.
With much of the country set to deal with snow, ice and bitter-cold temperatures, here are some of the most common winter driving myths.
Pump your brakes on ice
The age-old advice of pumping your brakes while on ice isn’t always true for drivers nowadays.
Pumping the brakes, when the driver steps on the brake pedal multiple times in a row to stop the wheels from locking up, is an old-fashioned way to prevent skidding on ice that can be counterproductive for many cars.
According to AAA, anti-lock braking systems, which pump the brakes for you, have become a standard since the 1990s. These days, most cars have anti-locking brakes, but it’s best to check the manual to make sure.
So, when cars with anti-lock brakes are on ice, the best practice is to apply steady pressure.
Gas freezes if you don’t have enough in the tank
This myth is close, but not necessarily true.
AAA said the gas in the tank won’t freeze until temperatures hit 50 degrees below zero, which means drivers will most likely not be finding a block of gas in the tank anytime soon.
However, your gas tank can freeze, so drivers should keep more gas in the tank in the winter. According to AAA, this can help minimize the space in the tank for water condensation to form. That condensation could enter your fuel line and freeze, preventing your vehicle from starting and damaging the fuel line.
o, the more gas you have in your tank, there’s less of a chance that condensation will have a place to form.
Let your car warm up before you drive
Cars used to need to idle for the carburetors to work and for oils to warm up, but with new technology, as long as your vehicle isn’t older than the early 1990s, you probably don’t need to let your car thaw before you hit the road.
By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com
When driving on slippery roads, be sure to keep double the normal amount of space between you and the driver in front of you. (Photo AI generated)
The U.S. Department of Energy notes that guidance from most car manufacturers says your vehicle is ready to drive after 30 seconds of warming up.
However, it can take your engine between five and 15 minutes to completely warm up, according to Business Insider. If it’s an extremely cold day, it may not be a bad idea to let your car run for more than 30 seconds before driving off.
Now, while we’re getting into the deep end of winter and finally starting to see some snow, there are some things you want to keep in mind as you hit the icy roads.
Slow down
This one might seem obvious, but given the number of people speeding down the freeway in both lanes during
Ua snowstorm, the idea of reducing speed during increment weather appears to be a foreign concept to some Utah drivers.
The slippier it gets, the more you need to reduce your speed. Stopping on slippery roads can take more than triple the usual distance. Anticipate your moves and turns in advance and keep your steering and throttle input as smooth as possible.
Clear ice and snow from your vehicle before driving
Again, it may seem like this one is obvious, but there are more cars on the road with snow piled up and ice frosting the windshield than you may think.
As we’re taught in driver’s education, if you can’t see, you can’t drive safely. If you park your car outside, you’re bound to deal with ice, frost and fresh snow on some mornings. As much as it hurts to stand in the cold for that long, it’s much safer to clear your entire car of snow, frost and ice before leaving.
Give extra space to the vehicle ahead
When conditions are wet there’s no telling what it will take to avoid an accident, especially if you need to stop. In winter conditions, it’s best to give at least double the amount of space you’re used to for the vehicle ahead.
Having good tires will help you stop and keep control, but even with new tires it’s best to keep a healthy distance between you and the next car.
Read the road
During a drive on snowy surfaces, your traction will ebb and flow from moment to moment. Newer cars have a wide array of helpful safety technologies, but they shouldn’t replace your driver instincts and awareness – especially in adverse weather conditions.
Keep both hands on the wheel, turn down your music, avoid using cruise control and constantly assess how the vehicle and road feel. If you sense a loss of grip on the road, don’t panic. Slow down, take a deep breath and make slow, gradual movements as you keep driving. l
Salt Lake Volleyball brings professional game back to Utah
tahns have always been fans of volleyball, whether it’s through recreational play or their local church leagues. And boys’ volleyball became an officially sanctioned high school sport just last year.
Now professional women's volleyball returns to Salt Lake City as part of the League One Volleyball (LOVB, pronounced “Love”). The city has one of six franchises for the first-year league that kicked off on Jan. 8 in Atlanta. It was founded in 2020 as a “holistic volleyball ecosystem” that covered players from the beginner level through clubs and the pros. The plan was to start a pro league after the Paris Olympics, and now play is set to begin.
The teams don’t have names, other than the cities they play in. The six teams this year are in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Madison, Omaha and Salt Lake. Utah’s team includes two-time Olympic medalists and 2020 gold medal winners Haleigh Washington and Jordyn Poulter, who lead a ros-
By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
ter with 21 collective All-American honors.
Several come from local colleges like former Brighton High and University of Utah player Dani Drews, and former BYU teammates
Roni Jones-Perry and Mary Lake. Reigning VNL Best Libero Manami Kojima of the Japanese National Team will patrol the backcourt. U.S. National Team assistant Tama Miyashiro will instruct the squad, and she’ll be assisted by Bruno Chateau, who’s found success coaching internationally and in his native France.
Salt Lake played its first home match against Houston on Jan. 22 at Salt Lake Community College, where all of its home matches are scheduled except for the “Weekend with LOVB" on Feb. 7-8 at the Maverik Center in West Valley City. The team will play matches on both days that weekend.
Other home matches are set for March 20 against Madison, April 4 against Madison, April 5 against Austin. League finals will be held in mid-April in Louisville, Kentucky.
Members of the 15 player roster for Salt Lake Volleyball are as follows:
• Jordyn Poulter, S, Illinois
• Tamaki Matsui, S, Japan Women's College of Physical Education
• Morgan Miller, OH, Cal
• Maddie Haynes, OH, Cal
• Skylar Fields, OH, USC
• Tori Dixon, MB, Minnesota
• Sophie Fischer, MB, Georgia
• Serena Gray, MB, Pittsburgh
• Roni Jones-Perry, OH, BYU
• Haleigh Washington, MB, Penn State
• Manami Kojima, LIB, Aoyama Gakuin University
• Dani Drews, OH, Utah
• Mary Lake, LIB, BYU
• Claire Hoffman, OH, Washington
• Heidy Casanova, OPP
Every game will be broadcast through the ESPN family of networks, streamed on ESPN+ or broadcast through the league's website at LOVB Live. Ticket information available on line at www.lovb.com. l
The new logo for Salt Lake Volleyball, which has begun play in the LOVB league and will host home matches at the Maverik Center and Salt Lake Community College. (Logo courtesy of LOVB)
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Hillcrest Huskies take on 5A: What’s behind the move?
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Hillcrest High School’s athletic teams will now compete in 5A Region 4, following a recent realignment of classifications and regions.
This change comes after the school spent the 2023-24 school year in 4A Region 10. Before that, the Huskies had competed in both 5A and 6A classifications.
Canyons School District’s Director of High Schools Tom Sherwood, who is a Utah High School Activities Association’s Board of Trustees member, explained the classification process follows specific bylaws, with student populations being the most important factor in determining a school’s classification.
“The first thing they look at is student populations,” he said. “For 4A, 5A and 6A schools, they only look at the schools’ enrollment in 11th and 12th grade. For smaller schools, they look at the whole school enrollment.”
Sherwood noted the UHSAA receives enrollment data from the state’s office of education, which is provided to the Board without identifying the schools.
“It’s a blind determination; they only see the enrollment. Then, they decide where the natural break is. Maybe they see 100 students’ difference between this school and that school, so they draw a line. That could be between 6A and 5A. Then, they calculate any school which has less than 10% fewer students than the schools in 5A to put them on a bubble; the same with the schools at the top of 5A, if they’re less than 10% from the 6A schools, they put them on the top of the bubble. That’s intentional to allow schools and the committee to be able to move schools back and forth depending on where they fit,” he said.
This results in two categories of schools: those firmly within a classification and those on the bubble, Sherwood explained.
Hillcrest’s frequent movement between classifications can be attributed to this system.
“Hillcrest was able to go 4A last realignment because their enrollment put them on the bottom of the 5A bubble,” he said. “Nobody was against Hillcrest staying in 4A now. The problem was, there isn’t any rule in place to allow it. They are now on the top of 5A because of the enrollment line, which means, the only two classifications they could be in were 5A or 6A. Overall, their enrollment didn’t change that much. When you’re dealing with 4A, 5A and the bottom of 6A, it’s only a couple 100 kids difference between all those.”
After enrollment, the only factor which could lower a school’s classification is if the school has more than 50% of students on free or reduced lunch. Hillcrest does not qualify, with about 40% of its students meeting that criteria, Sherwood said.
“Outside of free and reduced lunch, there are secondary determining factors they use for schools on the bubble to determine whether they go up or down (in classifications),” he said.
These factors include athletic success, particularly in football, as football teams have separate alignments, Sherwood said.
“Based on all those criteria, there’s no way Hillcrest was going to be forced to go up, even though their enrollment was comparable to other 6A schools. But because Hillcrest was on the bubble, they were able to keep them in 5A because of those other criteria. If Hillcrest gets to where they have more than 50% on free or reduced lunch, they can go down without taking other criteria into consideration,” he said.
Another consideration for schools on the bubble is transient populations, which can influence student participation
in sports, Sherwood said.
“They may look to participation rates so if you have 2,400 students in your school and only 400 of them play sports, that’s different than a school with 2,400 students and half of them play sports, which can correlate with reduced lunch, but not always,” he said. “Look at Brighton and Hillcrest, both have similar enrollments, but the teams aren’t. Brighton may have 150 kids on the football team while maybe there’s 40 on Hillcrest’s team. If somebody gets hurt on Brighton, there’s a higher likelihood of somebody else being able to take that place. There are a lot of differences between schools and their participation rates, and that’s something they currently don’t consider when aligning schools, but it can be something they look into for a bubble school.”
Hillcrest boys basketball coach and math teacher Brandon Sluga recognizes many students at Hillcrest come from transient families.
“A lot of those families are not necessarily in a position where they’re worried about playing sports,” he said before the realignment was finalized. “(If the UHSAA were to count only those) who play sports, Hillcrest is closer to 4A levels, but, wherever they place us, I’m fine with it.”
During realignment, school administrators, athletic directors and the public can offer input.
“Once the school is on a bubble, the school administrators get to present to the committee and plead their case with the reasons they think they should be in 4A versus 5A, or 5A versus 6A. By communicating what they want and why they think that’s best for their school, it helps the committee to decide where to place them,” Sherwood said. “A lot of times, a principal will say, ‘I would like to be in a region with these schools or schools that are similar to our school in demographics and mobility, and free and reduced lunch and participation rates.’”
For Hillcrest, factors like its international baccalaureate program also come into play.
“IB is something we always talked during the bubble conversation,” Sherwood said. “It’s another thing to consider, because IB is so demanding, so very few of those kids participate in sports. There are exceptions, but that number would be included and considered in the participation rate.”
Once classifications are finalized, the committee works to place teams in regions. Hillcrest will now compete in a region that includes Cyprus, Granger, Hunter, Kearns, Taylorsville, West and West Jordan.
“There are a lot of big schools in Granite (school) District, and they all have more than 50% free reduced lunch. Even though they’re 6A schools, their free and reduced lunches can move to 5A in with Hillcrest. It’s a good region for Hillcrest. We expect more competitive play for Hillcrest; all those schools are within the metro area, so it will reduce travel significantly and they’ll get more fans and better attendance at the events,” he said.
Sherwood also sees the matchups as beneficial for the Huskies.
“If you have a team that’s highly skilled and a team that’s not, the chances of injury to the less skilled team are high. By matching them as well as they can, the impact will be a more competitive region at the same level,” he said.
Hillcrest swim coach Elizabeth Drake is optimistic about the shift to 5A.
“I’m hoping it will raise the bar for some of our swimmers,” she said. “I hope they’ll get to swim against some better swimmers in 5A, even if they don’t place as high as 4A. It will push them to get better, swim faster.”
Sherwood said the Board strives to ensure the realignment process is just and impartial as possible.
“They really do try to create environments where programs can thrive, and they look to put schools with similar demographics, participation rate, athletic success, historical success together,” he said. “They make the process as fair and equitable as possible.” l
Hillcrest High swim coach Elizabeth Drake, seen here coaching her swimmers at a recent meet, hopes the 2025-27 5A region 4 competition will help swimmers improve their times. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
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Winter Market is back at Wheeler Historic Farm
By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Thanks to the Winter Market at Wheeler Historic Farm’s Outdoor Education Center, local produce and artisan goods don’t have to hibernate for the season.
The market is open each Sunday through April 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the south side of Wheeler Farm (6351 S. 900 East) in Murray.
It features products, food, treats and crafts to stave off the winter chill including local eggs and meat, pure honey, fresh produce, breads, pastries, homemade desserts and unique gifts.
For more information, visit saltlakecounty.gov/wheeler-farm. l
Congratulations to our January Members of the Month, Maevie, Sophia Espinoza Reyes, & Teagan Tingey! Maevie is 9 years old: Maevie wants to become a cosmetologist when she grows up, Maevie has been attending the Sandy Club for 3 years, in that time she has learned services. Sophia is 6 years old: she wants to become a staff at The Sandy Club & a tattoo artist, she has been attending for 7 months, in that time she has learned how to have fun and eat snacks. Teagan is 9 years old: she wants to become an astronaut at the International Space Station, she has been attending for 1 and a half years, and in that time, she has learned that it is okay to be different.
Congratulations once again, we are so proud of you all!
With visions of Jack White, Prince and Sophie Lloyd strumming in my head, I started taking guitar lessons last year to prove that old dogs can still be tricky. After months of lessons, I confidently state Jack White can rest easy. I won’t be coming for his job.
Guitar lessons have challenged my patience but expanded my capacity for playing incorrect chords on a slightly outof-tune instrument. I pluck through terrible-sounding riffs and know practice time is over when I drop the guitar pick in the sound hole for the hundredth time.
Each week, I meet with the ever-patient Emily at Guitar Center so I can go over my lesson. I spend most of the time trying to convince her I really did practice while ignoring the eye twitch she develops whenever I play an F chord.
She’ll give me advice like, “Press the strings harder” or “Change the position of your thumb” or “Maybe take up baking.” I go home and practice chords and strums and fingerpicking until even the dog leaves the room. But after practicing “Blowin’ in the Wind” for six weeks, my husband finally recognized the chorus.
I’ve gained an appreciation for guitar players, and I get enraged by people who say they taught themselves to play the guitar because that can’t possibly be a thing. Like every child in Utah, I took piano lessons, and that background has helped with counting and timing but that’s the extent of its helpfulness when it comes to the guitar.
The hubby and I visited Nashville in October, where even toddlers can play the intro to “Stairway to Heaven,” and it highlighted how much I still have to learn. Every dive bar had an exceptional guitarist strumming chords while holding a beer bottle. I ate chicken wings and sipped margaritas, mesmerized by their talent.
Time to face the music
Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
Not only were they exceptional, but they could play any song by heart. My brain has no storage capacity. My hard drive is full. I can’t memorize songs, and I can barely remember chord progressions. I’m still looking at chord charts like they’re hieroglyphics.
Learning guitar is mostly about finding new ways to use your nondominant hand. In theory, a plucked string should create a musical vibration. In reality, a plucked string provides a muffled thud because I’m not on my fingertips or I’m too far from the fret or I can’t stretch my hand into a barre chord or I’m just inept. All of those things can be true.
After I played “If I Had a Hammer” for several weeks, my husband said if he had a hammer he’d smash my guitar. Not nice. But fair.
I grew up listening to singers like Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. Mom and my aunt would visit assisted living centers (they were called rest homes in the ’70s) to sing and play the guitar, entertaining the captive audience. Sometimes I’d sing along and screw up their “Leaving on a Jet Plane” harmonies with my squeaky 8-year-old voice.
Learning to play the guitar is a connection to my late mom. I can’t say my guitar music honors my mom because no one deserves that kind of honor, but I can imagine her
smiling (and probably grimacing) whenever I pick up the guitar. Maybe there are earplugs in heaven.
Watching Prince perform at the Super Bowl, seeing Jack White in concert and hearing Sophie Lloyd shred has become an act of reverence. I stand in awe at their talent as I slowly pick through “Five Hundred Miles” for what feels like the 500th time.
