The Sterling Scholar Awards Program recognizes outstanding scholastic achievement among high school seniors in Utah. Sponsored by the KSL Broadcast Group and Deseret News, the program recognizes students across several categories and advances selected nominees through regional competition. Regional category winners are eligible to receive a one-year, two-semester full Latter-day Saint tuition scholarship at BYU, contingent upon admission. Students who qualify for another BYU scholarship may receive whichever eligible scholarship has greater monetary value.
Scholarship Details
- Students compete in multiple categories, with each high school able to nominate one candidate per category
- Students may compete in only one category
- The competition includes five regions: Wasatch Front, Northeast Utah, Central Utah, Southeast Utah, and Southwest Utah
- Regional category winners receive a one-year, two-semester full Latter-day Saint tuition scholarship at BYU, contingent upon admission
- If a student qualifies for another BYU scholarship with greater monetary value, BYU will award the scholarship with the greater value
- Students who receive a full tuition scholarship through another BYU program will retain that original full tuition scholarship instead of receiving the Sterling Scholarship
- Students serving a mission immediately after high school may defer the Sterling Scholarship while serving, provided they apply for admission to BYU for the fall following high school graduation and claim the scholarship through their regional representative
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be high school seniors attending a Utah public high school
- Students must demonstrate extraordinary academic achievement
- Students must have participated in leadership, community service, citizenship or similar opportunities at their high school
- Each high school determines how its Sterling Scholar nominees are selected
- Each high school determines whether a student's attendance has been sufficient for them to participate in relevant leadership and community service opportunities
- Students must be admitted to BYU to receive the Sterling Scholarship
Application Process
- Review the Sterling Scholar categories and determine which category best matches your academic achievements and activities
- Work with your Utah high school to understand its Sterling nomination process and selection requirements
- Seek nomination from your high school in your selected category
- If selected as the school's nominee, participate in the Sterling Scholar competition and advance through the applicable regional selection process
- If selected as a regional category winner, apply for admission to BYU if you have not already done so
- Claim the Sterling Scholarship through the appropriate regional representative
- If you plan to serve a mission immediately after high school, apply for admission to BYU for the fall following graduation and contact your regional representative to claim the scholarship before deferring it for your mission
The Sterling Scholar Awards Program provides Utah high school seniors with an opportunity to have their academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement recognized. Students who advance to the regional final and win their category can receive a full Latter-day Saint tuition scholarship for two semesters at BYU. Because each high school establishes its own nomination process, interested students should learn about their school's requirements early.
