Midvale Middle School names Lifelong Learning Scholarship winners, highlights Portrait of a Graduate program

The principal of Midvale Middle School praised eighth-graders and announced the winners of the Lifelong Learning Scholarship at a school awards night, highlighting the school's Portrait of a Graduate program and the students' focus on "mastery, autonomy and purpose." The scholarship, funded by Dave and Diane Long, is worth $500 with a stated possibility of growing to $3,000; winners were chosen based on "determination and growth," the principal said.

The principal, who did not give a name in the recorded remarks, credited Shelly Allen, the Portrait of a Graduate coordinator, for organizing the event and said the school fully embraced what the principal referred to as "Utah's Torchbearer Graduate" three years ago. "Our students are simply amazing," the principal said, noting students' hours of service to one another and the community.

Speaking about the scholarship, the principal described a family background in which a grandfather named Bill took eight years to finish college and worked to pay for his education by attending alternating semesters. The principal said Dave Long and Diane Long donated the scholarship; Dave Long was unable to attend because he was coaching a high school lacrosse game.

Teachers offered testimonials about the winners. Maxwell Eddington was quoted in the remarks saying the first honoree "will always show up, work hard, and help others without ever needing the spotlight." Kelly Johnson and Megan Kelleher were cited by the principal as describing the student as caring, conscientious and academically driven.

The principal named the first Lifelong Learning Scholarship recipient as Alan Aguilara, describing the student as a straight-A student, an active member of Latinos in Action, a dancer and choreographer, and a peer tutor who supports Spanish-speaking classmates. The principal said Aguilara "takes initiative, advocates for herself and others, and is consistently willing to help her community, peers, and teachers."

The second scholarship recipient was announced as Janet Zemarfinis.

Event staff later told the audience that slides would display the areas in which students had excelled and asked attendees to hold applause until the end to speed the awards presentation.