Lone Peak High School seniors who want a shot at university scholarships have until 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21, to submit their Sterling Scholar applications online.

The school's announcement sets that hard deadline for submissions. Candidate interviews will follow from Thursday, Oct. 22, through Friday, Oct. 30.

The Sterling Scholar program, launched in 1962 by the Deseret News and KSL Television, recognizes seniors statewide for scholarship, leadership and citizenship. Each high school may nominate one student per category across 14 fields, including math, science, English, dance, visual arts and world languages.

Applicants build a portfolio that includes a letter of recommendation, a 500-word essay on their chosen category, leadership and community-service records, and a life-enrichment essay, according to the program's website.

What's at stake

Regional category winners can earn significant tuition help. Based on the program's 2024-25 award schedule, the University of Utah offers a renewable $5,000 annual scholarship worth roughly $20,000 over four years. BYU awards one year of full LDS tuition. Utah Valley University provides $4,000 per year for four years, and Weber State offers a one-year $2,000 scholarship. Those figures have not yet been updated for 2026-27.

At the statewide level, the program awarded approximately $80,000 in scholarships at its April 16 ceremony at the Bountiful Regional Center, KSL reported. More than 1,500 seniors across Utah were nominated by their schools, and 168 finalists from 79 high schools competed at the Wasatch Front ceremony.

Lone Peak was represented. Isabelle Brucker, a Lone Peak senior, reached the finals in the dance category, the Deseret News reported.

Jolynn Wright, a Lone Peak High counselor featured on the Sterling Scholar website, has encouraged students to take on difficult challenges as preparation for life after high school.

How to apply

Applications are submitted online through a link on the Lone Peak High School announcement page. The school selects its nominees internally, so interested seniors should connect with their counselors before the Oct. 21 deadline.

Dates for the Wasatch Front regional competition have not yet been announced for the 2026-27 cycle.