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Dec. 2023 | Vol. 33 Iss. 12

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FROM HUMBLE ORIGIN TO HUGE IMPACT:

LOCAL BUSINESSWOMAN PARTNERS WITH INTERNATIONAL CHARITY By Elisa Eames | e.eames@mycityjournals.com

s the American dream still alive? For Salt Lake Valley resident Alexandrina MicPodar, it certainly is—and then some. Known as Alex to friends and acquaintances alike, Mic-Podar was born in a small village in Romania. When she was just a little girl in 1989, rioting and violence broke out in many cities as the Romanian Revolution to oust Communism spread across the nation, culminating in the execution of the Romanian leader and his wife on Christmas Day. In 1990, her mother moved the family to Hungary, and her father was able to join them a year later. Finances were tight as they began their new lives. “I’ve been dabbling in small business since I was a kid, doing odd jobs and trading stuff with my classmates just to be able to buy lunch and school supplies,” Mic-Podar said. To help make ends meet, she dropped out of high school at age 14 to begin working full time. “That’s where I got my real education,” she said with a knowing smile. To find clients for the massage therapy business she started on her own, she struck up conversations with fellow passengers while riding the bus. As a young adult, she met her friend and future business partner, American citizen

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Julie DeLong, while serving as a missionary in Hungary. “Then in 2005, thanks to some incredibly generous friends, I got the chance to move to the USA, where I saw the American dream come alive,” Mic-Podar said. “I brought with me a strong work ethic and the belief that anything is possible if you work for it. That’s when the entrepreneur in me was born.” The first of her family to earn a college degree, Mic-Podar graduated from LDS Business College in business and accounting, using her hard-won knowledge and education to guide and assist numerous businesses in their efforts to grow. “I’m absolutely passionate about building businesses and bringing people together in ways that benefit them. I love helping startups and supporting new entrepreneurs in getting their dreams off the ground.” she said. Fluent in English, Hungarian and Romanian, she has served as a consultant, board member and even investor for various companies in Romania and the U.S. For almost four years, she was the National Director of Public Affairs in Romania for The Church of Jesus

Winter sports begin

Continued page 10

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Alex Mic-Podar has founded multiple companies and fostered various charities. (Kinser Studios)

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5 tips to survive the holiday season with your family:

1. Don’t sweat the small stuff. If you have some bad feelings about others, acknowledge those feelings are there, and maybe for a good reason, but decide not to let them grow. 2. Set healthy boundaries. Healthy boundaries will help reduce stress and give you a sense of control over your environment.

3. Be sensitive to those around you. Utah has the nation’s highest rate of mental illness. Be aware that the holidays can be especially stressful for some people. Be on the lookout to help someone around you.

4. Have realistic expectations. Here’s the thing about families: You know a

lot about each other — the good and the bad. Avoid the temptation to make a case against those who bother you and make an effort to see their strengths in addition to their weaknesses in order to keep a balanced view. Remember this: everyone has something they’re battling.

5. There’s some very real pain out there. If you find yourself in an

emotionally abusive situation, you need to look for a healthier place to be. Families can come in all forms, so if relatives are distanced because of abuse or trauma, find your "family" with people who enhance your health and well-being.

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11/08/21 10:54 AM | Page 3 Dec. 2023

Mountain Ridge swim team hits the water, excited for new season By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

or the past two seasons, the Mountain Ridge High School boys swim team has won the region title. The girls haven’t been far behind, placing third both years. But head coach Katherine Crenshaw is looking for a lot more than more titles. “Our team goals are to create a team legacy by building better athletes, better people and a team family,” she said. “Ultimately, that is what we hope to accomplish this season.” This doesn’t mean Crenshaw and her team don’t want to do well in the pool. The team is still aiming for more success, and Crenshaw is confident it will continue. “We also like to swim fast and win,” she said. “We definitely want to repeat those great finishes. And looking to state, we are hoping to take our largest ever group of qualifiers to compete at state this year and get more of our swimmers on the medals podium. That is several months off, so our expectations now are to work hard to earn those times and those wins, and to have a great time along the way.” To win another region title on the boys’ side and move up the standings on the girls’ side, Crenshaw is emphasizing doing the little things in addition to focusing on training and conditioning. “We have been talking a lot this year about how focusing on the training process will yield greater results than focusing on the end goal time,” she said. “On the team, we call this being root vs fruit focused. With that in mind, we have been putting a lot of effort into how we’re approaching our training in the pool and weight room, including working on having individual goals for each day and each workout. We have seen some big improvements from this approach and expect to see this help them reach the goals they have set for themselves.”

Journals T H E

Our team goals are to create a team legacy by building better athletes, better people and a team family. Ultimately, that is what we hope to accomplish this season. Katherine Crenshaw The Sentinels have several returning state qualifiers on the team. Leading the way is senior Steven Collins, who swam a 1:03.23 in the 100-meter breaststroke and a 2:07.38 in the individual medley last year. Also, junior Huckleberry Burton had a time of 55.01 seconds in the 100-meter backstroke last season, while junior Aiden Tarin swam the 500-meter freestyle in 5:19.11. “We expect them to lead and push their teammates this year,” Crenshaw said. “Right now, our team has a lot of depth; a lot of swimmers we believe are ready to step up and take a place as the big point earners for our team. It’s going to be exciting to see who really performs and takes those top spots on the team this year.” Crenshaw said Mountain Ridge has a lot of strong butterfly swimmers, which is saying something considering it is arguably the most difficult stroke. She is also impressed with the backstroke and breaststroke competitors. The Sentinels have potential in the sprint and distance freestyle events, too. “It’s going to be really exciting to see how the team shapes up as we start getting into our meets and clocking times,” she said. The Sentinels are young this season, with 75% of the swimmers being fresh-

Mountain Ridge swimmer Aiden Tarin, shown here swimming the butterfly stroke, is one of several state qualifiers expected to help the Sentinels boys team defend its region title. (Photo by L1quid Studios)

men and sophomores. The young team puts Mountain Ridge at a disadvantage, but Crenshaw appreciates how older swimmers are setting the example and pushing everyone else. The Sentinels do have good depth, and many underclassmen are working their way into bigger roles on the team. The swim team will be busy in the pool through Feb. 23 and 24 when the state tournament is held at Brigham Young University. Crenshaw can’t wait to see how her team performs. She said she loves this group’s work ethic and attitude. “This team has so much potential, and they are working hard to achieve their

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goals,” she said. “They are invested and determined, and that inspires us as coaches to give them everything we can to help them become the best athlete they can be. They also really like to have fun and make us laugh a lot, which makes two-a-day workouts something we look forward to coaching each day. We also see daily how much they care for and encourage their teammates. That makes us proud to be their coaches. As a coach, it’s extremely rewarding to see them push themselves beyond what they thought was possible as athletes, individuals and teammates.” l

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Herriman City Journal

Proud pupils play to patriotic packed house By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

he parking lot of Blackridge Elementary School, the parking lots of two nearby churches, and the shoulders on both sides of Rosecrest Road were packed with cars Nov. 10 as family members, neighbors and veterans attended Blackridge Elementary School’s annual Veterans Day program. The school gymnasium was packed with hundreds of adults in addition to the 866 students who scrunched together to make room for everyone. One special visitor didn’t take up much space. Lt. Col. Greg Peirce was watching the Veterans Day program on a livestream from Iraq, where he was on active military duty. He tuned in to see his niece and nephew and their peers enthusiastically singing patriotic songs and sharing the history of the national anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance and the Veterans Day holiday. Students applauded as veterans from all branches of the military were recognized, and were quiet and respectful as Ron Tranmer of the American Legion played “Taps” on his bugle in memory of fallen soldiers. Peirce’s sister-in-law Brita Peirce proudly carried a laptop around during the performance to get the microphone and camera close to the students as they performed. Peirce’s wife also watched the program, through a family member’s phone, from Fort Bragg army base in North Carolina where her husband is stationed. Peirce has served in the Army for 17 years and on the day of the program, was three weeks away from coming home from his final deployment. His family found out 24 hours before the program that the soldier would be available to watch the assembly. Brita thought it was important for her

kids to have a personal connection to an audience member on whom they could focus as they performed their songs. She said all the students were excited to sing for the veterans, especially one who was actively serving in a faraway country. “It’s very obvious when you see the pride on a little child’s face,” she said. “And this gives all of these kids a reason, a person, for what they’re singing. I think it really enhances everything for everyone and makes it very real.” Lt. Col. Peirce said in a text following the program, “It gives me great hope for the country seeing that our youth are learning the sacrifice of those before us and learning to love our country.” Principal David Butler said Blackridge Elementary School’s annual Veterans Day assembly is one of the highlights of the year for students and teachers. Last year, there were three program performances, but this year there were only two, one on the afternoon of Nov. 9 and one on the morning of Nov. 10. Butler admitted that it was a mistake to only schedule two performances, however he didn’t expect the huge turnout from both community members and veterans. “Between the two days, there were over a hundred veterans who came,” he said. “And to me, that’s the coolest thing, to see them all standing [to be recognized.]” Herriman Mayor Lorin Palmer attended the program and told students that their efforts were appreciated by the veterans. He also addressed and acknowledged the sacrifice of military personnel and their families. “Today we honor you, we thank you, we appreciate your service,” he said. l

Kindergarten, first and second graders sing “You’re A Grand Old Flag” at Blackridge Elementary School’s annual Veterans Day assembly. (Doug Flagler/JSD)

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Brita Peirce holds up a laptop for students to greet Lt. Col. Greg Peirce, who had tuned in to see Blackridge Elementary School’s Veterans Day program from his station in Iraq. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

Blackridge Elementary School students performed several patriotic songs to honor veterans. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

Dec. 2023 | Page 5

Youngsters advocate for donations to put every child in a coat this winter By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

bout 1,000 kids may be warmer this holiday season, if some elementary kids have a say. Five-year-old Ember and 6-year-old Lucas heard the story, “The Coat” by Séverine Vidal, and wanted to do the same thing — only they are teaming up with friends to give on a grander scale. “It’s a story about a little girl who gave away the red coat she loved because there was a little girl who was cold and poor and didn’t have a coat,” Ember said. “It made her happy to give it away. She was being nice.” Her big brother added: “We made boxes and glued them together so people can donate coats. I don’t want anyone to be cold.” Coats and monetary donations are still needed for the youngsters and their friends to reach their goal. Coats can be donated through AAA Garage Door. The company’s drivers will pick up coats from donors who reach out by text at 801-792-6597. Drop-off donation sites are listed at the end of this article. Monetary contributions made to the Every Kid in a Coat’s Go Fund Me page, https://www.gofundme.com/f/every-kid-ina-coat-2023, and at the Venmo account @ Nicole-Hofer-4 will go toward purchasing new children’s coats. More information is available at https://www.facebook.com/ groups/1033927014067936. Kat Naessens, Ember and Lucas’s mother, said donated coats can be new or gently used. Any hand-me-down coats are being washed and mended, if necessary, before being donated to a child. The grass roots coat drive came about from the youngsters, their friends and their parents. “I looked for books about kindness and checked it out from the (county) library,” Naessens said. “We always do things so our kids understand they have a lot of blessings in their lives. After reading the book, we decided a coat drive would be something simple for them to understand the act of kindness and giving and it would have a big impact on those who need coats.” While her children attend Providence Hall, which is not a Jordan School District school, Naessens learned Jordan Education Foundation serves many of the schools in the area and has a way to distribute the coats to those who need them the most. When she asked how many coats were needed, she was told 1,000. “To be honest, I thought we’d just do a coat drive in our community and turn everything over to someone who was doing a bigger fundraiser, but there wasn’t someone. That’s when we decided it would be us. It’s really shocking, actually, to learn how many kids are living in food scarcity, and obviously, if the families in food scarcity don’t have the spare cash for food, then they won’t have

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Local families sort coats that were donated for “Every Kid in a Coat” drive; the coats will be distributed to Jordan School District students. (Photo courtesy of Jason Watson)

Coat donation drop-off locations:

Herriman: 6022 W. Champlain Way Herriman: Tiffany’s Dance Co., 6361 W. 13400 South Daybreak: 11843 S. Logan’s Run Cove South Jordan: 3171 W. 9765 South Bluffdale: City Hall, 2222 W. 14400 South West Jordan: West Jordan county library, 8030 S. 1825 West it for other things like winter coats,” she said. Jordan Education Foundation Associate Director Anne Gould said that about 2,100 students in Jordan School District are considered homeless. “There’s definitely a higher need than ever before,” she said. Jordan Education Foundation regularly distributes donated food, hygiene and school supplies and some clothing to students who are identified as being in need by teachers, counselors, principals and other professionals in the school. “Usually, we receive a donation from someone somewhere in the universe and it’s miraculous how then we get a phone call that someone needs that exact item. We have an

amazing, generous community,” Gould said. Approximately 40 percent of the District’s school children are refugees; a great many of them reside in the Herriman community. Beds and bedding supplies that have been donated are often given to those who have none, Gould said. For Naessens and her children, this coat drive is being held in addition to their school’s food drive. “I always grew up being aware of people with higher needs than ourselves and how we’d help other people,” she said. “I’m hoping my own kids see through their eyes that people aren’t as blessed as we are. We live in a very affluent part of the world.” Naessens grew up in Nairobi, the capitol of Kenya. “As you can imagine, there’s an incredible amount of poverty in Nairobi. My primary school was next to a shanty town. So, from a very young age, we knew that there were people living in poverty and everybody would be involved with helping. We’d visit orphanages or homes for disabled kids and do fundraisers for them. That culture is what I want to make sure my kids know. Living in wonderful Utah is a bit more insulated to that. There is need here, but you don’t see it in the same way.” Through the coat drive, Naessens has

seen people’s generosity. “It’s inspiring to see when people give, and some people have donated massive donations. It’s lovely when people send that positive message; it’s seeing kindness in action, and spreading it,” she said. “AAA garage doors has given us a lot of help. They made and paid for our fliers, they’re picking up donations and they gave us a big donation because they feel strongly about kids and wanting to make sure that they’re well stocked and supplied.” She’s also grateful for Mountain Ridge High School’s service club students who helped distribute fliers. “It’s inspiring to see our community come together to help our kids,” she said. Gould said that the family itself is an inspiration. “Kat is one of the many examples of a caring community member who sees a need and wants to help out,” she said, adding that it’s great that children are involved in every step of the drive as well. “The Jordan Education Foundation is the receiving house for these donations. We work with the schools directly and with people who know the needs of the students so we can make sure that those items get out to those students who need them the most.” l

Herriman City Journal

La inteligencia artificial/artificial intelligence for multilingual students By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com Editor’s note: this is part of a series of articles about artificial intelligence in schools.

ordan School District has 4,200 English language learners, also called multilingual students, which has pushed educators to look for effective methods and tools to provide a good education for these students. “As teachers, we always want to try and do better to help all of our students, including our multilingual ones,” fourth grade teacher Elizabeth Clay said. “Just based on our abilities and our students’ abilities, we do what we can with the resources that we have and through help from others at the school as well, using their skills and what resources they have to help our students.” Many teachers get their ESL endorsement and receive training on teaching strategies for students who are learning English as a second language. Common strategies include using hands-on activities and visual demonstrations. An example is when fifth-grade teacher McKenna Stowell tears paper into pieces to teach the concept of fractions. “My ESL students are able to pick up on what I am doing even though there is a language barrier,” Stowell said. “Students are hearing what I’m saying but they are also visually seeing what I am saying.” Elementary teachers often use pictures to label classroom objects in multiple languages to help students build their vocabulary. Secondary teachers incorporate pictures into study guides to help explain concepts. But these simple techniques have limited impact. Technology tools, including AI, provide teachers and multilingual students with the resources for effective learning to take place. Laura Halverson, English Language Development coordinator at Joel P. Jensen Middle School, said Chromebook tools, such as speech-to-text and translation settings, allow multilingual students to navigate websites and get real time translation of teachers’ instruction. Teachers have found additional translation tools to meet their needs. “There's a lot of those types of apps nowadays,” Clay said. “You can take pictures of worksheets or documents and it'll translate it into Spanish for them so they can read it on there and fill out the worksheet. I use the app to translate it and it will also read it out loud, too, so that way [the student] can hear it in Spanish and is able to more easily follow along with what we're doing.” West Jordan Middle School teachers and students use Microsoft Translate, which requires a class code to join a conversation. Users can choose a language for written translations and a voice type and accent in which to hear the translation read aloud. West Jordan Middle Principal Eric Price said that because Microsoft Translate uses a

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large language model, the same model as OpenAI ChatGPT, the translations will become increasingly more accurate. “We are using AI to level the playing field for English language learners,” Price said. Price is constantly discovering new AI tools that benefit teachers and students. One app he recommends to teachers makes the translation process more natural. “You can clone your own voice, and then you can change it into different languages,” Price said. “So you can have the same lesson be taught, or the same video can be made, in multiple different languages.” Price recorded a video about parent conferences using an AI tool called HeyGen. It not only translated the audio in his own voice to speak another language, but also made his mouth move in sync to the new audio so that it appeared that he was actually speaking the language. Price is quick to share tools he discovers with his staff and colleagues, just as most educators who’ve embraced AI technologies. Clay said some of the tools she uses to translate assignments, provide vocabulary definitions, access bilingual lessons and differentiate the reading level and language of a text were introduced to her by colleagues. “There's a bunch of things online, and that's the hard part, trying to find that information online of what would be most beneficial,” Clay said. “That's part of why we collaborate as teachers, to see what tools are working for others. A lot of these tools are found through just talking with other teachers, other people in education, about what they're noticing that they need in their own class and finding other teachers or people at the school that have resources that fill those holes. That's the case in education in general, but particularly with multilingual students, just being able to collaborate with other teachers really helps to be able to meet those kids where they're at as best we can.” The second-grade teaching team at Ridge View Elementary created a collaborative Google classroom in order to share videos they find that teach basic reading and counting skills. “Then, when we're doing something on our Chromebooks that would be too difficult for [our multilingual students], we can tell them, ‘Go and watch these videos,’” second grade teacher Kristie Alexander said. Alexander, who speaks Spanish, said teachers have to determine which lessons and activities need to be adapted for multilingual students and then they have to create alternative activities and schedules for the various levels of language proficiency. “It is a lot of work and it's really hard because I want to be able to help all of them,” Alexander said. Alicia Rassmussen, an instructional coach, created a resource website for Ridge View Elementary teachers with links to teach-

Students who aren’t proficient in English use translating apps on Chromebooks and tablets to be able to keep up with their peers. (Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Clay)

ing ideas, bilingual lesson plans, and an overview of the culture and customs of various countries. “That has helped me a lot to better understand my students and really get to know them and connect with them,” Stowell said. Jordan District provides some district-wide tools for teachers of multilingual students, including two digital programs: Imagine Learning and Ellevation. Students use Imagine Learning for targeted lessons in reading, writing and speaking skills. Stowell said it is the tool she uses most to keep her multilingual students involved in the lesson as much as possible. While students read during independent reading time, Imagine Learning stories can be adapted to a multilingual students’ reading level. “I use Imagine Learning a lot for one of my students who has only come to the country in the last six months,” Clay said. “He is still learning basic vocabulary and reading skills in general, so he uses Imagine Learning most days during our reading instruction time.” Alexander said Imagine Learning provides alternative instruction when the lesson she is teaching doesn’t meet her multilingual students’ needs. She can customize activities and set up games based on students’ abilities, which she can monitor through the program. Ellevation is a program teachers use to track multilingual students’ progress in reading, writing, listening and speaking skills and to set their educational goals with suggested activities and specific techniques. Some schools, such as Herriman High and Joel P. Jensen Middle, have invested in their multilingual students by purchasing trans-

lation headphones. In the JROTC class at Herriman High, SFC (R) Konrad Wilson regularly uses the translating headphones and app with his students. “It's very effective because I can talk to the students and we can have a conversation back and forth,” Wilson said. Because JROTC is a demonstration-based class, it attracts many multilingual students, but Wilson said language is still a big part of the students’ experience. When teaching students military lingo, he provides a glossary with definitions in both English and Spanish. Going without translation is sometimes beneficial for the English-speaking students, he said, because when Spanish-speaking student leaders run a drill or recite the creed in Spanish, the English-speaking students get to experience how their peers feel when they don’t understand the language. “It helps everybody understand that frustration and brings everybody in on the same level field,” Wilson said. With the many tools available, there are still gaps in meeting multilingual students’ needs. Neither Google Translate nor the translation headphones app supports the African dialect of a JPJMS student who recently arrived in the country. The capabilities of AI are expanding at an accelerated rate and many teachers are excited to find and use new tools to meet the needs of their multilingual students. “I love to learn new things, always, so that I can support my students the best way possible,” Stowell said. l

Dec. 2023 | Page 7

Change to Herriman’s citywide fiber optic plan By Elisa Eames | e.eames@mycityjournals.com

he Herriman Journal wishes to update the story entitled, “Herriman to build citywide fiber-optic network,” which appeared in the November printed edition and online. “[The] most recent financial estimates show a significantly higher bond interest rate, overall cost, and required minimum subscription rate [for the citywide network] than earlier projections showed,” city officials explained. “As the city continues to look into the best financing mechanism, it will monitor the market’s interest rates and update cost projections in coming months.” Again, no taxes will be used to fund the network. For more information, visit www.herriman.org/fiber-internet. All West Communications has been granted permits to install fiber-optic network cable for its private business operations, similar to Centurylink, Comcast, or any other private company, but they are not affiliated with Herriman, and this is not the same as the city’s plan to create a citywide publicly-owned network. l

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Page 8 | Dec. 2023

Herriman City Journal

A story of school bullying: The pain, the frustration, the solution By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

ccording to the 2021 national statistics on stopbullying. gov, 15% of high school students said they had been bullied at school in the past year. A 2020 report by the Cyberbullying Research Center in partnership with Cartoon Network showed that bullying is an even bigger problem among tweens. Half of the 9-12 year olds they surveyed said they had been the victim of school bullying, and 65% said they had witnessed bullying at their school. Anecia Carstensen was bullied during the fifth grade and the problem continued into middle school. The bullying she endured caused mental health problems, a change in personality and negatively impacted her education. “I was missing a lot of school and my grades were bad,” Anecia said. Anecia’s parents, West Jordan residents Sarah and Shaun Carstensen, searched for solutions and finally made the decision to transfer their daughter, mid-year, to Career Academy of Utah, an online charter school. Things improved immediately for Anecia. She began to actively participate in class, make friends and earn better grades. “Since being in an online school, she has maintained either all A's or B's and is excelling,” Sarah said. “It's the best change that we could have made for her.” Sarah said after years of pain and frustration, she is glad to see the improvement in her daughter’s overall happiness. “It was kind of scary having her in in-person school for a little while there, with the stuff that was going on,” Sarah said. “It's been a big, big change, and that, for me, is the biggest positive of it, just her mental health and the change that we've seen with that.”

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In her online classes, Anecia, now in eighth grade, has made friends and said the teachers are all nice and helpful. Amy Vance, academic administrator/principal of Career Academy of Utah, said student safety is a top priority. “We address concerns with bullying in a timely manner and work with a positive behavior intervention system to allow students to change behaviors,” she said. “Some students have had experiences of bullying at previous schools and they are given support through our counselor.” Homeroom teachers also check in with students daily and teach Mindset lessons, which develop the social emotional skills students need to navigate life, said Vance. Anecia takes core subjects, an elective Spanish class and classes that are part of the health science career pathway she has chosen. She enjoys the frequent field trips, like a recent visit to UVU for hands-on health science activities. Sarah said they explored other online school options before choosing CAU. “When we learned that they had the career pathways and things like that, we just decided that it was what was best, and we applied,” Sarah said. “It was easy. They sent us all the supplies that she needed—a printer and everything—and we were set up and ready to go.” Sarah enjoys the flexibility of online school—Anecia can keep up with schoolwork if she’s sick or on vacation—but mostly, she is just glad that her daughter is happy, safe and enjoying school again. “There was a lot of tears cried, a lot of figuring out what to do, and I'm just glad we finally found something that works,” Sarah said.

Eighth-grader Anecia Carstensen loves taking online classes at Career Academy of Utah. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Carstensen)

Anecia and her family wanted to share their story in hopes of helping others who are experiencing a similar situation. “We just want people to know that there's other options,” Sarah said. "They don't have to stay and there's other things they can look into, especially if their mental health is struggling like hers was.” l

Dec. 2023 | Page 9

Continued from front page Christ of Latter-day Saints. She and DeLong eventually both settled near the Herriman-Daybreak border, and in 2008, she watched DeLong struggle with several small office positions. “Alex joked that [I] was spending more time in QuickBooks than on Facebook, so why not turn it into a business?” DeLong explained with a smile. DeLong realized that what she loved most was bookkeeping and accounting, so with virtually no money, the pair launched Salt Lake Valley-based Backyard Bookkeeper and later, Backyard Payroll. With almost 50 employees and clients from multiple states, Backyard Bookkeeper has grown into one of the largest bookkeeping-only companies in the nation. And it’s no wonder why— with Mic-Podar’s and DeLong’s hands-on guidance and careful involvement, both companies continually strive to offer superior service. Partnering with ChamberWest Chamber of Commerce, Backyard Bookkeeper was a 2022 Worldwide Finance Award recipient. The company is also a member of the Forbes Financial Council and has been featured in several Forbes articles. DeLong has penned an article herself for Forbes’ online content. In 2018, Mic-Podar also co-founded sPc Strategies, which helps businesses create their own in-house accounting departments, and she and DeLong recently launched their online Bookkeeping Academy. “[I love] helping businesses overcome [financial] obstacles,” Mic-Podar said. She aims to do this by providing skilled bookkeeping professionals, essential training programs and expert consulting. In fact, Mic-Podar regularly offers her expertise about starting and growing a business as she is often invited to speak at business functions and conferences. She has been featured on numerous webinar and podcast series and earned recommendations from many of her fellow business owners. Recognized by numerous organizations for her achievements, she was also honored last summer by Utah’s 40 Over 40, an organization that distinguishes and celebrates the accomplishments of remarkable and successful women over the age of 40. Mic-Podar concedes that she is somewhat unique in what she has done. “I’m a… female CEO in a world dominated by male CEOs,” she said good-naturedly. But those who know Mic-Podar best will readily acknowledge that her good qualities don’t end with her business expertise. She has freely given her time and talents to various charities, serving as a consultant, board member and even chairwoman. For four years, she volunteered as an employment specialist for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and in 2011, she became a consultant for Bridge of Love, an organization that provides social services and support to abandoned children and their foster families in Romania. Just two years later, Bridge

Page 10 | Dec. 2023

of Love made her their executive director. Currently, she is helping with a hat and scarf drive for Ukrainian refugee children in Romania through U.S. Friends of AMAR, the American arm of London-based charity AMAR International Charitable Foundation. In 1991, Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne, U.K., founded AMAR, which loosely means “builder” in Arabic, to provide relief to Iraqis persecuted by Saddam Hussein. In the decades since, the organization has provided healthcare, education and emergency relief to millions of displaced and vulnerable people in the Middle East and the world. AMAR, whose official patron has been none other than Prince Charles himself (now King Charles III), has also maintained a presence in Mic-Podar’s native Romania helping orphans and special needs children to integrate into society. Later in the 90s, the baroness chose the Salt Lake Valley as headquarters for U.S. Friends of AMAR, which also collaborates with LDS Charities. During her tenure at LDS Business College, Mic-Podar had met D. Louise Brown, a current board member of U.S. Friends of AMAR, and it was during this time together that Brown came to deeply admire Mic-Podar, particularly her courage. During one of Nicholson’s trips to the Salt Lake Valley two years ago, Brown introduced her to Mic-Podar. The two women hit it off immediately as they discussed AMAR’s future, and Mic-Podar offered her thoughts on how to improve the organization. “Alex has such a big heart!” Brown said. Mic-Podar has been a tremendous supporter of AMAR ever since. As she saw Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion continue to pour over the Romanian border, Nicholson asked Brown for hand-knit or crocheted scarves and hats to send to child refugees. The goal of the drive is not only to provide warmth but also a personal connection with a handmade gift from someone half a world away. The baroness requested that a handwritten note from its creator accompany every item. Brown was somewhat overwhelmed by the request, but she knew just who to call for help: Alex Mic-Podar, who was a natural choice not only because of her continued support of U.S. Friends of AMAR but also because some of her family members still live in Romania. “Alex is a very humanitarian-minded person,” Brown said. “She is the kind of person who gets things done.” Mic-Podar immediately created a Facebook group for the drive, and in just a few short months, membership in the group has grown to over 120. Members share ideas, tutorials and photos, and other Facebook users have reached out from all over to join the effort, including a resident of England who didn’t realize the group was in the U.S. Mic-Podar and other volunteers continue to work with local religious women’s organizations, church congregations, high school and senior groups, many individuals, and even

Mic-Podar and a staff member from the Golden Hours Senior Center sort hats and scarves. (Golden Hours Senior Center)

the Centerville South Stake Humanitarian Center. The Golden Hours Senior Citizen Center in Ogden is just one group that has diligently worked to do its part, and in November, Mic-Podar drove to collect their donations and made a point of arriving early to spend as much time as she could visiting with the seniors themselves. The goal for the first batch of scarves and hats was to deliver them to the children on St. Nicholas Day, which falls on Dec. 6. In many European nations, St. Nicholas Day is a significant holiday, where gifts are bestowed on children and those in need. It marks the beginning of the holiday season in general. “One shipment left at the end of September with 207 hats and 71 scarves, weighing 70 pounds. We were shocked to get so many items! The second shipment left on Oct. 30 with 498 hats and 291 scarves and weighed 205 pounds. A third shipment left Nov. 11 with more than 1,000 items!” Brown said. She has also received donations of yarn, supplies, transportation and even childcare from those who don’t knit or crochet. Brown credits a small number of key people, including Mic-Podar, with the overwhelming response. “So many things fell into place for this project,” Brown said. “Alex’s role in this was absolutely essential. This would never have gotten off the ground if she had not been willing to step up and contribute her time and skills… to enable us to reach out to people we don’t even know.” Baroness Nicholson hopes that the community created by Mic-Podar’s Facebook group and other outreach efforts continues to grow to help with future humanitarian opportunities in the U.S. and U.K. Hundreds of children will be delighted with the handmade, heartfelt accessories on St. Nicholas Day, but because the need is ongoing, the drive will continue through February. Cache

Alex Mic-Podar and Julie DeLong began Backyard Bookkeeper in 2008. (Backyard Bookkeeper)

Valley-based Juniper Systems, Inc. has graciously assisted with discounted shipping rates. Numerous charities, organizations, businesses and individuals attribute much of their success to Mic-Podar’s impact. “My [Romanian] grandparents taught me about love, faith and hard work, and those lessons have stayed with me,” she said. “I learned to never give up and to always dream big, no matter the circumstances.” Last summer, Mic-Podar was finally able to celebrate becoming a U.S. citizen. For questions about or to donate to the Ukrainian Children’s Hat and Scarf Drive, contact Alex Mic-Podar at alex@backyardbookkeeper.com or D. Louise Brown at (801) 682-0691, or visit the Facebook group, Hats & Scarves Project for Ukrainian Children by AMAR at www.facebook.com/groups/ hatsandscarvesforukraine. For more information about AMAR or U.S. Friends of AMAR, visit amarfoundation.org or usfriendsofamar. org. l

Herriman City Journal

HerrimanJ ournal.com

Dec. 2023 | Page 11

Defending region champion Mustangs tip off girls basketball season By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

ith an early start, the Herriman girls basketball team has gotten its 2023– 24 season underway. Optimism is high for the Mustangs, who tied for the Region 3 championship a year ago. The Mustangs were one of the first girls basketball teams in the state to begin the new season. They defeated Skyline 5131 on the road on Nov. 15. It was a big victory for the Mustangs over a team that reached the Class 5A state semifinals last season. The Mustangs allowed just 20 points over the final three quarters of the win and got 14 points from Shelby Ulibarri. Halli Burbidge added 10 points. It was a good start for Herriman, which tied Mountain Ridge for the league title last season with an 8-2 record. The Mustangs were 18-6 overall and lost in the 6A quarterfinals to Davis. Two starters are back this year, along with some other players who came off the bench last season. Head coach Kent Smith, in his sixth year, also has some newcomers to turn to for additional help. Herriman was potent on offense last year, averaging 56.4 points per game, third-best in 6A. Some of that production is gone, so Smith will look to others to fill the void. Burbidge, a senior, was the

second-leading scorer on last year’s team with 14 points a game. Ulibarri, another senior, chipped in 5.5 points a game. Forward Kennedy Brown and forward Haily Hilton should be big factors for the Mustangs after having limited roles a year ago. Smith pointed to newcomers Brittea

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Kent Smith returns for another campaign after three straight region titles. Left: Kennedy Brown is also back for the Mustangs this season. (File photos City Journals)

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Herriman City Journal

History nerd named Utah History Teacher of the Year By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

rovidence Hall Junior High School history teacher Julie Winslow was named the Gilder Lehrman Institute 2023 Utah History Teacher of the Year. “She lives and breathes history,” fellow PHJH history teacher Tanya Rauch said. “It’s pretty wild, actually. She’s an encyclopedia of history, and in everything—whether it’s the news or current events or she’s just out and about with her kids—she’s constantly thinking of lessons and ideas and ways to make history come alive for kids. History isn’t memorizing dates and spitting them out on a test—that’s not the way we do it anymore, and Julia embodies that. She gets them up and doing. She wants them to be mini-historians and so that makes it really fun.” Winslow’s teaching style is to immerse students in history. They roleplay the Constitutional Convention to create a government for a new country. They listen to reenactments of first-person accounts of historical events. They design a series of Funko Pop explorers with historically accurate details. In October, Winslow upended the chairs in her classroom and played a beach scene video and soundtrack to create a crime scene for the mysterious disappearance of the Roanoke colonists in the late 1500s. Eighth graders scoured the dimly-lit room for snippets of authentic personal letters and historical newspaper articles. They evaluated the evidence to write an argumentative paragraph of what they thought happened to the colonists. “We’ve just set them up with the historical background and the historical context for them to be able to come up with their own theories,” Winslow said.

Students enjoy the hands-on activities. “They are interesting and make it more fun,” eighth-grader Antonella Lopez said. Eighth-grader Claire Pomeroy said she understands history better with hands-on learning projects like the Roanoke crime scene activity. “I like how we can talk with our friends, and we’re free—we don’t have to sit in a desk and listen to a teacher talk about it,” Claire said. “It’s better to understand.” Winslow, who has been teaching for nine years, believes that everyone has a historical perspective, and that everyone’s historical perspective matters. “I try to teach them that, through facts and evidence and their interpretation of it, they can come to historical truths themselves,” she said. “Every activity that we do with hands-on is really about helping them to be able to gain historical empathy along with their historical perspective.” She said this helps students learn to be active American citizens who understand the past, are open to different viewpoints, have empathy for others and can think critically. “I still focus on the historical skills and things, but I found that by allowing the kids to have empathy, allowing them to have connection, their actual critical thinking skills just blossom so much better,” Winslow said. Winslow teaches American History, History of Medicine and Disease, and is PHJH’s National History Day coordinator. PHJS teams traditionally do well in National History Day competitions. Last year, four PHJS students went to state and one advanced to nationals. l

Eighth graders are immersed in learning with a historical crime scene activity developed by Providence Hall Junior High teacher Julia Winslow. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

HerrimanJ ournal.com

Providence Hall Junior High eighth graders evaluate clues in a crime scene simulation to solve a historical mystery. (Photo by Laura Bullen)

The Gilder Lehrman Institute 2023 Utah History Teacher of the Year transforms her classroom into a historical crime scene. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

Dec. 2023 | Page 13

Miss Herriman Scholarship Competition seeks to empower local women By Elisa Eames | e.eames@mycityjournals.com

n Veterans Day, active National Guard member Scarlet Lankford was crowned the new Miss Herriman at Fort Herriman Middle School. Though perhaps seen by many as merely a beauty pageant, the Miss Herriman Scholarship Competition, like all other competitions associated with Miss America, is in reality a scholarship program aimed at empowering young women to lead and serve their communities. “I love that everyone was authentically themselves in the end. We all had love and respect for one another,” declared Lankford, who will receive $3,000 for the college of her choice. Her first attendant, Graycee Wells, will receive $1,000 and second attendant Lauren Christiansen will receive $700. A yearly staple in the Herriman community, the Miss Herriman Scholarship Competition was generously sponsored this year by the Garage Grill, Herriman Holiday Marketplace and Maren Tenney Voice. Created earlier in 2023, nonprofit Friends of Herriman took the competition reins for the first time this year with volunteers spending dozens and dozens—if not hundreds—of hours. Herriman’s is a closed competition, meaning that to compete, contestants must live, go to school or work full-time in Herriman. Including Miss Herriman, 51 Utah contestants go on to compete every year for the title of Miss Utah. Additional requirements for Herriman stipulate that contestants be between the ages of 18 and 28, have never been married, never had a child or an abortion and are not the guardians of any children. Each lady interested in vying for the scholarship begins her journey by attending an orientation always held on the first Saturday in October. Contestants must then submit completed paperwork two weeks later. The paperwork includes information about themselves, what they’re passionate about and their goals. Candidates must also create a Community Service Initiative, which is a detailed plan addressing a need within the Herriman community, and a Health Initiative to promote improved health for themselves and others. The most important aspect of the paperwork is an essay outlining their CSI. Lankford’s CSI examined suicide prevention among members of the military while Wells’ initiative discussed American Sign Language within the community. Christiansen’s CSI championed environmental issues and efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle. “I have a passion for conservation…” Christiansen revealed enthusiastically. In total, six lovely women threw their hats into the ring this year. After the orientation, each attended workshops throughout October and early November to prepare for the final event. Workshops offered instruction on completing the paperwork, interviewing well, making the most of talents and

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walking with confidence. Tutorials about headshots, wardrobe and makeup were also included. “There was lots of practice walking in heels,” joked competition director and Friends of Herriman member Laura Twitchell—though she has assisted with the competition for 14 years, this was her first year as director. The reigning Miss Utah, Sarah Sun, even attended workshops to help and encourage each contestant. Miss Herriman board member and competition photographer Elizabeth Sorenson asserts that the workshops were the best part of the whole process. “I liked the workshops leading up to the pageant the very most because there was no pressure on the girls, and they were just there to get to know each other,” Sorenson said. Though the workshops of course aimed to help each lady look her best, what was focused on most was poise, confidence and empowerment. “It’s very interesting to see winners crowned, and then the next year when they pass the titles on to see how much they’ve grown… They have much more poise and confidence,” Sorenson said. Contestants often enter the competition and return year after year, not necessarily to win but simply to gain experience and increased self-esteem and to relish the sisterhood offered by the preparation, training and the competition itself. “I loved getting to know all the hard-working young women and building that connection during workshops as well as gaining more confidence in myself,” Wells said. The women also enjoy the opportunity to demonstrate what they stand for, what they’re passionate about and how they want to serve the community. Each contestant as well as the competition coordinators spend astonishing amounts of time preparing for the big night. “It is a lot of time, but that’s why I do it,” Twitchell said. “I want these girls to succeed in life. I adore them, and it’s hard that they can’t all win.” This year was also the first for the Little Miss Academy, a program for girls aged 5-12. The objective is to give younger girls the opportunity to participate in the competition. The 15 Little Miss participants for 2023 enjoyed decorating sashes, face painting, receiving instruction from the current Miss Herriman on how to walk down a runway and the chance to perform a choreographed dance during the Miss Herriman Scholarship Competition itself. “I put my daughter in Little Miss just for the skills, poise and confidence that they learn,” Sorenson said. The Little Miss program also serves as a fundraiser for the Miss Herriman competition. Weeks of preparation finally concluded

Miss Herriman Scarlet Lankford is attended by Lauren Christiansen (right) and Graycee Wells (left). (Elizabeth Sorenson)

on Saturday, Nov. 11. Before the festivities began at 7 p.m., each contestant completed a private 10-minute interview with the five judges, which was worth 30% of the overall score. Worth another 10%, all six women then gathered onstage as the judges asked each a specific question concerning their CSIs. Worth 20%, the new health and fitness portion was next. The Miss America Scholarship Competition has shifted towards a focus on women’s health and fitness, so for the first time this year, the ladies sported athletic wear and were judged on the confidence they displayed and their plans to maintain and improve their physical and mental health and overcome body image issues. The swimsuit portion of the competition was discontinued

two years ago. The talent portion followed, which was worth another 20% of overall scores. Lankford displayed her ability to power clean and jerk up to 135 pounds, and Wells offered a musical performance that incorporated American Sign Language. “I have a passion for music and ASL. Having the opportunity to put them together was a dream come true!” Wells said. Christiansen explained her unique offering in the talent category. “For my talent, I performed an original HERStory about my experience as a marine biologist and how to reduce, reuse and recycle,” she said. Other talents performed included vocal performances and a monologue. Finally, the eve-

Herriman City Journal

ning was concluded with a parade of beautiful evening gowns, which was worth 20%. Contestants were judged by how well they knew their CSI and the intelligence and poise they demonstrated. Each event within the competition was graded on a scale of one to 10. Using the Olympic scoring system, both the high and low scores for every event were dropped, and the winners boasted the highest overall scores. More than 200 spectators watched as at the end of the 90-minute competition, Lankford received the most-coveted crown. She is currently serving in the armed forces full time and will attend airborne school to train as a paratrooper and then air assault school to learn, among other things, how to rappel from helicopters. She will also study sports medicine and kinesiology and intends to eventually begin an ROTC program to become an officer in the National Guard. First attendant Wells plans to earn a degree in ASL Deaf Studies and Interpreting and wants to be an ASL interpreter, and second attendant Christiansen is a marine biologist who just graduated from BYU Hawaii, enjoying opportunities to spread conservation awareness through her employment. In addition to completing her own service projects, each will attend all Herriman community events during the upcoming year where she will be asked to do everything from hand out awards and help with concessions to emceeing. Last year’s Miss Herriman, Kaitlyn Schreiner, even helped with children’s musicals and theater workshops. Lankford’s, Wells’, and Christiansen’s first assignment was assisting with the Herriman Night of Lights event on Nov. 27. Their next appearance will be at the Wreaths Across America ceremony on Dec. 16. Despite the countless hours Friends of Herriman members spent preparing for the competition, they are grateful for the opportunity to be involved. “I loved all of it, from the orientation to the pageant itself. The growth of the girls is astounding, and I love helping them achieve their goals and watching them grow and suc-

Scarlet Lankford hears that she is the new Miss Herriman. (Elizabeth Sorenson)

Scarlet Lankford poses with director Laura Twitchell. (Elizabeth Sorenson)

ceed,” Twitchell said. The winners are also grateful for what they gained. “The Miss America organization has brought me so many great experiences, but my favorite part about competing is the sisterhood and getting to know all of the amazing women who are empowering women to lead!” Christiansen said. Lankford agrees that the relationships were an essential element of the experience. “My favorite parts of Miss Herriman were the moments when I was backstage joking around with all the girls. The laughs, smiles, tears and memories made on that stage—I will never forget it... Now I understand what being a part of the sisterhood is.” l

This year’s Miss Herriman demonstrates her talent. (Elizabeth Sorenson)

HerrimanJ ournal.com

The six contestants pose in their evening gowns. (Elizabeth Sorenson)

Participants in the Little Miss Academy perform during the Miss Herriman Scholarship Competition. (Elizabeth Sorenson)

Dec. 2023 | Page 15

Herriman boys cross country finish second in state; girls make improvements By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

irls wrestling has only been a sanctioned high school sport in Utah since 2020, but momentum is already building for the sport at Mountain Ridge. The Sentinels continue to attract girls to their squad, as numbers for this year’s team are higher than ever. “This is my third year as a girls head wrestling coach,” head coach Brandon Birch said. “It’s amazing to see the progress every year in girls wrestling. Numbers are skyrocketing, and competition is increasing.” Birch said a big reason for the interest is that girls have more options than ever before to compete in the sport after high school. “There are opportunities now for girls to get college scholarships in wrestling and compete at the college level, and every year I have more and more girls that are gaining interest in competing at the next level,” he said. “The first year I coached, it was very difficult to recruit anybody, but now that we have some established girls wrestlers, and people are seeing and hearing about how girls can actually wrestle, I am now seeing girls come in on their own wanting to wrestle because they see that it’s just like any other girls sport, and not just a boys sport. Very exciting.” But it isn’t just newcomers who are filling spots on the mat for the Sentinels. Each year, more and more girls are coming with experience. “When I started 3 years ago, there were three girls out of my 13 who had one year of wrestling experience,” Birch said. “This year, I have 16 girls with at least one year of experience and four with multiple years of experience out of 29 right now.”

Page 16 | Dec. 2023

Four wrestlers are back for Mountain Ridge who placed at the 2023 girls wrestling tournament. Karlie Bishop, a sophomore at the 100-pound class, was fourth in state a year ago. Maddi Fulks, a junior, was third in state at the 170-pound class last season. Olivia Merino, a sophomore wrestling in the 145-pound group, was sixth a year ago at state. Junior Eva Newland placed sixth at state last season. A fifth returner, senior Cedar Curtis, was sixth at the state tournament in 2022 but took last season off. Sophomores Sadie Ashton (130 pounds), Naidelyn Lucio (145 pounds) and Eden Hunt (110 pounds) are others Birch is counting on to qualify for state once again, as they did a year ago. Juniors McKenna Housekeeper (125 pounds), Danae Fisher (125 pounds), Gloria Jessop (120 pounds), Vanhessa Vu (115 pounds), Hannah Whitlock (235 pounds) and Gabi Merino (155 pounds) also qualified for state last season and are back to bolster the Sentinels this year. Birch loves how hard the girls work and how they work well together. “They work hard together, support each other and push each other in the wrestling room,” he said. “They are great scholar-athletes and have a desire to be as good as they possibly can. They teach and mentor our new wrestlers at the same time, so they have the same mindset. They are not afraid to go out and try their hardest, and they are not afraid of pushing through to the last whistle.” Birch said team unity is the Sentinels’ biggest strength. The girls genuinely like one another and love competing with one another. “We like each other and want to see

Herriman had five of the top 12 boys runners at the championships. (Photos courtesy Doug Soles)

everyone succeed,” he said. “We have the kind of team where, after a tough match, win or lose, I have half the team lining up to high-five, hug or show support in one way or another. It’s fantastic.” Birch admits there is a stigma against girls wrestling, with some people believing it is a boys-only sport. He said multiple girls have wanted to wrestle on the team but have declined because of friends shaming them or parents forbidding it, stating that it is a boys’ sport. But Mountain Ridge is moving forward, undeterred and eager to improve on what was a solid season a year ago. “Our goals and expectations this year

are to go out and wrestle our best and get better each day,” Birch said. “We placed fifth in state the last two years, and feel like we have gotten even better, so we hope to do even better this year.” Birch also credits his coaching staff— Zan Elder, Jim Birch, Melanie Thornhill and Paris Bowen—for the team’s success and improvement. “Honestly, it’s been great to have the opportunity to be a part of something that has been so great and to help build what I think will be a solid competitive sport for years to come,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for a better, more fun, tight-knit team to be around.” l

Herriman City Journal

Excitement building for Mountain Ridge girls wrestling By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

The Mountain Ridge girls wrestling team placed fifth in state last season and returns several experienced competitors this year. (Photo courtesy Brandon Birch)

HerrimanJ ournal.com

exciting.” But it isn’t just newcomers who are filling spots on the mat for the Sentinels. Each year, more and more girls are coming with experience. “When I started three years ago, there were three girls out of my 13 who had one year of wrestling experience,” Birch said. “This year, I have 16 girls with at least one year of experience and four with multiple years of experience out of 29 right now.” Four wrestlers are back for Mountain Ridge who placed at the 2023 girls wrestling tournament. Karlie Bishop, a sophomore at the 100-pound class, was fourth in state a year ago. Maddi Fulks, a junior, was third in state at the 170-pound class last season. Olivia Merino, a sophomore wrestling in the 145-pound group, was sixth a year ago at state. Junior Eva Newland placed sixth at state last season. A fifth returner, senior Cedar Curtis, was sixth at the state tournament in 2022 but took last season off. Sophomores Sadie Ashton (130 pounds), Naidelyn Lucio (145 pounds) and Eden Hunt (110 pounds) are others Birch is counting on to qualify for state once again, as they did a year ago. Juniors McKenna

Housekeeper (125 pounds), Danae Fisher (125 pounds), Gloria Jessop (120 pounds), Vanhessa Vu (115 pounds), Hannah Whitlock (235 pounds) and Gabi Merino (155 pounds) also qualified for state last season and are back to bolster the Sentinels this year. Birch loves how hard the girls work and how they work well together. “They work hard together, support each other and push each other in the wrestling room,” he said. “They are great scholar-athletes and have a desire to be as good as they possibly can. They teach and mentor our new wrestlers at the same time, so they have the same mindset. They are not afraid to go out and try their hardest, and they are not afraid of pushing through to the last whistle.” Birch said team unity is the Sentinels’ biggest strength. The girls genuinely like one another and love competing with one another. “We like each other and want to see everyone succeed,” he said. “We have the kind of team where, after a tough match, win or lose, I have half the team lining up to highfive, hug or show support in one way or another. It’s fantastic.”

Birch admits there is a stigma against girls wrestling, with some people believing it is a boys-only sport. He said multiple girls have wanted to wrestle on the team but have declined because of friends shaming them or parents forbidding it, stating that it is a boys’ sport. But Mountain Ridge is moving forward, undeterred and eager to improve on what was a solid season a year ago. “Our goals and expectations this year are to go out and wrestle our best and get better each day,” Birch said. “We placed fifth in state the last two years, and feel like we have gotten even better, so we hope to do even better this year.” Birch also credits his coaching staff— Zan Elder, Jim Birch, Melanie Thornhill and Paris Bowen—for the team’s success and improvement. “Honestly, it’s been great to have the opportunity to be a part of something that has been so great and to help build what I think will be a solid competitive sport for years to come,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for a better, more fun, tight-knit team to be around.” l

Dec. 2023 | Page 17

Strong season takes Mountain Ridge volleyball to state quarterfinals By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

onsidering its difficult schedule, it was a highly successful season for the Mountain Ridge volleyball team. The Sentinels hit the 20-win mark to finish the year with a 20-12 record. They were also 5-4 in Region 2 (third place), going up against the likes of Bingham and Corner Canyon, both of which amassed 27 wins and ended up playing one another in the third-place match. Mountain Ridge reached the Class 6A state quarterfinals on Nov. 2, falling to No. 1 seed and eventual runner-up Skyridge 3-0. Head coach Bryan Nicholson loved his team’s effort and grit throughout the season. “The season overall was extremely successful,” he said. “Finishing third in a very tough region and to finish with more than 20 wins in any season is quite an accomplishment. I was most happy with the poise and fight that this team displayed. We weren’t always as consistent as a coach would like to see, but anytime we would drop sets badly, I knew this group would respond and fight back.” The Sentinels reached the quarterfinals with a back-andforth 3-2 win over Farmington in the second round. After dropping the first set 25-20, the Sentinels came back to win the second one 25-13. Set three went to Farmington, 25-19, but Mountain Ridge prevailed in the next two to advance in the state tournament. The Sentinels won sets four and five by the scores of 25-23, 15-4. In the quarterfinals, Mountain Ridge had a rough second set against Skyridge, falling 25-6 to go down two games to none. But the team didn’t quit and gave the Falcons everything they could handle in the final set, falling 27-25. “A five-set battle with a very good Farmington team was a great highlight for this tournament,” Nicholson said. “Then being able to turn around in the third set vs the No. 1 seed Skyridge after dropping a bad second set and to push them to extra points really showed the fight this group has in them.” The Sentinels reached the state title game a year ago but had to replace some productive players. Still, Nicholson had high expectations for the season. He was pleased with how well the team played and noted highlight wins over Herriman on senior night and a big win over Corner Canyon at home in the final region game of the season. Setter Sadie White and Addy Cook, in particular, had stellar seasons for Mountain Ridge. White was second in 6A in assists. Cook was third in 6A in total kills. In addition, libero Ava Livolsi and Allie Grosenbach stood out with their play

The Mountain Ridge volleyball team placed third in Region 2 and tallied 20 wins on the season. Most of the starters will be back next season. (Photo courtesy Bryan Nicholson)

this season, particular down the stretch. “[White] really controlled the ball well for us all year, including the tournament,” Nicholson said. “[Cook] was a dominant force at the net offensively for us all year. [Livolsi] was digging everything at the tournament, and [Grossenbach], our opposite hitter, ended the season hitting a .250 average with 252 kills.” For the departing seniors, the end of the season is always emotional, as they realize their careers on the team have come to an end. Nicholson is pleased that the senior group helped to establish a culture of winning and success at Mountain Ridge. However, the team returns a good group of players, setting up the Sentinels for strong potential in 2024. “With the majority of starters returning, we are hungry to make an even bigger impact next season,” Nicholson said. The returning players don’t just put their volleyballs away and stay off the court until next fall. Nicholson said 95% of his players will play club ball in the spring. The team also has a robust summer conditioning program designed to help the girls be faster and strong for the next season.

Sadie White, seen here at the 2022 state tournament, was second in 6A in assists this past season. (File photo City Journals)

Ultimately, wins and losses don’t determine the experience for Nicholson. He is grateful for his players’ hard work and attitudes. He appreciates the help he gets from others along the way in building the Mountain Ridge program. “I truly have the best support staff in my coaches, parents, admin and community,” he said. “Everyone associated with Sentinel volleyball has been super supportive and have helped in any way asked. Coaching is never easy, but when you have great kids and a supportive community, you can really focus on the kids, and that’s the rewarding part.” l

Under new coach, things looking up for Herriman boys basketball

n sports, change can be difficult, but sometimes it can infuse excitement into a team. This is what the Herriman boys basketball team is feeling, as there is a lot of optimism for the upcoming season. Leading the Mustangs is first-year coach Doug Meacham, who will try to build on an up-and-down 12-12 campaign from 2022–23. The Mustangs were 4-6 in Region 3, coming in fourth. Herriman lost to Corner Canyon in the second round of the Class 6A state tournament. Mecham comes to Herriman with an impressive resume. He has coached in the state for 22 years, beginning at American Fork from

Page 18 | Dec. 2023

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

2001 to 2018. He was most recently at Snow Canyon High School. Meacham’s 2021–22 Snow Canyon squad went 24-2 and won the Class 4A state title. Herriman might not have had a glossy record last season, but the team returns a wealth of players, giving Meacham a variety of skills and talents to work with. In fact, all five starters from 2022–23 are back this year. Leading scorer Ike Palmer is back. The senior guard scored more than 17 points a game last season along with pulling down 5.6 rebounds and dishing out 2.9 assists. He’ll have help from senior forward Malcolm Johnson,

who tallied 13.2 points and a team-high 9.1 rebounds an outing. Sophomore Carlo Mulford is a future star. As a freshman, he played big minutes for the Mustangs and averaged 12.4 points and six assists per game. Yet another player for Herriman is back after averaging in double figures in scoring a year ago, junior forward Cale Barclay. He averaged 11.2 points and 4.5 rebounds a contest in 2022–23. It’s a nice luxury to have four double-digit scorers coming back, but even more players return to bolster the lineup. Junior guard Stockton Blanchard and senior guard Beckham Willes will give the Mustangs depth. Some

new faces should provide additional scoring and defense for Herriman. Players such as Luke Brooks and Jayden Newman, seniors, along with juniors Drey Stilson and JJ Tomsick will see more time on the floor this seaosn. Meacham’s squad got underway on Nov. 21 at home against Cedar City. The Mustangs hit the road for the first time when they travel to Brighton on Dec. 7. They’ll also play in the Skyridge Tournament Dec. 8 and 9 as well as the Desert Heat Classic Dec. 28–30. The first region game is Jan. 12 against crosstown rival Mountain Ridge. l

Herriman City Journal

Navigating Grief and the Holidays By Kathie Supiano, PhD, LCSW The holiday season is nearly upon us. This is the time of year when grieving people often feel dread and sorrow about the very events and traditions that formerly brought happiness. As every grieving person handles loss in their own way, each one of us observes holidays in our own way in time of bereavement. There simply is no one right way to experience the holidays. Some find meaning in following cherished traditions, and others benefit from avoiding traditions because their associations are now tinged with loss. Some people find great comfort in being with other people, others prefer solitude to camaraderie. For all of us, how we gather is as important as gathering at all.

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Dec. 2023 | Page 19

Mountain Ridge boys gear up for another season of basketball By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

he Mountain Ridge boys basketball team sure doesn’t have it easy when it comes to its opponents. The Sentinels face some of Class 6A’s top teams in both region and nonregion play. But the coaches and players aren’t shying away from the competition. Coming off an 8-16 season in which Mountain Ridge went 3-7 in Region 3 (fifth place), there is optimism around the program that there will be improvements this season. The Sentinels won’t find the going to be easy, as only one starter returns from the previous season. But other contributors are back, along with some new faces who should add to the team’s depth and fortunes on both ends of the court. The top two scorers from last season are gane, leaving senior forward Spencer Krainich as the leading returner in point average. Last season, he chipped in 7.4 points and 3.6 rebounds a contest. Krainich had six games last season in which he scored in double figures, with a season-high of 14 points at home against West Jordan on Jan. 13. Another sophomore forward, Jake Allen, came off the bench last season to contribute 4.4 points and 2.2 rebounds a game. His numbers will almost certainly go up as he is inserted into the starting lineup in 2023–24. Junior forward Will Lindsay averaged 2.6 points per game as a sophomore, and senior guard Jackson Briggs scored a little more than two points a contest last season. Aside from these returning players, new varsity competitors will step into the spotlight. Among these play-

ers is Wyatt Sylvester, who head coach Scott Briggs will count on for valuable minutes. As one of the state’s most experienced and successful coaches, Briggs is no stranger to playing in big games and against talented foes. The veteran coach has been on the sidelines in Utah for 14 years, this being his fifth at Mountain Ridge. He spent the 2018–19 season at nearby Herriman after leading West Jordan from 1999–2000 through 2017–18. Briggs has amassed 335 wins in his career, including 42 at Mountain Ridge. The Sentinels opened with Hunter at home on Nov. 21. Briggs will face his former team, West Jordan, when Mountain Ridge plays the Jaguars on the road on Dec. 5. The two teams had been region rivals, but West Jordan has moved to Class 5A’s Region 4. The Sentinels play several games in December and then open region play Jan. 12 at Herriman. l

Spencer Krainich returns for the Sentinels for his senior year. (File photo Justin Adams/City Journals)

Young Mountain Ridge cross country team makes strides By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

mong strong competition, the Mountain Ridge cross country team qualified its entire squad for the state championships and competed hard. The Sentinels finished ninth on the girls’ side, while the boys placed 13th. “We have a young and very inexperienced team and have a ways to go to be a state contender again, but we had a lot of athletes that performed well throughout the season, and we are excited about the future,” head coach James Barnes said. Out of the 14 competitors at state for the Sentinels, four had never run on that stage before. Still, Mountain Ridge held its own and boasted some strong performances. The top runner for the Sentinels was Jaren Barnes, the coach’s son, who placed 49th out of all runners in Class 6A, finishing the 5k race in 16:19.9. His time was good enough for a school record. On the girls team, Cailey Bracken placed seventh at state—even while battling through a calf injury. “Considering that half our kids that ended up competing at state were JV kids, for various reasons, they did well, and about as expected for that,” James Barnes said. “We had higher expectations for our girls team at the beginning of the season but ended up running half of our JV as varsity, so considering that we did OK.”

Page 20 | Dec. 2023

Jaren Barnes was the recipient of the America First Credit Union, KJZZ and KMYU 2023 Student Athlete Scholarship. They highlighted him during the halftime show at the Mountain Ridge–Lone Peak football game on Oct. 27. He also had the opportunity to appear on TV with KUTV’s Adam Mikulich on the Sunday program “Talkin’ Sports.” Aside from Jaren Barnes, James Barnes highlighted the performance and efforts of Nathan Burningham. Despite having never run at state before, Burningham did well and was second on the team with a time of 16:48.2. For the girls team, Bracken ran hard all season, and sophomore Brooklyn Tarr was solid, placing 23rd at state. James Barnes said, “she has a bright future.” James Barnes is pleased with how well the team represented the school and with how hard the team members ran at state. He enjoyed coaching his son and his son’s closest friends, all of whom are seniors. The Sentinels lose other key members and will have to find some young runners to replace them. “We have a few good young runners coming back, but we need to build back the varsity team during the offseason,” he said. “We have a couple runners that we can build a team around, but we have to build it. They

The Mountain Ridge cross country team had several runners place in the top half of the state championships this fall. (Photo courtesy James Barnes)

need to work on getting stronger. A lot of kids come into high school nowadays having not played many sports other than some club or rec league soccer, kids aren’t as active. We get a lot of Minecraft kids, and they aren’t used to physically exerting themselves, and cross country is very physically exerting. So,

we need to work on strength.” Mountain Ridge runners also excelled in the classroom. Jaren Barnes, Lance Belcher, Grace Waite, Zarah Wiet and Nikki Phipps were all awarded 6A Academic All-State. This is double the amount of Academic All-State recipients any team at Mountain Ridge has had. l

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Dec. 2023 | Page 21

Ready to defend region title, Mountain Ridge girls basketball set for season By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

ast season, the Mountain Ridge girls basketball team was pretty good. Despite losing some key players from the previous year, the Sentinels think they can be even better in 2023–24. Mountain Ridge shared the Region 3 championship last season, going 8-2. The Sentinels were 19-6 overall and advanced to the Class 6A state quarterfinals where they lost to Fremont. Expectations are high going into this season. “We are very excited for the 2023–

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2024 season,” head coach Kenzie Newton said. “The girls have been working hard and have a great chemistry. We believe this team has a high ceiling, and our goal is to be better today than we were yesterday.” A trio of Sentinels, in particular, will lead the team this season. Sophomore forward Jessica Maynard, sophomore guard Jada Jangard and sophomore guard Kya Newton have experience, and each player brings something different to the court. They also play well together. “These three have a great chemistry and played a key role in our team’s success last season,” Kenzsie Newton said. “We hope their experience will help their teammates play with confidence and reach their full potential. We are a young group but very talented and can be pushed to be great.” Kya Newton is the leading returning scorer. She averaged 10.4 points per game last year as a freshman. She also contributed 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game in 2022–23. Maynard chipped in 4.2 points per game a year ago, while Jangard scored just under two points a game and hauled down 2.6 rebounds an outing last season. Kenzie Newton expects each player to do even more this season.

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The defending region champion Mountain Ridge girls basketball team has some new faces and some skilled returners. (Photo by L1quid Studios)

Kenzie Newton also wants to see good camaraderie and positive communication on the court. “A big emphasis for our team this year is to focus on celebrating each other,” she said. “By doing this, we feel our goals are attainable and something to build upon each day. The chemistry of this group is a big part of our strength. These girls are driven and some of the hardest workers I’ve ever been around. It is going to be a lot of fun.” Mountain Ridge likes to run a lot and push the ball up the court. The Sentinels averaged 58 points per game last season. Defense is something Kenzie Newton thinks the team can focus on, too. “We also are looking to play at a fast tempo and put a big emphasis on the defensive end,” she said. Mountain Ridge will have a lot of new faces this season. Without a lot of varsity experience on the court, the early part of the campaign could have some struggles. But Kenzie Newton and her players are eager to

see what they are made of. “We do lack varsity experience,” Kenzie Newton said. “Early on, we will face the challenges of these girls adjusting to the pace and physicality of the varsity level. With that being said, these girls are excited for this challenge.” Mountain Ridge hosted Lehi Nov. 16 to open the season. The Sentinels will play a large slate of nonregion games in November and December before jumping into Region 2 action Jan. 11 at home against rival Herriman. Kenzie Newton can’t wait to get started and see how this group of girls responds to defending their region title. “I love the passion this group shares for the game of basketball,” she said. “I also love the way they compete and push each other. They also celebrate each other and have a team first mindset. We are excited for the season and to see what this team can accomplish.” l

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Herriman City Journal

Christmas Unwrapped

t was the Christmas season as I Peri Kinder wandered the aisles at Gibson’s Discount Center with a $5 bill Life and Laughter crumpled in my pocket. It was 1975 and parents didn’t care if their 7-year-old wandered alone through a store. I’d earned money to buy my parents Christmas gifts and I had to find the perfect presents. I imagined mom’s surprise when she unwrapped a brand new purse that wasn’t filled with broken crayons, Cheerios and used tissues. I pictured dad’s excitement as he opened the model airplane he would assemble at the kitchen table. I would be an example of humility as they raved about my thoughtfulness. Dad agreed to drive me to Gibson’s and we climbed into our blue Ford Pinto. Once there, I told him he couldn’t follow me, that I wanted the presents to be a surprise. He hung out at the soda fountain drinking root beer so I could shop with privacy. It didn’t take long to realize my $5 wouldn’t cover the cost of a purse or a model airplane. My heart sank as I walked the aisles. Everything was so expensive. Maybe mom wanted an oven mitt or a wooden spoon. Perhaps dad would like a small bottle of model glue. Then I saw it. A pint-sized, cut-glass pitcher that gleamed under the store’s fluorescent lighting. It looked so elegant. It wasn’t big enough to mix a half-gallon of Kool-Aid but I didn’t think mom would care. She would cherish it for all eternity. And it was only $3.

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That left a present for dad. Walking past the drugstore aisle, I saw a mini-size bottle of Brut aftershave for less than $2. Mission accomplished. I wrapped the presents and placed them under the tree, right up front. On Christmas Eve, I had the holiday insomnia where you try to sleep but you hear jingle bells and ho-ho-hos and prancing reindeer on the roof. Finally, it was morning and I dashed down the stairs. I don’t remember what I got for Christmas that year. Probably a Madame Alexander doll, a Nancy Drew book and a journal with a heart-shaped lock. What I do remember is being so excited for my parents to open their presents. Mom unwrapped her gift first. I watched with the giddy excitement of a child who knows she nailed the perfect present. She opened her glass pitcher and held it up for everyone to see. It sparkled in the tree’s lights. Dad was so grateful for his little bottle of Brut that he never used it. The tiny green bottle sat on the bathroom shelf for at least a decade. I asked him once why he didn’t use it. Didn’t he like it? “I love it!” he said. “But if I use it, it will be gone and then I won’t have it anymore.” I get it, dad. I feel the same way about the expensive bottle of tequila in my office. Mom filled the pitcher with her homemade syrup we poured on pancakes, waffles and French toast. She used

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