SALT LAKE CITY - Numerous Catholic students who attend public schools in Utah have received honors and recognition as they graduate from high school.
Clara Purk is the Sterling Scholar for Speech and Drama in the Wasatch Region from West High School and will attend the University of Southern California. Luke Mirabelli of Highland High School received the Daniels Fund Scholarship and the Horatio Algers National Scholarship to Loyola University in Chicago. Highland High School seniors Mason Keller and Devin Lane signed letters of intent to further their athletic careers. Keller will play football at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo.; Lane will play tennis at the University of Utah.
Purk's scholarship requires her to major in communications. She will minor in film and is also looking at a composite major in politics, philosophy and law. She has been in the TV West broadcasting class for three years, and was a crew director. "I am also in the Ivy film class, where we study films, directors and make our own films," said Purk, who is a member of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish.
Purk and her sister directed two PBS documentaries for the Washington, D.C.-based News Hour with Jim Lehrer. They made documentaries on the Supreme Court case Frasier vs. Smith and climate change. The court case dealt with a high school student who sued the State of Florida for a violation of his freedom of speech, which required him to have his parents' permission to refuse to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Purk also was a member of the debate team her freshman through senior years and was president this year. She was the captain of the 2009 Tournament of Champions qualifying team in the National Debate competition. She has received many speaker awards for national and state tournaments.
"Clara played on the girls' soccer team, was involved in the International Baccalaureate program, was very involved in student government, and was a wonderful student," said Rick Jaramillo, West High School vice principal. "She is a great asset to our school."
"Mirabelli, Lane and Keller are three exceptional young men," said Paul Schulte, Highland High School principal. "They all received the Ram Medallion Award, recognizing their overall participation in academics and extracurricular activities. Lane was an All-State tennis player, a state champion as a freshman and sophomore and led the team to the 2010 State 4A Championship title. Mirabelli is beyond reproach. They are all very good academic students and they will be exceptional students in college." All three are members of Saint Ambrose Parish.
Mirabelli will major in biology and pre-medicine. "I am happy all my hard work is paying off," said Mirabelli, who is president of the National Honor Society and president of Health Occupations Students of America. He also has been in the Highland band for four years and plays the clarinet, saxophone and piano. "I've also been involved with the Highland Television System, broadcasting a live 15-minute news show every other day, and I'm in the Rotary Club, Key Club, and have been on the swim team for four years."
Lane, who received the Outstanding Athlete in tennis, is currently ranked No. 1 in the State of Utah for 18-year-olds. He started playing when he was 5 years old with Mike Martinez at Coach Mike's Tennis Academy, where he now teaches lessons. At age 10 he played national tournaments, and at 14 he played international tournaments. He plays and practices tennis six days a week.
Along the way he had to give up baseball, soccer, and basketball to achieve his goals.
"I've always loved playing other sports, but giving up basketball was the hardest," said Lane. "It's nice to play team sports rather than tennis, but that is what I am best at and what I possibly have a future in, so I have taken it seriously. I was drawn to the University of Utah because I have known the coach since I was young."
Keller was the quarterback for Highland High School throughout his career, and will be the starting quarterback for Lincoln University as a freshman. "They have promised me four years as quarterback because they did not have a designated quarterback," said Keller. "I also was the captain on the baseball team at Highland and was just selected to the 4A All-Star game. "I have really liked the friends I have made in high school and sharing some great moments playing sports. I am looking forward to living in a new state and starting a new journey."
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