March 23, 2009
Utah Youth Soccer Scholarship Winners Announced

This year marks the inaugural winners of the Utah Youth Soccer Scholarships. We received over 40 applications for these scholarships and all applicants were worthy of the award. We are pleased to announce the winners, who were selected from their applications based on academics, soccer, and community service.

District 1
Andrew Naylor - attends Olympus High School, maintains a 3.6 grade point average. He has been a soccer referee and has played competitive soccer for the past 6 years. He is a student body officer captain of the Olympus High School team, and has earned his Eagle Scout Award. He plans on attending either the University of Utah or Westminster.

Megan Niebergall - Megan attends Murray High School, maintains a 3.9 grade point average. She has played for Murray Max and also for Murray High School. She has been active in the community at long term care centers, the humanitarian center and the food bank. She plans on attending Snow College.

District 3
Courtney Thomas - attends Lehi High School and maintains a 3.0 grade point average. She has played for Sparta, Lehi Savages, and Timp Thunder. She has played for Lehi High School. She has coached a recreational soccer team of U-8's. She has been active in the Big Brother's and Big Sister's Program, and n the Youth with Special Needs events; such as Shop with a Cop, Special needs Prom, and has been a youth leader at girls camp. She plans on attending Utah Valley University or Snow College.

Eric Smart - currently attends Brighton High School and maintains a 3.85 grade point average. He has played for Sparta Inter and Cosmos and on the High School team. He has been a volunteer coach for the U-4's and U-6's. He volunteers at he Wentworth Assisted Living Center, the Christmas Box House and is an Eagle Scout. Eric will be attending University of Utah or BYU-Hawaii, or Utah State University.

District 4
Kody Hunter - currently attends Fremont High School and maintains a 3.7 grade point average. He has played for Rampage, Advantage and LaRoca and his High School. He has made blankets for Primary Children's Hospital and is an Eagle Scout and plans to attend Dixie State College.

District 5
Steven Bean - currently attends American Fork High School and maintains a 3.9 grade point average. He has played competitive soccer for 9 years on Xreme, Arsenal, UC Strikers, Assault, Manchester and Chargers. Her started refereeing at age 11. He volunteers at the American Fork library tutoring and served on the staff at Timberline Boy Scout Leadership Camps. He is an Eagle Scout. He plans on attending Brigham Young University.

Storie Brockbank - attends Salem Hills High School and maintains a 3.9 grade point average. She plays High School Soccer and competitive soccer for Nebo United and Strikers. She has been an Assistant Coach for ages U-10 to 13 and is currently a coach of U-15's. She has been active in the local community by cleaning the city center, volunteers at the hospital, and made dolls for the hospital. She plans to attend New Mexico Highland University.

District 6
Joshua Hernandez - is attending Davis High School and maintains a 3.25 grade point average. He plays for his high school, and had played for La Roca and Rush and also played of Club Atletico in Guatemala City. He has helped with soccer camps for U-6's, and U-8's. He is involved with Boy Scouts, and church activities. He is planning on attending Dixie State College.

Madeline Granger - attends West High School and maintains a 3.9 grade point average. She has played all four years for West and currently plays for Rush, and has played for Impact and Firebirds. She has helped with recreational refereeing and coached U-9's and U-12's and special needs players. She volunteers at the Utah Food Bank Big Brothers and Sisters, the Homeless Clinic and is West High Student Body President. She plans on attending Willamette University, Dartmouth or University of Puget Sound.

District 7
Kurtis Day - Currently attends Box Elder High School and maintains a 3.9 grade point average. He has played for his high school and BC United and Stingers. He has been a referee. He is an Eagle Scout and Volunteers for the 4th of July Rodeo and other community events. He plans on attending Southern Utah University of Dixie State College.

Morgan Olsen - currently attends Logan High School and maintains a 3.7 grade point average. She has played for her high school and Northern Utah Elite, Valencia, Infinity, Extreme and District 7 Recreational Soccer. She is a member of the Logan City Youth Council, and is actively involved in the Top of Utah marathon Brest Cancer Fundraisers and her church activities. She plans on attending Idaho State University.

League at Large
Garret Garcia - currently attends Dixie High School and maintains a 3.9 grade point average. He has played soccer for his highs school and Spartans. He has helped coached younger players in the basics of soccer. He has built food storage boxes for the Dixie Food and Homeless Shelter, volunteered and the Jubilee f Trees and participates in the Big Brothers and Sisters Program and s an Eagle Scout. He plans on attending Dixie State College or Iowa Western.