Judge Memorial Catholic High School is pleased to announce that a scholarship has been established in honor of Michael Anthony Smallwood Starks, a Judge Alumnus of the Class of 2008, and a student at Utah State University at the time of his death. The scholarship was established by his parents, George and Jane, and siblings, Kelly, George, Jason, Megan and Mary.

The intent of the scholarship is to honor a student who lives by the Michael Starks Creed of Friendship. Specifically, the student selected will demonstrate honesty, courage, and love by respecting themselves and others for both their differences and similarities. The student will celebrate all people, their individual needs, and their personal well-being in pursuit of a greater good, and in times of greatest need, will put others’ safety and the value of human life before his/her own fears. Simply put, the recipient of the scholarship will be a person who is honest, courageous, loves others, and is a true friend.

In creating the scholarship, Michael’s father, George, said, “in many ways, Michael always wanted to be a leader through his own self-identity, something he had far too little time to develop. Still, perhaps he can provide leadership that he was possibly destined for through the most tragic of events.”

The Michael Starks Memorial Scholarship is awarded each year in the late spring to a deserving Judge Memorial rising junior and/or rising senior to assist with tuition costs for that student’s junior and/or senior year. The judge faculty and administration will consider the character, integrity, and financial needs of qualified students in selecting a recipient.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARD: Multiple awards of $500.00 each will be applied to individual students. The awards are managed by the Judge MemorialAdvancement Office and Finance Office, where applications will be made available to interested students. Please be reminded that for those making contributions to Michaels' scholarship, contributions continue to be tax deductible, providing such contributions are made directly to JMHS in the name of the Michael A. Starks Memorial Scholarship.

APPLICATION DUE DATE: March, 15

The Michael A. Starks Memorial Scholarship Application Essay

Please include with your application a one-page essay reflecting on what the message below means to you and how you incorporate the ideals into your interactions with those around you.

 

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The 2012 Michael A. Starks Memorial Scholarship

The Starks family wishes to thank Judge Students Trevor and Nick. We are deeply gratified that two such fine young men are involved with Michael Starks Memorial Scholarship. They both, in their own ways, represent the best in all of us as we come to acknowledge the responsibility we hold for ourselves, those we hold close, and society in general.

For Trevor, the Special Olympics is especially close to my heart, having served for years as an official fundraiser for this vital organization. It has much to admire in its goals, objectives, and ideals. We would all do well to note how devoted and dedicated the Special Olympics is in reaching out to the most precious and worthy in our society.

We thank Nick for acknowledging the best in all of us. The responsibilities we all share in focusing on the qualifies we found exemplified in our own son - in an inherently valuable ‘respect for peers and teachers, a deep love of family, and a desire to make the world a better place’ - simple but persevering goals that we can all strive for as we concede the vital roles we play in the lives of others.

Thank you again, Trevor and Nick. We offer you our profound thanks for taking the time to express the values we all strive to embrace –

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

- John 15:12