DESERET NEWS - KSL STERLING SCHOLAR AWARDS

2014 STUDENT ENTRY FORM

Name Of Nominee: Aaron Pabst

School: Jordan Category: Computer Technology


American College Testing (ACT) -

English: 25 Math: 22 Reading: 32 Sci./Reasoning: 23 Composite: 26

Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) -

Reading: Mathematics: Writing:

Supporting Attachment - Transcript
Supporting Attachment - Letter of Recommendation






























Email: ken.spurlock@canyonsdistrict.org
Website: http://www.canyonstech.org
David S. Doty, J.D., Ph. D.
Superintendent of Schools
Canyons Technical Education Center


825 East 9085 South Sandy, Utah 84094
Phone: 801.826.6600 FAX: 801.826.6609

Ken Spurlock, Principal

Skills for today and tomorrow
November 21, 2013


Re: Aaron Pabst


To Whom It May Concern:

It is my honor and privilege to write this correspondence in support of Aaron Pabst, a student of mine
from Canyons Technical Education Center. I have known Aaron for four months. During this time I
have observed him to be a brilliant student in the classroom.
Aaron is a determined, positive and highly motivated individual. Aaron is enthusiastic and has the
ability to motivate others around him. He commands respect from his peers. He possesses the
attitude, knowledge and character that should afford him the opportunity to be a Sterling Scholar.
His work ethics are extraordinary as he strives for excellence. Aaron presents himself in a
professional manner. He is dependable and accepts responsibility with diligence and enthusiasm.
Additionally, he exhibits an exceptional ability to work with others. His keen insight and proclivity
for details has resulted in numerous successful projects involving the Computer Systems program.
He is a team player and displays a tremendous amount of initiative.
Aarons program here at CTEC is ranked in the top ten percent of the nation. I am convinced that if
selected, he will prove to be a formidable candidate. Therefore, I highly recommend him for a spot in
the Sterling Scholar program.

Sincerely
Lezlie Harper
Computer Systems Teacher
Canyons Technical Education Center















In 20 words or less, list up to six activities, honors and awards relating to your category.
1. Student at Canyons Techncical Center: Computer Systems
2. Microsoft Technology Associate: Security Fundamentals Certified
3. CompTia IT Strata Certified
4. Remote Desktop Technician
5. Microsoft Technology Associate: Networking Fundamentals Certified
6. Microsoft Technology Associate: Operating Systems Certified

Choose one of the activities, honors or awards, describe it briefly and explain why it was meaningful to you. What did you learn
and what did you accomplish?
At Canyons Technical Education Center Academy of Information Technology (vernacularly known as Digiforge), students are given the
opportunity to train for a variety of careers in the Information Technology industry. Students receive not only theoretical instruction, but
crucial hands-on experience that simulates a professional environment. A core part of the class is earning industry certifications necessary
for entry into each students discipline (Computer programming, technical support, digital design, etc) such as the IC3, IT Strata and
A+ certifications.

In my (computer systems) lab, theres no such thing as a typical day. One day, we could be studying for a certification test, the next,
designing and building a new computer system or even operating as technical support for the rest of the school. What goes on in our
classroom is ours to control. We plan our own projects and choose which certifications to prioritize. If we want to build a server, we build
a server. If theres a certain certification we deem essential, we have all the tools and materials that we need to train for it. Most of our
learning is done through a hands-on approach, which helps us to learn teamwork, problem solving, and improvisational thinking, all of
which are essential skills in the IT industry.

The course doesnt just teach us technical skills; it teaches us how to operate efficiently in a professional atmosphere. Our learning
environment feels less like a lab, and more like a workplace. We are often broken up into groups, with one person being assigned to be
team leader. Then we are assigned tasks or goals which we have to break down into sub-goals and assign to each individual team
member. This system of organizing tasks, known as Agile, is used in numerous organizations for managing employees and projects.

In short, CTEC AOIT fosters students love of technology and teaches them how to harness existing technologies to accomplish a goal
and to create new technologies when faced with a new and unique problem, all the while adapting students to the professional world.

Supporting Attachment - Category Description
Aaron Pabst
Code: 7TX74CCDTLBQ1W26
Verify at: http://verify.CompTIA.org
COMP001020619779 September 03, 2013

List up to six activities, honors and awards that relate to the leadership qualifications.
1. Captain of the Jordan High Cross Country Team
2. Eagle Scout
3. French Horn Section Leader in Jordan High School Wind Symphony and Orchestra
4. Youth Staff at Good Shepard Church
5. Senior Patrol Leader for Troop 51
6. Agile team leader at Canyons Technical Education Center

Choose one of the activities, honors or awards that relate to the leadership qualification and describe it briefly.
As captain of the Jordan High Cross Country team, my responsibilities include facilitating communication between coaches and runners, leading warm-ups, providing running advice,
and motivating the team. While the coaches provide expert instruction during practice, it is my job to provide 24 hour encouragement, accountability, and advice. I serve as a kind of
big brother to the team, keeping watch on the other runners when a coach is not around.

As much as I love my teammates, my job is not always easy. Cross Country is a demanding sport, it requires you to intentionally put your mind and body through things that it was
programmed to avoid. Runners must betray their bodies and push themselves far beyond their breaking points, making them a difficult crowd to motivate. Athletes must be reminded
of the many rewards that running has to offer and have a veteran athlete to look up to; it is my job to be warm and encouraging, to keep things light and positive in the face of the pain
and agony that faces every runner.

About half way through the season, my job got exponentially more difficult when a severe stress fracture was discovered on my right shin. An injury that meant the end of my season,
and possibly my whole running career. I had no idea how I was going to lead a team in doing something that I myself was barred from doing. For a few weeks, I avoided practice all
together, still stinging with the pain of the loss of my ability to run. But after the team went through several unsuccessful races I realized that they still needed a leader, and that they
still wanted me around, so I once again began attending practices, encouraging the runners during tough workouts and leading them in the few activities that I could participate in.

Supporting Attachment - Leadership Description

List up to six activities, honors or awards that relate to the qualifications for Community Service and/or Citizenship.
1. Served at Tuleeni Orphans home in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
2. Service at the Utah Food Bank
3. Service at the Salvation Army
4. Service at the Salt Lake Men's Mission
5. Volunteers with Good Shepard Church
6. Member of the National Honor Society

Choose one of the activities, honors or awards that relate to the Community Service/ Citizenship qualification and describe it briefly.
Last summer, I had the opportunity to serve at Tuleeni Orphan's Home, a small orphanage at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, by aiding in the expansion of Tuleeni to a new village,
helping to construct a system to bring clean water to the orphanage and surrounding village, and enriching the lives of the orphans by simply showing them love.

I have been involved with Tuleeni and its supporting organization, The Virtua Foundation, for three years. At first, by organizing the creation of blankets for the orphanage and
collecting items for hygiene kits, two years later, I had the opportunity to help plan and participate in a 2013 mission trip to Moshi, Tanzania. The primary objective of the trip was to
begin the creation of a new fresh water delivery system with the potential of generating electricity and to continue the construction of a new building for the orphanage. Our side
objectives included teaching the orphans basic English and math skills as well as reaching out to the community surrounding Tuleeni through prayer and conversation.

Books could be filled with all the experiences I had there, but the whole experience can be summed up with this: I thought that I was going to teach them. I was wrong. The people
there, who have next to nothing by Western standards, taught me that material wealth is not the key to happiness, all that you need is to be surrounded by people who love you, and
everything else will work itself out.

Supporting Attachment - Community Service / Citizenship Description

Describe two or three unique things about yourself and relate them to your category. If possible, include challenges you have overcome and describe any distinctive
experiences that have affected you.
Over the years, I have discovered that I have many skills, traits, and interests that have allowed me to excel with computers and technology. One of the most important of which is
that I learn very quickly and am capable of mastering just about anything I set my mind to. The knowledge required to be a master of technology is vast and constantly changing, so it
is vital that one in the field is able to quickly learn and adapt. I am capable of quickly gaining skills such as implementing new network technologies, designing computers to
effectively utilize the latest advancements in computing (such as hyperthreading, 64-bit processing architecture, RAM disks, solid state drives, g-sync, etc), and am capable of
becoming fluent in a new programming language in a matter of days.

Ever since I first opened a computer, building, tweaking, and overclocking computers has been a passion of mine. I love playing with different configurations and comparing
performance between different designs to find out what works well, and what doesn't. This usually requires extensive research to discover the latest innovations along with an
empirical methodology to discover for myself what works best, which assures that my knowledge is always up to date and that I am well versed in the implementations of various
technologies.

In addition, I also enjoy modifying the code of existing programs as well as writing my own applications. As stated earlier, programming is something that comes very naturally to me
and has become a fundamental part of how my brain works. I see programming simply as a logical sequence of instructions, and therefore find it very useful for solving everyday
problems ranging from cleaning my room to planning cross country race strategies.


How do you think your involvment in this category will enrich your life?
To me, computers have always been a source of curiosity and awe. For as long as I have been able to reach the keyboard, I have been enthralled with what technology has to offer. I
remember staring at what I then knew as a large humming box and asking myself, Whats inside? How does it work? What is it used for? Eventually, I resolved to find out.
Screwdriver in hand, I opened up the mysterious device. Instantly, my head began spinning with excitement as I starred at the winding cables, handled the spire-like capacitors, and
smelled the silicone strewn throughout the monstrous box. It was then that I knew that I wanted to devote my life to the advancement of technology.

Unlike many people, who are afraid of what technology is doing to society, I believe that it affords us a future of unlimited potential, a chance to continually improve ourselves. It
allows us to see things before they happen, monitor the world around us, to alter the very fabric of existence. If humanity would embrace what computers have to offer and learn how
to harness them to their fullest potential, the possibilities would be endless.

And that has been my experience exactly. As my technical knowledge grew, I was able to accomplish things that I never would have been able to accomplish otherwise. With a
coupling of hardware and software knowledge, Ive been able to build devices capable of everything from helping me to conserve energy, to chasing my dog around the house. And
while those things may not be very practical, the experience of creating them is paving the way for me to have a real impact on the world. To not only enrich my own life, but the
lives of all those around me.


Other Attachments and Links
Category Name Description
Url External URL Link Explaination of various computer parts and a demonstration build.
Open URL