Two Jordan School District students were honored for their essays against youth violence at the 26th annual “Do the Write Thing” contest.  Fort Herriman Middle School eighth graders Brooklyn Billman and Jack (John) Parry were named state finalists in the competition hosted by the Utah State Board of Education. Each student received a $300 My 529 Scholarship.

The initiative, sponsored by the USBE Prevention team and the National Campaign to Stop Violence, challenges seventh and eighth graders to reflect on the causes of youth violence and propose real-world solutions. “The ‘Do the Write Thing’ challenge proves that our students have the insight and the courage to lead the way toward a safer future,” State Superintendent Molly Hart said.

This year, nearly 2,000 Utah students participated in the program’s classroom discussions, with Billman and Parry rising to the top among 261 state-level final submissions. Jordan School District congratulates both students for their exceptional leadership and powerful writing.

Mountain Ridge High School is home to the top high school gamers in the country after its esports team won the national title in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate West at the PlayVs Cup.

The Sentinels captured the championship by completing a flawless 3-0 sweep in the grand finals. The victory capped a historic season for the team, which advanced to the national stage last month after placing first in a regional competition. With the national title, student-athletes James Cox, Logan Dazley, and Teddy Cameron each earned a $1,000 college scholarship.

A new national championship banner and trophy will soon go on display at the high school. Head coach Joel Marquez, assistant coach Jesse Mlaker, and alumni player and mentor Helaman Valle said they were thrilled with the students’ performance this season.

Congratulations to the players, coaches, and the Mountain Ridge community members who supported the team on the tournament’s live stream.

Oakcrest Elementary rocked out for a grand finale to the school year with a legendary concert assembly. Students and staff played, sang, danced, and lip-synched while an energetic crowd cheered them on. Highlights included a student drum solo, nutrition services staff’s rendition of “Lunchlady Land”, a crowd-moving “Cha-Cha Slide,” and plenty more toe-tapping numbers.

Congratulations on rocking the school year, Oakcrest! We are looking forward to an encore performance in the fall.

High school students and educators across JSD proved that community impact starts right in the classroom. Through a partnership with ARUP Laboratories, every high school in JSD hosted at least one blood drive during the 2025-26 school year. In total, JSD HOSA (Future Health Professionals) programs organized 16 blood drives, rallying students, staff, and community members to donate life-saving blood. The collective effort yielded an incredible 1,226 units of donated blood, demonstrating the immense power of student-driven community service.

The true weight of these drives is measured in the lives changed, as a single unit of blood can support up to three patients in need. Because of dedicated JSD high schoolers, as many as 3,678 patients facing critical conditions at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and other Utah hospitals will receive life-saving treatments. The year was defined by historic milestones: Copper Hills High led the way with four drives collecting 610 units—outperforming every other sponsor collection drive ARUP works with. Meanwhile, Herriman High broke its own donation record three consecutive times, and Mountain Ridge High achieved a monumental school record in December by collecting 59 units in a single drive.

This remarkable achievement cements Jordan School District’s standing as one of only two districts in which every high school actively sponsors blood drives. Beyond the numbers, the success of these events relies heavily on the passion of educators who champion students as mentors and coordinators.

ARUP wants to express its gratitude to the incredible teachers who made this year’s life-saving blood drives possible: Taunia Bean, Cynthia Cox, Madison Jenkins, Eva Peterson, Jenifer Glassey, Todd Egbert, Buffy Blunk, Trudy Pecorelli, Tiffani Holmes, and Cami Petersen. Thank you to everyone who helped make the blood drives a huge success.