FatCats Theaters in Bluffdale was the site of a celebration of a year of hard work for high school students enrolled in video programs throughout Jordan School District. Students showcased their films and videos on the big screen during the JSD Video Showcase. For nine exceptionally talented students, there was also a plot twist at the end of the event as they were surprised with “Rising Artist” scholarships from the New York Film Academy. Each of the nine scholarships provides $20,000 a year in tuition assistance to students who attend NYFA at their Los Angeles or New York campus.

A standing ovation to Jack Bowler (Copper Hills), McKay Bowler (Copper Hills), Rowan Burgess (Riverton), Lauren Crane (Riverton), Ethan Edwards (Copper Hills), Ella Goebel (Riverton), Jackson Jenkins (Riverton), Tanner Maruji (Riverton), and Isaiah Rasmussen (Copper Hills) for this amazing achievement.

Congratulations to Bingham High School’s Travis Lucero, who has been selected as one of 50 finalists nationwide for the 2026 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. The award is in its 10th year and was established by Harbor Freight Tools owner and founder Eric Smidt to advance excellent, skilled trades education in U.S. public high schools.

Mr. Lucero was nominated for the amazing work he has done teaching welding and collision repair to Bingham students for more than 20 years. He is now in the running for one of 25 prizes totaling $2 million, which Harbor Freight will award in Fall 2026.

For most students summer break is well underway, but for those enrolled in Jordan PREP, it was the first day all over again. First-year students started their six-week Prefreshman Engineering Program (PREP) with icebreakers to meet their new classmates and some introductory testing. Returning Jordan PREPers were reacquainted with old friends and even began working on capstone projects. 

The program gives students a series of classes with a mathematical, logical, and reasoning foundation over four consecutive summers and puts them on track to graduate with a two-year engineering certificate from Salt Lake Community College before they receive their High School Diploma.