He is a phenomenal boys cross country runner who won national titles at both the Nike Cross Nationals and Brooks Nationals. Now, Herriman High School senior Jackson Spencer is receiving another one of the most prestigious awards in high school sports.

Jackson has been named the National Gatorade Player of the Year in Boys Cross Country. This award celebrates the nation’s best student-athletes for their success on and off the field. The announcement came as family, friends, school administrators, and members of the media gathered to surprise Jackson at Herriman High School this week. United States Olympic Bronze medalist in long distance running, Grant Fisher, was at Jackson’s side to make the announcement and present the award. The incredible and emotional surprise was followed by a day filled with honors, a Gatorade press conference, interviews, and photo shoots.

Congratulations, Jackson Spencer! We can’t wait to see where your incredible talent takes you in the future.

Student body officers from every Jordan School District High School visited the Utah State Capitol for an up-close look at how our state government operates. SBOs toured the Capitol along with Jordan District administrators and board members. Students were then paired with members of the House of Representatives and sat in on a session as bills were debated and voted on. The opportunity gave students a chance to ask questions and see how public policy decisions are made in real time. 

After their session in the House, SBOs had lunch and were visited by local representatives who answered questions and gave personal insights into how the legislative process works. 

A special thank you to the legislators and Capitol staff who made this unforgettable experience possible for Jordan School District students.

They competed against 32 outstanding programs from 14 states and Riverton High School students and their amazing teacher rose to the top. Please join us in congratulating Riverton High School’s Dr. Wei Wei and her Chinese Bridge students, who recently earned second place in the inaugural national “Chinese Teaching Star Innovative Teaching Contest.” It is an opportunity for students to showcase their Mandarin proficiency and cultural knowledge.

What makes this achievement so special is that Dr. Wei didn’t submit a specially prepared lesson. Instead, she chose a real, everyday Bridge class. In the award-winning lesson, students explored Chinese philosophy—Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism and connected these ancient ideas to modern leadership, communication, and real-life decision-making. They compared Chinese and American perspectives, sparking deep conversations about identity, responsibility, and how young people can make a difference in today’s world.

One student said, “Our goal is to become cultural bridges. Learning Chinese has opened my eyes to the world and helped me understand people more deeply. It’s not just a class, it’s changed how I see my future.”

Dr. Wei is known for her innovative teaching; from music and dance videos to real-world communication challenges and competitions, her students are constantly stepping outside their comfort zones and gaining confidence. Many families often ask, What can students do with this language? Where can it take them? The Bridge program is helping students find those answers.

Congratulations to Dr. Wei and Riverton High School’s incredible Bridge students for showing what it truly means to connect, communicate, and lead in a global world.

Parent-teacher conferences at Sunset Ridge Middle School received a sweet upgrade. The school celebrated “20 Years at the Ridge” with plenty of birthday cake for students and parents in attendance. After meeting with teachers and eating some cake, students performed a multicultural presentation, showcasing songs, dances, and dress of their heritage from countries around the world.

Happy birthday, Sunset Ridge! Here’s to the next 20 years of memories and education!