NEWSPAPER ARTICLES FEATURING JESSICA PERSEVERANCE, FAITH HELP IN CANCER BATTLE by Mary Ruth Hammond TOOELE TRANSCRIPT-BULLETIN June 8, 2000 No one wants to be told they have cancer, but when a 14-year-old is diagnosed with the disease it can be especially devastating. "I felt like my life had been taken from me," Jessica Clark says, remembering a cold day last February when doctors gently broke the news that cancerous cells had invaded her body. "I felt like I had no control over what would happen to me." The road Jessica has traveled the last four months has been bumpy. But the bubbly Erda resident, who just finished her freshman year at Grantsville High School, says she's also learned a lot. "I've started to write in a journal," Jessica said this week. "It helps to put my feelings onto paper and not worry whether others are going to understand those feelings." Although her friends have been wonderfully supportive during Jessica's chemotherapy and radiation treatments, the daughter of Alan and Linda Clark knows that most people don't really understand what she's going through. "The chemo makes me so sick and I get so tired," she said. "I think my friends were in shock when they learned that I had cancer." Jessica understands that reaction. After all, she was in shock herself when she got the news. Even doctors are baffled as to how the teen contracted a rare form of esophageal cancer. "The cancer I have is usually seen only in those who smoke cigarettes," Jessica said. "I have never done that." Nor has Jessica been exposed to second-hand smoke from family members or friends. "No one can figure out how a 14-year-old ended up with this type of cancer," says Linda, Jessica's mom. She had no risk factors for this. It was early this year when Jessica first complained of tightness in her throat. "I thought she was probably coming down with a cold or strep throat," Linda said. "I kept waiting for her to spike a fever, but she never did." Something very scary happened soon thereafter. "I was eating a piece of meat and I started choking," Jessica recalls. Linda, an emergency medical technician with 19 years' experience, performed the Heimlich maneuver on her daughter, trying to dislodge what she thought was a tracheal obstruction. Becuase the food was not caught in Jessica's airway, the Heimlich maneuver did not help. But a few moments later, Jessica gagged up a small piece of meat. "This happened on a Sunday," Linda said, "and we took Jessica to the doctor the first thing on Monday morning." When a barium swallow test showed a mass, doctors ordered a CAT scan and MRI. "The test results showed a definite lesion and doctors knew that Jessica had some type of tumor," Linda said. "Within two hours we had her transferred to Primary Children's Medical Center for surgery." Doctors originally told the family that Jessica's cancer looked benign and there would be no problem removing it. "But they also warned us," said Linda, "that if the lesion did not peel off they would have to remove the esophagus and replace it with other tissue. That would mean that Jessica would be in surgery for hours and a team of doctors including a plastic surgeon and other specialists would be called in." Two hours after Jessica's surgery began, the family received the bad news. "Dr. Richard Black came out to tell us that the lesion was definitely cancerous and had completely inundated the esophagus," Linda said. "Our daughter was in surgery for 11 hours that day." Jessica's surgery was March 8. She spent the next few days recovering in the hospital. Next cam esix weeks of radiation treatment and she has just finished another three weeks of chemotherapy. "The first time I took chemo, I was so sick," Jessica remembers. "It felt like someone had knocked me on the head. I just felt totally wiped out." By the time Jessica underwent the second and third doses of chemo, she was on antinausea medicine which helped a lot. "When a new round of chemo treatments would begin on a Monday, I would wish that I could just go to sleep and wake up on Friday." While the prognosis for esophageal cancer is usually not good, Jessica and her family have high hopes that she will be fine. "Most people who have this cancer are smokers and their health is already run down before they get sick," Linda said. "There are no statistics on what happens when a health 14-year-old gets this form of cancer." Doctors feel certain they have taken out all the cancer. And even though there were a couple of nodules in Jessica's lungs, they disappeared with chemotherapy. "We'll have to wait and see what happens," said Linda, "but we feel confident that everything is going to be okay." Jessica is looking forward to playing basketball for GHS again next year. "I finished the basketball season this year before I knew about the cancer," she said. While Jessica is reluctant to brag about her abilities, Linda says her daughter is an excellent athlete. "In addition to basketball, Jessic is good in softball," Linda adds. "She was an all-star on the town league for two years." Jessica had actually planned to try out for the GHS softball team this spring, but the cancer delayed that. "I'm thinking of playing both basketball and softball next year," she said. In addition to her extracurricular activities, Jessica is a 4.0 honor roll student. A member of the Christ Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City, Linda said fellow parishioners have been extremely supportive of the family. "We have had prayers from everyone," the mom added. "We have friends who are missionaries in Japan and they are praying for us. There is a Christian school in Maine (from where the family moved two years ago) that is praying for us. We have LDS friends who are praying for us. And everyone in Erda, Stansbury Park and Grantsville have been wonderful to bring in food, do errands for us, or just come to visit. That has meant more to us then they'll ever know." Jessica's dog Toby, as well as a beloved cat, also like to keep the young lady company. The animals sleep on her bed at night and jump up into her lap when they sense that she needs a companion. Additionally, Jessica's best friend Haley Hunter, a former resident of Stansbury Park, is visiting this week from South Carolina. Haley went to the mall this week with Jessica to do a little shopping. But the two best friends most enjoy "just sitting around" to talk and share secrets. Like most teens, Jessica's hobbies include talking on the phone and flirting with boys. She is also a voracious reader who especially enjoys authers like John Grisham and Sidney Sheldon. "My grandma often sends me books from Maine that she has read and has enjoyed," Jessica says. Right now Jessica is losing her hair. And she's being fed through a stomach tube, but hopes to be eating "real food" again before too long. And one day Jessica hopes to be a teacher or a writer. "I might be a teacher because when I was young I had some great teachers who made a difference in my life," she said. "Or, I might be a writer. I'm pretty descriptive when I write and it is something I really enjoy." Jessca's main goal at the present, however, is to stay cancer-free and to regain her strength. The teen's spirits are up and she is fighting hard to achieve that wish. Those who would like to help the family with mounting medical expenses can send a check or money order to: Jessica Clark Cancer Fund, First Security Bank, 204 N. Main St., Tooele, UT 84074. [NOTE FROM LINDA: fund is now discontinued.] BANDS BAND TOGETHER TO HELP TEEN by Mary Ruth Hammond TOOELE TRANSCRIPT-BULLETIN August 24, 2000 None of the young men who will be performing in Saturday's benefit show actually know Jessica Clark. But they do know that the young Erda resident and Grantsville High School sophomore is battling cancer--and they want to help. That's why the mucisians of three local rock bands have joined forces to present a benefit show at the Deseret Peak Recreation Complex this weekend. "Tom (Ellevold) and I saw a flyer for Jessica in one of the local convenience stores," Brian Schlund said Wednesday. "Our band was ready to do a concert, and we decided our first show should be a charity thing. This is our way to do something for someone else and for the community." The fun will get under way Saturday, August 26th, near the swimming pool at the complex. Participating bands include Counter Clocked, Ten on the Floor and Sarcastic Existence. For a mere $2 per person, concertgoers can swim and enjoy the music until 11 p.m. Of course, those who would like to donate more for Jessica's cancer treatments are welcome to do so, Brian said. And there will also be a raffle for a guitar, donated by Adam Ohlwiler, owner of Guitars and More, 46 S. Main Street, Tooele. Ohlwiler, who plays guitar and sings in two of Saturday's featured bands, told the TOOELE TRANSCRIPT-BULLETIN this week. "We had the opportunity to rent the pool at the complex and present a concert. We knew that we could make a little money for ourselves, but then we asked ourselves, 'Why would we do that when we could help someone else?' "We wanted to do this concert for Jessica," Ohlwiler continued, "and we hope to have a big turnout so we can present her family with a good-sized check to help in her treatments." While Saturday's concert and pool party will feature some rock music, Ohlwiler said there will be songs to fit the taste of most everyone. Jessica, a daughter of Alan and Linda Clark, was diagnosed with a rare form of esophageal cancer early this year. It is a disease that is usually seen only in older people who have smoked cigarettes for a number of years. Jessica has never smoked, nor has she been exposed to second-hand smoke from family or friends. "No one can figure out how a 14-year-old ended up with this type of cancer," said her mom Linda. "Jessica had no risk factors for this." A tumor that had completely inundated Jessica's esophagus was removed on March 8th. Since then, the teen, a member of the GHS basketball team, has underone chemotherapy and radiation treatments. "Right now Jessica is feeling good and plans to resume her schooling next week," Linda said Thursday morning. "She has had a few minor setbacks this summer, but things are going quite well." A CT scan will be done in September so doctors can determine if Jessica's cancer has returned. The Clark family says they are extremely appreciative and excited about Saturday's concert. Jessica, along with the rest of them, plan to attend the entire event. The family also expressed appreciation this week to organizers and particpants of other benefits for Jessica. For instance, all proceeds from the Grantsville's Fourth of July activities were shared between Jessica and three-year-old Morgan Matthews, another cancer victim. On August 5th there was a yard sale in Erda where $1,700 was raised for Jessica. And on July 27th, Jessica, four of her friends, and her mother went on a shopping spree, courtesy of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. "Of all the activities Jessica could have chosen through Make-A-Wish, her heart's desire was to shop at a mall," Linda said. "Jessica, her friends, and I were picked up in a limousine and taken to the Crossroads and ZCMI malls. She was given $2,500 to spend and we shopped from 9 a.m. until 6:30 p.m." Jessica chose to spend some of the money on her friends. She and her mom had a complete makeover the day before so they would look glamorous for their shopping trip. "She bought mostly clothes for herself and her friends," Linda said. "She also bought a stereo system and an inflatable frog chair. All the girls got fake tattoos and Jessica bought some jewelry." Linda said the remarkable thing about the shopping trip was that not only did Jessica thoroughly enjoy it, but so did the others. "There could have been some jealousy," Linda said, "but all the girls had a blast. It was a beautiful day." The Clark family moved to Erda two years ago from Maine. They say that so many Tooele County residents have been wonderful to bring in food, do errands for them, or just visit during Jessica's illness. While the prognosis for throat cancer is usually not good, Jessica and her family have high hopes that she will be fine. "We'll just have to wait and see what happens," said Linda. "Jessica's main goal is to stay cancer-free and to regain her strength. Her spirits are up and she is fighting hard." Two articles were written by Mary Ruth Hammond in the TOOELE TRANSCRIPT-BULLETIN about the "Jog for Jessica" which raised funds for the Jessica Clark Cancer Fund. The text from these articles appears below. ERDA GIRL HOPES TO RAISE $20,000 FOR HER CANCER-STRICKEN FRIEND by Mary Ruth Hammond TOOELE TRANSCRIPT-BULLETIN May 8, 2001 Renee Adams is only 10 years old, but when the little Erda [gir] decides to do something for others, she does it big time. This Saturday, May 12, Renee is sponsoring a benefit walk/run for her neighbor, 15-year-old Jessica Clark. Renee's goal is to raise $20,000 for Jessica's cancer costs. Jessica, who also lives in Erda, has just completed her sophomore year at Grantsville High School, where she is an honor roll student. Like most girls, Jessica likes talking on the phone and hanging out with friends. The daughter of Alan and Linda Clark is also an athlete who loves to play girls basketball and softball. While Jesica is a typical girl in most ways, she is also atypical because she has a rare form of cancer. Called squamous cell esophageal cancer, doctors are baffled how a young girl who has never smoked cigarettes or even been exposed to second-hand smoke could have contracted the disease. Jessica was diagnosed with cancer in 2000. In March of that year, she underwent an 11-hour surgery, followed by weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Her hair, which used to be brown and wavy, has come back in black and crinkled. "It's interesting," Jessica says as she smiles and touches her black, curly locks. "My hair is way curly now." Last October, a biopsy revealed that the same type of tumor Jessica had in her esophagus had come back and was this time in her trachea. She had open-chest surgery in December to remove the tumor. A few weeks later, when Jessica started showing signs of having pneumonia, doctors discovered that the suture line they had put in her trachea had failed. Therefore, she was taking air into her chest instead of her lungs. That sent Jessica back to the hospital for placement of a stent. Jessica was able to play in three girls' basketball games with the GHS team this year before she learned that her cancer had returned. After taking only a week off following her surgery, she returned to school but was unable to play on athletic teams. "I wanted to try out for the softball team," Jessica said. "But, really, I can't run very fast right now. I decided it wouldn't be fair for me to try out and maybe take a chance away from someone else who wants to be on the team who is able to run fast." Jessica says that even though fighting cancer as a teenager is a scary thing, she is extremely hopeful for the future. She wants to someday be a writer or a teacher. "I might be a teacher because when I was young, I had some great teachers who made a difference in my life," she said. "Or I might be a writer. I'm pretty descriptive when I write and it is something I really enjoy." Right now, however, Jessica's main goal is to remain cancer-free. She undergoes tests every three months to make sure that no tumors have returned. "So far, so good," Jessica says. Her next test will be in July. Renee, who is Jessica's neighbor, said she decided to sponsor the race for her older friend just because, "I love to run and I like helping people." And the big goal Renee has is to raise $20,000 for Jessica. "That much money would put a big dent in Jessica's cancer costs," Renee says simply. The 5K run/walk will get underway at 8 a.m. at the Erda Ward LDS church parking lot, 134 E. Erda Way (west of Thompson's Smokehouse) this Saturday. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. Renee says there will be prizes given to the top three finishers in each division. Ribbons will be given to all children who participate in the kids' race. A drawing for all those registered in the race will be held. Renee wants to thank all the generous Tooele County merchants who supplied the prizes to be given away. A bake sale will also be held at the Erda church Saturday in conjunction with the race. All money from both events will go directly to the Jessica Clark Cancer Fund. The cost to enter the 5K race is $15, which includes a T-shirt. Kids under age 10 can race for $5. The children's race begins at 10 a.m. Renee says she has learned a lot by planning and sponsoring the race for Jessica. "I have had to go to the businesses around town and talk to them about donating prizes for the "Jog for Jessica Day," she said. "At first, I was shy. Now I feel like I can talk to anyone." Those who would like to participate in Saturday's race or donate baked goods or volunteer to help in the events should call Renee or her older sister Caydee Adams at xxx-xxxx. "I really hope a lot of people come out and support this event," Renee said. "We are also asking that everyone who races wear their 'Jog for Jessica' T-shirts. We want to show Jessica how much we love and support her." ERDA GIRL BRINGS TOGETHER FRIENDS TO "JOG FOR JESSICA" by Mary Ruth Hammond TOOELE TRANSCRIPT BULLETIN May 15, 2001 Saturday morning's race for Jessica Clark -- the 15-year-old Erda girl who is fighting squamous cell esophageal cancer -- began with the bang of a black powder rifle at 8 a.m. And even though Renee Adams, a 10-year-old neighbor who organized the 5K run plus kids' races, didn't quite achieve her lofty goal of raising $20,000 for Jessica's cancer fund, the day's event was a total success. "We raised $1,835," a proud Renee said following the race. "I feel tired but relieved that everything went so well. I'm glad I did this for Jessica." Those who participated in the fundraiser were also happy to be part of Saturday's fun. Jessica was diagnosed with cancer in 2000. Since then she has undergone two surgeries as well as chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The spunky dark-aired Jessica started out on Saturday's walk with her older sister Melissa. The Grantsville High School sophomore walked for a short ways, then rode a four-wheeler along the race path to say hi to each racer. "Doctors told Jessica a week ago that she has developed pneumonia," her mom Linda Clark stated Saturday. "She's not going to be able to walk too far today." A few minutes later, a smiling Jessica was brought back to the Erda Ward chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. But Jessica stuck around until the end of the race to hand out trophies and to thank all those who participated in the day's events. Leading the pack of runners Saturday were patrol cars from the Tooele County Sheriff's Department. With vehicle lights flashing, the deputies were there to make sure everyone was safe. About 50 runners and walkers hit the 5K jaunt that started at the church parking lot. They ran alongside Erda fields that are turning a lush green. The route went past a stream on Cochrane Lane and then came back to the chapel. Sarah Wyman, a radiology technician from Salt Lake City, had gotten out of bed at 6 a.m. to make the trip to Erda. She was at the church with her husband Kent Griffiths, who was one of the runners . . . he sported a blue T-shirt with a message on the back stating "Good luck, Jessica, from all of us at Pioneer Valley Radiology Department." There must have been 20 signatures on that shirt. About 15 minutes after the race started, all those who stayed behind at the church started gathering at the finish line. A couple of minutes later someone yelled, "Hey, look, here comes the winner of the race. Who is that? Is it Kent? Is it Darrel? I can't tell who he is, but he's wearing red shorts." With a time of 16:05, Clark Kidman of Bountiful was the first runner to cross the finish line. "I've never won a race before," a tired but happy Clark stated. He said he decided to "Jog for Jessica" because he knows Renee's dad, Robert Adams. Chad Hill, a GHS senior who runs on the Cowboy track team, was the second-place winner. His time was 18:36. "I wanted to run today because I know Jessica from school," Chad said. "Other members of the track team wanted to be heare, but a lot of them are at a state meet." Joseph Knickerbocker, a junior member of the GHS track team, was also in Erda Saturday. He came in third with a time of 20:07. GHS teammate Mary Morris, 15, took first place in the women's 15- to 18-year-old age group. The oerall winner for the women's division was Melissa Boone of Stansbury Park. Haley Folta of Erda didn't run in Saturday's race, but the teem was at the finish line to cheer on several members of her family. As her dad Greg neared the finish line, Haley yelled, "Come on, Dad, run as fast as you can!" Greg finished the race in 37 minutes. Four minutes and eight seconds later, Greg's wife Nancy crossed the finish line. "My mom works out regularly on a treadmill," Haley said. "Dad gets his exercise by running from his place of work to the bus stop each night. It's about a two-and-a-half mile run." Haley's aunt, Diane Fowler, finished Saturday's race in 43:07. Her uncle Ray Fowler participated as well and Haley was there to congratulate each of them. Grantsville Police Officers Steve Mondragon and Dan Chamberlain supported Jessica in Saturday's race. "We first got involved with Jessica last summer when Chief Dan Johnson decided to donate the money we raised in an auction of lost and confiscated items," Det. Chamberlain explained. "We wanted to continue to support her by running today." The officers missed placing third by one minute. Mondragon laughed as he said he and his partner didn't do too badly, considering it's been years since either of them participated in competitive sports. Bill Bodine of Tooele took his two-year-old son Garrett along on the race. The child was pushed in a stroller in front of his dad. "This will give my son an opportunity to see what competition running is about and give him a chance to see if he's interested in it," a smiling Bodine said as he crossed the finish line. Then patting his stomach, Bodine added, "I hope this little guy gets a little more exercis than I have in the past." Later in the day, when little Garrett was presented with the first place ribbon for the two-year-old division, the toddler clung to his dad's leg. "His legs are a little tired," Bill explained to the crowd. "He doesn't know what to say." Renee, the planner of Saturday's event, placed first in her age group. The 10-year-old ran the 5K in 28:08. Even though Renee's mom Cindy is seven months pregnant, she stood at the finish line to congratulate each and every runner. Gary and Cindy Young, who live right across the street from Jessica, came in toward the last of the race. Gary ran in behind his wife and yelled to the crowd, "Cindy wasn't last. I was." In a more serious tone, Gary confided that he and Cindy had never entered a race before. "But we did this for Jessica," he said. "Anything for Jessica. She's a fighter." Renee's dad Robert helped his daughter and Jessica hand out the prizes at the end of the race. At the conclusion of the awards ceremony, Linda Clark presented Renee with roses and a running shoe charm. "Renee, we want to let you know how much we appreciate all the work you did," Linda said. "It's wonderful how this all turned out today." Later, Robert Adams said he and all the others who ran for Jessica Saturday "appreciate the fact that Jessica is haning in there." And indeed, each and every runner who left the Erda Ward chapel Saturday must have felt a deep sense of satisfaction in their hearts. They had all "Jogged for Jessica" -- a GHS athlete who is running the hardest race of her life right now -- but who is bound and determined to make it over the finish line as a winner. In the fall of 2001, Jessica and her dad went antelope hunting and Jessica bagged a doe. Jessica's hunting prowess attracted the attention of a sportswriter, Brett Prettyman. He wrote two articles about Jessica, one for a hunting magazine, and one which appeared in the sports section of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE on Sunday, September 1, 2002, highlighting Jessica's determination to put cancer behind her... BACK IN THE HUNT By Brett Prettyman THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Sunday, September 1, 2002 Grantsville high senior Jessica Clark has seen enough sterile environments to last a lifetime. Clark takes frequent hospital trips to rid her body of the cancer she developed as a 13-year-old, but finds excursions into the outdoors help clean her mind and spirit of the emotional impacts from dealing with the disease. While recovering from eight surgeries she has had because of esophageal cancer and its impacts, the 16-year-old has found strength and hope while gazing out the hospital window at Utah's mountains, reliving past hunting trips with her father and dreaming of future excursions. Hunting has always been about more than putting meat on the table for the Clarks, but when cancer took control of Jessica's throat and her life, the sport took on an entirely new meaning. "I was kind of afraid," she said. "The doctors told me I wouldn't be able to get out much and get around. To finally be old enough to go hunting and be able to prove the doctors wrong was big deal for me." Clark was diagnosed with the disease after she began having difficulty swallowing in February of 2000. Doctors at Primary Children's found a tumor in her esophagus and performed an 11-hour operation to remove the esophagus and replace it with part of her small intestine. Clark is the youngest person known to be diagnosed with squamous cell esophageal cancer. It was the first of many trips to the hospital. Despite chemotherapy and radiation therapy, she developed another lump in her trachea. Doctors performed open-chest surgery to remove a one-inch section of her trachea. A month later, the sutures in her trachea ripped and Clark was rushed into emergency surgery. Today, Clark is cancer-free, but still requires surgery every few months -- the latest on Thursday -- to clear scar tissue and keep her airway open. In the middle of all those surgeries, Clark found the energy to carry a rifle and participate in her first hunt. With her father Alan, wildlife section chief for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, along as a hunting buddy, Clark took a doe pronghorn antelope. Besides being rejuvenated by the experience, Clark found the already close bond with her father intensifying. "Hunting is a great distraction," she said. "I don't think about anything to do with the hospitals or cancer when I'm doing it. I just get to be normal," she said. "When you are out there, you are back to the basics and the stresses of your life don't seem so big." "She told me it was the coolest thing she had ever done. Hearing your teenage daughter say that, well, there just couldn't be anything better for a dad," Alan Clark said. "For me, it was the best hunting experience of my life and I didn't even carry a gun. I would give up every hunting experience I have ever had for that one." Although she missed several months of school because of the cancer, Clark found time to play on the softball team at Grantsville last spring and plans on competing again next spring. Clark has also maintained a 3.9 grade-point average through her ordeal. She worked as a part-time office technician at the Division of Wildlife this summer and plans on following her father's footsteps by studying wildlife management when she starts college next fall. Now that her cancer appears to be cornered, she has other dreams for the future. "I want to pass hunting on to my kids so I can have that special relationship with my children that my dad has with me," she said. Clark realizes she is also involved in a sport she knows not a lot of other teenagers, especially female teens, have an interest in. She wishes more of her friends understood the freedom and joy of hunting. "Not many of my friends hunt," she said. "They all kind of think I am odd. I tried to get some of them to take hunter's safety with me, but they said that it was boy's stuff. I try to describe to them how exciting hunting is and that it isn't about cruelty, but they don't like the idea of blood and of shooting something. It is funny because they have all had game meat and like it; they just don't want to know where it came from." Clark said the decline of youth hunters can be attributed to urbanization and an increase in requirements of everyday life. "There isn't much time and a lot of things to do," she said. "There are a lot of places for people to go as families and it takes a lot of time and effort to go hunting; lots of practicing and scouting. Parents don't have a lot of time to teach their children everything about hunting. I'm just glad mine did." bpretty@sltrib.com OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TOOELE TRANSCRIPT-BULLETIN April 29, 2003 Janette Gowans, Tooele High School, and Jessica Clark, Gransville High, received $250 scholarships from the local National Wild Turkey Federation for being outstanding students and outdoor enthusiasts. In order to receive the scholarships, the students had to meet the criteria of holding a 3.0 grade point average, pursuing a degree at a college or university, actively participating in hunting sports, involved in school activities and demonstrating ability as a leader and community involvement. Jessica won an additional $1000 at the statewide level and is in the running for the national scholarship jackpot--$10,000. The Tooele National Wild Turkey Federation's recent banquet was a huge success with about 550 people in attendance. Eighty percent of the funds raised will go to the habitat of the wild turkey. Mark your calendars for the Jake's Day, June 28. This youth event will include lunch and several learning stations . . . Jessica was her school's Sterling Scholar in Science and took "runner-up" in that category at the Northeast Region Sterling Scholar competition... "GRANTSVILLE'S 'MAGNIFICENT FOURTEEN' ROUND UP EIGHT STERLING SCHOLAR AWARDS" by Michael Rigert, Staff Writer TOOELE TRANSCRIPT BULLETIN May 8, 2003 Late April/early May is one of four times a year when television networks pull out all the plugs by airing new episodes of hit shows with big-name celebrity guest stars and blockbuster movies to boost their ratings. It is during these "sweeps" periods (usually a three-to four-week period) that the advertising rates for a network's schedule of shows are set with sponsors and advertisers. Fourteen seniors at Grantsville High School put on their own "sweeps" performance April 29 in the Northeast region of the Deseret News-KSL Television Sterling Scholar Awards program, bringing home three first place winners and five runners up. Not only did GHS have students representing all 14 academic categories for the first time in Principal Terry Tinares' memory, but they wowed the judges like never before. "It was very exciting and we just have very good students," Linares said. "They were prepared, and that was the difference." Colleen Sorenson, a school counselor and advisor of Grantsville's Sterling Scholar program, confirmed that with eight awards, Gransville High's "magnificent 14" won more accolades than any other school in the competition. Held at South Summit High School in Kamas, GHS also walked away with scholarships totaling $3,000. Adam Black (Visual Arts), Tiffany Hanson (Family and Consumer Services), and Soji Marshall (English) took home first place awards in the Northeast Region. Jessica Clark (Science), Evan Didericksen (Mathematics), Aubrey Graff (Foreigh Language), Jill Vaughn (Speech and Drama), and Clint Young (Computer Technology) were awarded Sterling Scholar runners up. Grantsville was also well represented by McKenzie Anderson (General Scholar), Danielle Copeland (Dance), Rachel Hamatake (Social Science), Bethann Jordan (Music), Winston McNeill (Trade and Technology), and Sarah Willis (Business and Marketing) as Sterling Scholars in their respective categories. In the competition, academic all-stars from Grantsville and 13 different high schools square off against each other in 14 disciplines. Students are judged on their scholarship, leadership, and citizenship, based on a 20-page portfolio and a 15-minute interview with three judges. A student's expertise in his particular discipline, GPA, academic transcript, and involvement in extracurricular school and community activities are also factors. The high schools that compete in the Northeast Region are Grantsville, Wendover, Dugway, Rich, Uintah, Union, Duschesne, Altamont, Tabiona, Wasatch, South Summit, North Summit, Park City, and Morgan. Sorenson said seniors can apply to represent GHS at the competition in the fall, after which faculty and administration narrow the field down to one representative in each category. Sorenson and other advisors assist students with their portfolios and hold regular "mock interviews" to prepare students for the potentially nerve-wracking interview with the judges. "They were a great group and really receptive to practicing their interviewing skills," she said. "You can have a great portfolio, but if you don't interview well, it doesn't matter." In addition to being a well-prepared group of outstanding students, Linares said there were other major factors in the students' success. She said the support and encouragement of teachers, parents, as well as Sorenson and other counselors was crucial. "Teachers really need to be congratulated for their efforts," she said, noting she threw a small ice cream party for GHS faculty as a small gesture of her gratitude for their dedication to academic excellence in the classroom.: "We succeeded because of good teachers, the kids worked very hard, and the dedication of parents and advisors," she said. "It takes the whole combination coming together." Sorenson, a Sterling Scholar herself a few years back, said she was very proud of all 14 students and wasn't too stunned about how GHS' Sterling Scholars fared. "We knew we had strong candidates," she said. "I was surprised, but then again, I wasn't." Sorenson said each of Grantsville's 14 Sterling Scholars had the potential to win in his or her discipline. "They all go in as winners and it's nice they're recognized as such," she said. "There aren't any losers in this camp." Carol Jeffries, a Tooele Board of Education member and Grantsville resident, couldn't say enough about the students' achievement at the competition. "It's like winning a state championship," she said. . . . JESSICA CLARK, daughter of Alan and Linda Clark, is the Sterling Scholar for science. She won runner-up in the Northeast Region Sterling Scholar Science competition. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Extreme Sports Club, and is president of the Future Business Leaders of America. She was also an Academic Olympiad. She has been on the high honor roll for four years and maintained a 3.9 GPA. She scored a 29 on the ACT. She frequently volunteers at the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. She has learned about medical science firsthand as a survivor of squamous cell esophageal cancer. She coached a Jr. Jazz basketball team and refereed many Jr. Jazz games. She has been a member of the GHS freshman and varsity basketball and J.V. softball teams. Jessica plans to major in wildlife biology at Utah State University where she has received a Dean's scholarship and the Quinney Scholarship. She is also a national finalist for the National Wild Turkey Federation Scholarship. . . . "USU RECOGNIZES CLARK FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE" TOOELE TRANSCRIPT BULLETIN August 18, 2005. Utah State University undergraduate student and Tooele resident Jessica Clark was recently recognized by the university's College of Natural Resources for her academic excellence. At the yearly scholarship banquet, Jessica was awarded the Arthur F. Johnson Scholarship for the 2005-2006 school year. Jessica is the daughter of Linda and Alan Clark and is a 2003 graduate of Grantsville High School. Jessica is a sophomore majoring in Wildlife Science in the Department of Forest, Range, and Wildlife Sciences. She is a Quinney Scholar, a member of the Wildlife Society and the Conservation and Restoration Ecology Club, and will be a CNR Ambassador for the 2005/2006 academic year. For three years Jessica has worked as an intern with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. She enjoys hunting, fishing, and skeet shooting. According to Interim Dean Chris Luecke, Jessica is a fine example of the outstanding students we have in our CNR programs. TOOELE TRANSCRIPT BULLETIN Tuesday, September 12, 2006 TAYON/CLARK Mr. and Mrs. Alan Clark of Erda and Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Tayon of Grantsville are pleased to announce the marriage of their children, Jessica Helena Clark and Scott Anthony Tayon, on Wednesday, August 16, 2006, in Draper, Utah. Both are graduates of Grantsville High School, Scott in 1998 and Jessica in 2003. Mr. and Mrs. Tayon will be making their home in Logan while Jessica finishes working toward a bachelor's degree in wildlife science. REMEMBERING JESS by Adam Brewerton Utah State University College of Natural Resources' ALMANAC, March, 2007 As I think about my time at the College of Natural Resources, I think of the friends that have become more like family than friends. That is in fact why I tell people that this is the greatest college on campus. Sure the classes are fun, especially when the course prefix is WILD, but I have been heard to say, and will say again, that class is only a part of our education. This semester we lost a large part of our education, Jessica. When I first met Jessica, I was sitting at my usual spot in the Atrium. I remember her bright attitude. Come to think of it, I never saw her not-bright, dull maybe? It was that attitude that made her Jessica. I guess now we know that she was sick. We all just had taken it that she had been sick, which is why her loss was so shocking for us. Now, that some time has passed, the shock is gone and I find myself carrying on as if all were well. At these times I catch myself and remember what I am now missing. Just the other day my wife and I drove down her street and passed her house. We paused for a moment before returning to our way. I did not aim to write a eulogy but it would be a shame if I didn't mention something about her. Jess loved school. The value that she put on her education was inspiring for us all to do not just well, but our best. She did well herself. She was a Quinney scholar and one of her wishes was to have a scholarship in her name. She was loved by her teachers, fellow students, and friends. We miss her, but as she would have done, we keep our spirits high (both figuratively by our attitudes and in our glasses).