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South Summit High School grad leaves legacy of helping others

Wyatt Angell didn’t think he stood a chance.

He looked around the room and saw dozens of qualified candidates. Why, he thought, would they ever pick him?

As it turned out, there were apparently plenty of reasons. Angell, who graduated last week from South Summit High School, was recently named a Daniels Scholar after a lengthy application process that included in-person interviews. The Daniels Scholarship Program provides four-year scholarships to Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming and Colorado students with financial need who demonstrate character, leadership and strong academic performance.

"It was very nerve-wracking," he said of interviewing for the scholarship. "I was very nervous and I thought I kind of blew it. I tried to be myself and I didn’t know if they would like that or not. I guess they did. And I was nervous when I met the other students that were there. I thought they deserved it way more than me but I guess not."

Angell is headed to the University of Utah, where he will use his scholarship in the school’s chemical engineering program. He said he was drawn to engineering because of his love for math and science.

"I’m not really quite sure what I want to do in that field yet," said Angell, who earned his associate’s degree at South Summit. "But it’s so broad that I know I can find something that will make me happy. I used to think I wanted to go into law, but I’m kind of a softie, and I don’t know if that was the best choice for me. I started looking at my strengths and decided that math and science worked best for me."

South Summit principal Steve Camp said Angell leaves high school with a tremendous record of service. Angell participated in the school’s Interact Club, which is devoted to service, and accompanied it on a trip to Mexico last summer to build homes for the homeless.

"It was amazing, just to see the look on peoples’ faces when we’d build their homes," Angell said. "It was cool just to know you were doing good. They were living in almost cardboard shacks, with outhouses. Then you see them helping us building their homes, and they’re nicer than my house in Kamas. It was a great feeling."

But just because Angell is moving on from South Summit doesn’t mean his dedication to helping others will end. He said he plans to form his own service club at the University of Utah.

"I’m really excited to be able to build something from the ground up and keep doing good for people," Angell said. "I want us to focus on international things, as well as things in the community. There are always people who can be helped who aren’t that far away."


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