Jacob Ward has many titles: friend, student, scientist, musician, runner…. But his mom, Liz Ward, calls him a “Renaissance Man.”
Ward can truly do it all, from ice climbing to playing the violin, he never gives up an opportunity to take his abilities to the next level. Ward is the Science Sterling Scholar of 2025, and it is something he has truly worked his whole life to achieve thanks to a love of discovery.
“I love science because out of all the subjects in school, it directly applies to my life the most,” Ward said.
He hopes to one day become a doctor, thanks to all the lessons that have sparked an interest in the human body. Classes Ward has taken to get to this passion include medical anatomy, AP chemistry, and emergency medical technician (EMT).
“Every class was fun, it was never a chore,” Liz said. “Jacob always has a story about what he learns.”
Each day at school, Ward’s interest in science deepens. His passion for this subject is all thanks to his incredible school experiences.
In the seventh grade, Ward did a project with his science class outlining the human body, and each class talked about the different systems. Ward was fascinated with each new piece of information presented to him and yearned to take his learning to the next level.
He has also had multiple experiences that have shaped his passion of science throughout high school. He travelled to Utah State his junior year to a cadaver lab. Seeing all the cadavers with the opened muscles and organs only grew his interest.
Ward has continually applied his knowledge to his hobbies, especially with running. He has been a part of both the Highland cross country and track teams for all four years high school.
“Learning how the body functions has changed the way I run,” Ward said. “It’s given me a greater appreciation for how I run, and knowing what muscles I am using has a positive effect on me mentally.”
This application of new knowledge into his personal life, is what grows further interest in science for Ward.
Within his medical terminology class, he learned many different Greek and Latin roots, mainly pertaining to the human body and the medical field. Studying these roots have helped increase Ward’s knowledge and critical thinking skills. When he finds a term that he does not know, through careful dissection, he is able to puzzle it out and find the meaning.
For his Medical Anatomy and Physiology class, he was able to get creative with his assignment of researching dwarfism and wrote a rap for his presentation.
But one of Ward’s favorite classes was EMT. He loves the incredible opportunities it gives him to learn unique skills and prepare him for the medical field. It also allows him to graduate as a certified EMT giving him a head start in the medical field.
“There are so many great skills to be learned in this class,” Ward said, “I love learning how I can save lives. I think it’s so valuable.”
Ward’s interests expand far beyond school lessons. He will often go on outdoor adventures when he is with his family. They will go ice climbing, backpacking, and skiing. With each new mountain they climb, they grow closer as a family and stronger as individuals.
It is important to him and his family to stay well rounded in all that they do.
“Jacob is so good at so many things and he understands that he can do hard things,” Liz said.
Ward seizes every chance he gets to go outside. Especially when it involves exercise. He values the beauty of nature and cherishes his time outdoors. One of his favorite hobbies is ice climbing.
“Putting together a plethora of skills: athleticism, strength, knowledge, and being able to protect yourself, to do something amazing like ice climbing is a gift,” Ward said. “It’s a test against you and the outdoor elements.”
This surreal experience of going outside and having an adventure drives him forward. And as he continues pursuing more adventures, he will surely add more titles to his growing list.
