“I’m pretty confident, I’ve got this.” This is what Highland senior Justice Mumford told himself about his chances to go all the way in the Sterling Scholar competition.
He has pretty good reason to believe in his abilities as Mumford has turned into somewhat of a culinary expert. But the reason he became this way was out of necessity, not because of a strong desire.
“I grew up in a single-mother household. She works a full-time job,” Mumford said. “I feel like I’ve always had to take responsibility and help care for my siblings. It helped me grow into these classes.”
The family and consumer science Sterling Scholar that Mumford earned is really just a byproduct of a kid who wanted to do his part for his family when he was young.
“As I am a single mom, he has responsibilities that he wouldn’t have otherwise,” Mumford’s mother Michelle Quist said. “The things I needed help with helped him develop a talent that he liked to do.”
That is probably what set Mumford apart from the competition. Whereas most Sterling Scholar winners get the award based on one of their hobbies, for Mumford, his Sterling Scholar is a lifestyle.
“I think what sets me apart is my outlook on family and consumer sciences,” Mumford said. “They think of what they are interested in, I think of my passion and my drive for this sort of stuff.”
A part that Quist has played in helping Mumford achieve his dream is not only being his mother (a loving and supportive person in most people’s life), but helping Mumford achieve his dreams by experiencing the pros. They go on trips to find the best food and the best chefs.
“We do foodie trips, and we find Michelin Star restaurants,” Quist said. “We also try new restaurants here in Utah.”
Michelin Star restaurants will put the average Olive Garden or Applebee’s to shame. The Michelin guide is a ranking system that uses between one and three stars to indicate the quality of a restaurant. Even one star Michelin joints are considered the top of their cuisine.
Needless to say, Mumford is exposed to some pretty exceptional cooking, but the support that Quist gives goes beyond dumping cash into the world’s fanciest food.
“I’m a clean freak,” Quist joked. “Culinary arts make kitchens pretty messy. I try to allow that space to become his… I consider that a support to him.”
With so much backing for him, it’s no wonder that Mumford won the Sterling Scholar that is all about family and being able to provide, especially in the way of meals. It’s also not surprising that with such a talent and a drive for it that Mumford has made it as far as he has.
“It means a lot to have validation for what I’ve done. They see that I’ve worked hard for this, its validating for me to know they’ve seen what I’ve done,” Mumford said.
Obviously, with a resume like Mumford’s, it would be hard to ignore.
“I think it’s amazing. I’m really proud of his ability to communicate his goals and values,” Quist said. “I think he’s emblematic of a lot of the students at Highland High and in the community.”
Mumford’s Sterling Scholar is a perfect segue into what he expects his future to look like.
“It’s going to be my future and I know that,” Mumford said. “I’m going to do this for the rest of my life.”
Mumford plans to get an associate’s degree in culinary and pair that up with another degree in entrepreneurship and business.
“He will choose a program that best helps him achieve his goals, and I think his goal is to eventually open a restaurant,” Quist said.
