Helper Arts Festival

In its 13th year the Helper Arts and Musical Festival welcomed art lovers from far and wide to the historic city for a three day event celebrating the creative side of life. With main street devoted to the festival open art booths and exhibits enticed visitors while a variety of musical groups entertained. A car and motorcycle show, the Helper Idol contest and exhibits by local and visiting artists rounded out the activities.

Pushing for Her Personal Best

James L. Davis

If there is one thing that Billie Jean Reed has learned over her summer vacation it is that she is no longer willing to settle for an average life, she is going to push herself to be the best that she can be. Of course, coming to that realization took a little pushing from her mother.

The Emery High School student from Elmo, who will start her senior year this week, had the opportunity to be one of 52 students to take park in the Governor’s Honor Academy at Southern Utah University in June. The 10 day academy brought select students from throughout the state to take part in a program that encourages them to expand their horizons. The academy is intended to prepare the students for leadership roles in their schools and communities.

During the academy the students had the chance to interact with leaders in business, technology, the humanities, science, education, communication and social science. Those selected for the academy received a four year, $12,000 scholarship to SUU and six college credits. To have the opportunity to be one of the students representing 47 schools in the state Billie Jean had to submit an application, an essay and letters of recommendation. All of which she admitted she never would have done had her mother not pushed her.

“When I handed my papers in I only did because my mom made me, but when I was selected I was really excited,” she said.

To go to the academy she had to come up with $800 to pay expenses and the students are encouraged to seek out sponsors for the trip. Billie Jean did just that and said she was amazed at the response.

“Everybody was so willing to help. My town was so willing to help. I had people who I told about the academy and the next day they sent me $25 without me even asking,” she said.
With a stated goal of “To nurture the life of the mind,” Billie Jean was a little nervous about the students she would be attending the academy with.

“I was so scared to go because I thought these people are going to be brilliant, but they were so cool. My roommate was amazing. Everyone had so many different talents,” she said.

The daughter of Bert and Christy Reed of Elmo, Billie Jean, who turns 18 in September, came away from the academy with a new outlook on her future.

“It made me think differently about following my dreams. Before I was good with just going to school for a couple of years and learning an easier trade, now I want to go into medical research. It taught me to push myself,” she said.

That desire to push herself means that for her senior year she won’t be coasting through school. “This year I was hoping it would be easy, but I like to challenge myself so I have a lot of hard classes. I took the hard classes not because I needed them, now I just want to learn more.

Even with a more difficult schedule, she said she hopes this year doesn’t fly past. As a member of the Spartan volleyball team and track team, a peer helper and a member of the honor society and a member of the seminary council for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she has a full schedule that she wants to enjoy.

“I just want to have a good year. My friends can’t wait for the year to be over, but I want it to go slow,” she said.