They have helped with city events, learned the workings of local government, given back through service projects and represented Taylorsville with heart. Now, 11 members of the Taylorsville Youth Council are preparing for their next chapter.
The graduating seniors were honored on May 20 by Mayor Kristie Overson and the City Council in a meeting that filled the Council Chambers with parents, family members and well-wishers. Mayor Overson presented each student with a medal recognizing their service, then read their bios aloud, highlighting their accomplishments in school, on the Youth Council and throughout the community.
The room was filled with applause, smiles and excitement as the students posed for pictures with Mayor Overson and with each other, celebrating not only their high school graduation but the friendships, leadership and service they have shared along the way.
“These students are such an impressive group,” Mayor Overson said. “They have given their time and talents to Taylorsville, and they have done so with enthusiasm, kindness and a real desire to serve. We are grateful for the example they have set, and we are excited to see all they will accomplish next.”
Through their time on the Youth Council, the students have gained hands-on experience in leadership, local and state government, civic engagement and community service. They also have balanced their city service with academics, extracurricular activities, jobs, volunteer work and ambitious plans for the future.
The graduating Youth Council members are:
Peyton Burnett — Throughout Peyton’s senior year at Taylorsville High School, she accomplished several goals, including participating in track and cross country all four years, being involved in Seminary Council, serving as vice president of Graces and performing in concert choir for two years.
One of the most meaningful experiences was completing a dental externship. She has served on the Youth Council for three years, including as public information officer (PIO) this year. In addition, she has worked a part-time job at Rita’s. After graduation, she plans to attend Weber State University to study dental hygiene.
Kate Christopherson — Kate is graduating from Taylorsville High School this year and will be attending Brigham Young University in the fall. Over the past three years, she has been actively involved on the Youth Council, where she especially loved participating in the Wreaths Across America program.
You may have seen Kate performing with Madrigals and Concert Choir or on stage in school musicals and Shakespeare productions. Most recently, she was named a Top 10 state qualifier for State Props.
Emily Cottrell — Throughout high school, Emily has served on the Youth Council for three years and held a leadership position. She also participated in Taylorsville drill team for three years. Emily challenged herself by taking multiple AP and concurrent enrollment classes. She has been learning Mandarin Chinese since the first grade and has continued it all the way to her senior year.
In the fall, she will attend Utah State University. Studying Chinese and political science, she hopes to pursue a career in international law.
Bethany Dieckmann — During the past four years at Taylorsville High, Bethany was a cellist in the school’s Concert Orchestra and was first chair in her section for three of those years. She also played in the pit for “Hello Dolly” and participated in many after-school activities such as volunteering at the animal shelter and serving as chair of the Youth Council.
She volunteered as a member of the Utah Youth Council during her junior year and took care of two adorable litters of puppies during her freshman year. She will serve a mission for her church and then attend either Utah State University or Arizona State to study dietetics and nutrition.
Hudson Hathaway — Hudson has excelled in academics, planning to graduate from Taylorsville High with a 3.9 GPA. Throughout high school, he has participated in many activities and counts the Taylorsville Youth Council among his favorites. He served on the Youth Council for three years and has enjoyed being part of the Taylorsville community and serving where he can.
Hudson is kind, funny and hardworking. He loves to travel and is always up for an adventure. He has a talent for woodworking and even won awards for his work at the district level. While his future is still evolving, the world should watch because here he comes!
Sophie Scott — Sophie’s senior year has been a busy and rewarding time as she has balanced academics and extracurricular activities. She has been a member of the drill team for three years, which strengthened her discipline, teamwork and passion for dance. One of her proudest accomplishments was receiving the Business and Marketing Sterling Scholar Award.
Looking ahead, she will pursue her higher education, with plans to major in occupational therapy and minor in a financial-related field to broaden career opportunities. She hopes to continue dancing in college.
Brinley Shields — Brinley was a member of Youth Council for two of her four years in high school and served as a Taylorsville Youth Ambassador this year. She was a member of the tennis and golf varsity teams, lettering all four years. She loves to sing and is currently a member of the Taylorsville High School Madrigals. She completed eight AP classes and five CE classes. She is recognized as one of the Top 10 in her class.
Brinley is planning to finish her associate’s degree in a semester at Salt Lake Community College and then serve a mission for her church. She anticipates continuing her education at Brigham Young University.
Emilee Taylor — During her time at Taylorsville High, Emilee has loved being involved in different activities and clubs, including Key Club and National Honor Society. One of her favorite parts of high school was participating in choir, especially being part of Graces during her sophomore and junior years and Madrigals during her senior year.
After graduation, she plans to earn Certified Nursing Assistant and esthetician licenses. This fall, she will attend Brigham Young University, where she plans to study nursing and prepare for a career in the medical field. She is excited to use these skills and experiences to help others.
Syd Thompson — As a senior, Syd has been involved in art, animation and graphic design classes, as well as FFA and Key Club. Syd continued to develop creative skills by exploring animation and graphic design techniques at the Granite Technical Institute and pushed artistic abilities by taking a variety of art classes. Through FFA, Syd built leadership and teamworking skills, taking part in hands-on agricultural experiences.
In Syd’s words, “Together, these experiences have shaped who I am today and inspired me to pursue further education in graphic design after high school. I hope to expand my skills and turn my passion into a career.”
Lexi Walker — Lexi has maintained excellent academics, scoring a 35 on the ACT and graduating with 39 college credits and her general education certificate from SLCC. She was selected as the Instrumental Music Sterling Scholar for drumming and was a regional finalist. She has received a scholarship from BYU, which she plans to attend in fall 2028 after serving a church mission in Melbourne, Australia, starting in August.
For her Youth Ambassador project, she and her peers interviewed and recorded nearly 40 residents to learn about their lives and uploaded more than 13 hours of stories to a genealogy platform to preserve their history.
Hallee Winberg — Hallee has been a dedicated member of the Youth Council for two years, most recently serving as Youth Mayor. A highlight of her time on the Youth Council was attending the youth leadership conference at Utah State University, where she enjoyed networking with peers and deepening connections within her own council.
At Taylorsville High, Hallee was a member of Madrigals, Concert Choir and various other choral ensembles, in addition to serving on the Seminary Council. Following graduation, she will serve a Spanish-speaking mission in Ontario, Calif., starting June 24.
