SALT LAKE CITY (October 15, 2026) – Today, Sutherland Institute announced the winners of its “Shaping Utah’s AI Future” essay contest and named the participants in the statewide Utah Student AI Policy Congress.

The “Shaping Utah’s AI Future” Essay Contest invited Utah high school students in grades 10–12 to consider the opportunities and challenges artificial intelligence presents for Utah and explore how policymakers can help shape the state’s AI future. The top three win a cash prize.

The winners of the essay contest are:

First Place: Darcy Miller of Bear River High School – $1000 cash prize

Second Place: Logan Wong of Davis High School – $500 cash prize

Third Place: Connor Earl of Green Canyon High School – $250 cash prize

The three winners will represent their Utah Senate districts as part of the Utah Student AI Policy Congress, which will bring together one student from each of Utah’s 29 state Senate districts.

In addition to the essay contest winners, Sutherland Institute selected one student from each Senate district to participate in the Congress:

Senate District 1 – Darcy Miller – Bear River High School

Senate District 2 – Connor Earl – Green Canyon High School

Senate District 3 – Gavin Willis – Venture Academy

Senate District 4 – Daniel Lomax – Clearfield High School

Senate District 5 – William Hannan – Clearfield High School

Senate District 6 – Logan Wong – Davis High School

Senate District 7 – Jason Getz – Viewmont High School

Senate District 8 – John Alley – Bountiful High School

Senate District 9 – Lydia Bartholomew – Skyline High School

Senate District 10 – Natalia Monrreal-Gomez – Wallace Stegner Academy

Senate District 11 – Madison Smith – Copper Hills High School

Senate District 12 – Andrea Perez Barranco – American Preparatory Academy

Senate District 13 – Zakia Mohammadi – Utah International Charter School

Senate District 15 – Emi Alfaro – American Preparatory Academy

Senate District 16 – Erynne Ruiz – Leadership Academy of Utah

Senate District 17 – Emmaline Hayes – Copper Hills High School

Senate District 18 – Ana Vega – Mountain Ridge High School

Senate District 19 – Sorena DeWitt – Lone Peak High School

Senate District 21 – Naomi Bagalwa – Timpview High School

Senate District 22 – Annabelle Shaw – Utah Online School

Senate District 23 – Landon Johnston – Orem High School

Senate District 24 – Caleb Hoopes – Orem High School

Senate District 25 – Sione Lagos – Timpview High School

Senate District 26 – Parker Utt– Merit Preparatory Academy

Senate District 27 – Whitney Gomez – Pine View High School

Senate District 28 – Porter Green – Pine View High School

Senate District 29 – Gavin Philips – Crimson Cliffs High School

Students selected for the Congress who did not place in the top three will receive $100 each as honorable mentions.

A big thank you to all of the students who participated and submitted essays!

The statewide Utah Student AI Policy Congress will take place on Saturday, November 20-21, 2026 at the Utah State Capitol.

For more information, please visit our event page or contact marketing manager Kelli Pierce.