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Show A-10 Wed/Thurs/Fri, June 3-5, 2015 The Park Record Grad leaves legacy of service Armed with a sign, student spreads a hopeful message Robbie Borders says suicide is not the answer BUBBA BROWN The Park Record Robbie Borders wants to make your day better. And it's likely he has if you've happened to drive by him over the past few months. Every day after school, the Park City High School student has been holding a sign on State Road 224 that delivers a hopeful message: "Smile, you are beautiful." Borders' message soon went viral around the state when his friend posted a picture of him with his sign on social media. Seemingly everyone, he said, was talking about what he was doing. On Monday, he was honored for his efforts during the high school's annual recognition assembly. "I've been getting a lot of good feedback," he said. "I've had people pulling over and telling me I've been doing a good job and making people's day." Borders' inspiration for the idea came from a friend who committed suicide. Borders wanted others to know that isn't the only way out. "He had told people to smile, even though he was suffering depression," Borders said of his friend. "So I thought it would be a good idea to put up a sign to show to other people saying that, ‘You can smile because you're original, and no one can judge you because of that.'" Other students quickly took notice. The Summit County Suicide Please see Student, A-11 BUBBA BROWN/PARK RECORD Wyatt Angell, who graduated last week from South Summit High School, was named a Daniels Scholar for character, leadership and strong academic performance. He will attend the University of Utah, where he plans to form a service club. Daniels Scholar hopes to start a service club at the University of Utah BUBBA BROWN The Park Record Wyatt Angell didn't think he stood a chance. He looked around the room and saw dozens of qualified candidates. Why, he thought, would they ever pick him? As it turned out, there were apparently plenty of reasons. Angell, who graduated last week from South Summit High School, was recently named a Daniels Scholar after a lengthy application process that included in-person interviews. The Daniels Scholarship Program provides four-year scholarships to Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming and Colorado students with financial need who demonstrate character, leadership and strong academic performance. "It was very nerve-wracking," he said of interviewing for the scholarship. "I was very nervous and I thought I kind of blew it. I tried to be myself and I didn't know if they would like that or not. I guess they did. And I was nervous when I met the other students that were there. I thought they deserved it way more than me but I guess not." Angell is headed to the University of Utah, where he will use his scholarship in the school's chemical engineering program. He said he was drawn to engineering because of his love for math and science. "I'm not really quite sure what I want to do in that field yet," said Angell, who earned his associate's degree at South Summit. "But it's so broad that I know I can find something that will make me happy. I used to think I wanted to go into law, but I'm kind of a softie, and I don't know if that was the best choice for me. I started looking at my strengths and decided that math and science worked best for me." South Summit principal Steve Camp said Angell leaves high school with a tremendous record of service. Angell participated in the school's Interact Club, which is devoted to service, and accompanied it on a trip to Mexico last summer to build homes for the homeless. "It was amazing, just to see the look on peoples' faces when we'd build their homes," Angell said. "It was cool just to know you were doing good. They were living in almost cardboard shacks, with outhouses. Then you see them helping us building their homes, and they're nicer than my house in Kamas. It was a great feeling." But just because Angell is moving on from South Summit doesn't mean his dedication to helping others will end. He said he plans to form his own service club at the University of Utah. "I'm really excited to be able to build something from the ground up and keep doing good for people," Angell said. "I want us to focus on international things, as well as things in the community. There are always people who can be helped who aren't that far away." CHRISTOPHER REEVES/PARK RECORD Sam Walsh, left, Park City High School's intervention counselor, introduces Robbie Borders, a student honored Monday at an assembly for spreading an anti-suicide message. For the past few months, Borders has stood near State Road 224 every day after school with a sign that reads: "Smile, you are beautiful." 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