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Kevin Setter
I have found great beauty in my study of mathematics and music. Mathematics has a sense of aesthetics as finely developed as any art. It is a creation of the human mind that exists for its own sake."
- Alumni of: 2002 Graduate Scholarship Program
- Hometown: Arlington, VA
- Four-year College or University: Swarthmore College
- Graduate School: California Institute of Technology
Biography
From his earliest childhood and through his academic career, Kevin has always been motivated by his passion and dedication to understanding physics. The son of a Democratic Party operative and an ex-Catholic priest, Kevin describes himself as a "very self-motivated learner," with a wide array of interests, which include physics, mathematics, music, and literature.
The same intellectual curiosity and perseverance that has allowed Kevin to excel in physics is also evident in his approach to his other interests. As a counterbalance to his scientific pursuits, Kevin is also dedicated to more artistic endeavors, playing classical piano and studying formal dance. In addition, Kevin has also co-written and performed a musical.
The following are some of Kevin's academic and extra-curricular accomplishments: throughout his tenure at Swarthmore College, Kevin has conducted extensive physics research, in collaboration with faculty and has co-authored two papers - "Gravitational Statistical Mechanics: A Model" and "On the Universality of the Entropy-Area Relation" - both of which have been published in Classical and Quantum Gravity.
As a physical science aide, Kevin worked at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., testing digital reconnaissance systems.
He also dedicates time to improving conditions for the homeless, through his affiliation with Habitat for Humanity, working on several Washington area housing projects, and Empty the Shelters, as a baker.
Kevin will study math for a year at Cambridge and then plans to pursue a Ph.D. in physics at the California Institute of Technology, where he hopes to study string theory. Ultimately, he would like to be a physics professor, since it would allow him to "indulge his twin passions of teaching and physics research."
Other Scholars Like Kevin
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Haydee Cuza
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Matthew Ramsey
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Randall Regier
Graduate Scholar
Maine College of Art