Scholars in the Arts
Randy’s provocative works of metal, wood, and paint have earned considerable recognition.
Sam Bevet
“I began to write songs as a way of self-expression...it’s like a combination between a painting and a puzzle: different lyrical lines run through my head, alternate harmonic underpinnings, a new chorus.”
- Program: 2008 College Scholarship Recipient
- Resides: Burlington, VT
- Hometown: Middlebury, VT
- Four-year College or University: University of Vermont
- Academic/Career Pursuits: Arts / Music / Performance, Liberal Arts, Philosophy, Religion, Songwriting
- Other Interests: Outdoor / Mountaineering / Camping
Biography
HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUNG SCHOLAR EXPERIENCE: Sam’s summer experiences have focused on music and Asian culture. He participated in a four-day intensive songwriting workshop in Boston, where he learned harmony, the craft of lyrics, and the business of songwriting. An interest in Asia led to a week-long Asian culture class at The University of Vermont. The following summer he joined 20 other students for a three-week trip to China. He has also taken a three-week course on the study of cryptology, studying the complex math used to encipher and decipher messages.
PROFILE: Sam’s true passion is his love for music. At age three he would memorize songs and sing them around the house. “My parents played a lot of music in the car, so that’s where I learned a lot of songs.” Sam took clarinet and trumpet lessons in elementary school and began guitar and voice lessons in high school. He went on to teach himself the piano, bass, and mandolin. His love for music took a new direction last fall when he sang, danced and acted in his first stage performance as Nathan Detroit in the musical “Guys and Dolls.”
INSPIRATION: After studying Mandarin at Middlebury College, Sam was inspired to study different aspects of Asian culture at the Governor’s Institute of Vermont Asian Studies Outreach Program at The University of Vermont. The following year he joined the same group for a three-week excursion to five cities in China. The group saw such famous and historic sites as the Dazu Stone Carvings of Buddha, the Yangtze River, Tiananmen Square, and the Great Wall.
ASPIRATION: Sam aspires to be a professional musician. “The joy of songwriting comes from not only the finished product, but the hours of struggle and mental energy that go into creating a four minute piece of music.” The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation helped by providing a condenser microphone for Sam to record his songs.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Sam is an active member of his community through music. He has played at various benefit concerts helping to raise money for the local food shelf, an animal shelter, the Boy Scouts, and the “Invisible Children” of Uganda.
ACCOLADES: He is a National Merit Scholarship Finalist, the recipient of the Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award, and the Presidential Award for Educational Excellence.
INTERESTING FACT: Sam enjoys video games and hiking.
Other Scholars Like Sam
Kayci
Young Scholar
Communications High School
Julian-Israel Canizares
College Scholar
American University
Kelsey
Young Scholar
Jeffersonville High School
Alison Chopel
Graduate Scholar
University of California, Berkeley