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Kenneth Ivan Brewer

Biography

Kenneth Brewer loves languages. He speaks German, French, and Spanish fluently, which he learned in part by living abroad. He says exposure to other cultures has broadened his worldview and given him an appreciation for cultural and political diversity. Kenneth also loves science. He has done extensive research in organic chemistry at the university level. His high school English teacher calls him an “intellectual phenomenon.”

Through the Young Scholars program, Kenneth has been able to take advantage of educational opportunities that would not otherwise be accessible to him. Kenneth, who is one of six children, says his opportunities as a Young Scholar have shown him how to unite his passions for languages and science into a single career path. Studying tropical medicine in Costa Rica, he experienced firsthand how being able to communicate with local people in their native language helped him to understand their situation better. “The more a surgeon knows about the culture and language of the country, the more effective he [or] she becomes,” he says.

Kenneth plans to pursue a career as a medical researcher with an emphasis on Third World public health issues. Louise Durham, Kenneth’s English teacher, says while Kenneth may well be the best student she has ever had, “it’s not his brain that stands out. It’s his goodness.”

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