Scholar Art & Music

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Valeska Populoh

Since her days as an undergradute in international affairs at American University, Valeska Populoh has been trying to figure out how to best contribute to positive social change.  Over the last few years of living in Baltimore, supporting the development of young artsts at MICA is just one part of a life commited to art, social justice, and building community.
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Dawson Dunning

Dawson Dunning's love of nature is matched by his love for filmmaking.  He is an eternal optimist, a trait inherited from a family that weathered droughts, fires and every other natural disaster since his ancestors began ranching in Montana in the 1800s.

Joaquin Baldwin

Graduate Scholar Joaquin Baldwin is a Master of Fine Arts candidate working to complete his thesis.  But in the meantime, he spends most waking hours developing animated shorts, helping aspiring filmmakers with advice, and, to his surprise, answering fan mail from around the world.

Jerry Mathes

One might think a poet would lead a tranquil, quiet existence. That’s not the case for Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholar Jerry Mathes, a 40-something Idaho native who as a younger man went over the side of a fishing trawler into the Bering Sea.

Jasmine

Jasmine gives much of the credit for her musical ability to the support of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (and the rest of it to her parents). Through the Foundation, she has been able to study the violin at the Aspen Music Festival and Boston University's Tanglewood Institute.
Tessa

Tessa

When she was just 12 years old, young cellist Tessa's “sound and natural ability” was compared to the legendary Jacqueline du Pré.  Now at 15, Tessa continues to study and perform cello as a Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholar and Young Artist Award recipient.
 
Randy Regier

Randy Regier

Randy’s provocative works of metal, wood, and paint have earned considerable recognition. His résumé includes a long list of gallery shows, solo and group exhibitions, installations, and presentations.
 
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Daniel Coeyman

In his portraits, Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholar Daniel Coeyman seeks to depict the complexity of his subjects.  He is inspired by American portrait painter Alice Neel to "collect their souls" on canvas.
 

 
Bess Greenberg photography

Bess Greenberg

After years of traveling the globe as a professional athlete, Bess Greenberg realized her true calling was documentary photography.  Today, as a Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholar, she is using her experience in different countries and cultures to nurture her skills and grow as a photographer.

 
Peter Dugan

Peter Dugan

Equally at home playing solo, chamber music, and jazz, Peter sees versatility as his best trait.  “My dream is to give a concert where you can play classical in the first half and jazz in the second half.  It’s something that you never hear.”

 
Berlin Philharmonic

Travis

At just 14 years old, Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholar and Young Artist Award recipient Travis Johnson is one of the nation’s most outstanding young musicians.  Travis has been studying classical guitar for the past six years and was a featured soloist on From the Top, a national radio program.