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Samuel Maynard

755

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Finalist

Bio

My goal in life is to improve the lives of others around me. I've always been fascinated by the aspects of entertainment and how it always manages to spark emotion and reactions out of people. I enjoy seeing satisfaction in people's eyes, and that's what I strive for every day in everything I do. I am a perfectionist, meaning that anything that I may work on from editing a video that promotes a charity, to doing a simple homework assignment in class, gets my full and undivided attention until I say that it is good. Additionally, I love having responsibilities and being productive. Most recently, I was the Director of Operations at a brand new performing arts center in the Quad Cities. Most recently, I participated in an apprenticeship as the lighting and sound assistant at the Two River Theater in Red Bank, NJ. This is exactly what I want to do in the future. I would like to design and/or operate sound for professional productions throughout the world.

Education

Pace University

Bachelor's degree program
2023 - 2025
  • Majors:
    • Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
    • Fine and Studio Arts
    • Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

Black Hawk College

Associate's degree program
2020 - 2022
  • Majors:
    • Fine and Studio Arts

Alleman High School

High School
2017 - 2021
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Performing Arts

    • Dream career goals:

      Sound Designer

    • Lighting and Sound Assistant

      Two River Theater Company
      2022 – Present2 years
    • Cashier

      Menards
      2021 – 20221 year
    • Director of Operations

      Moline-Coal Valley School District
      2022 – 2022
    • Mow and care for people's lawns

      Self Employed
      2017 – 20225 years
    • Install Sound Systems

      Self Employed
      2018 – Present6 years
    • Fly a drone to get areal footage for construction companies, real estate, special events, etc.

      Self Employed
      2018 – Present6 years
    • DJ

      Self Employed
      2017 – 20236 years

    Sports

    Tennis

    Junior Varsity
    2018 – 20213 years

    Arts

    • Quad City Music Guild

      Design
      Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn, Disaster!
      2021 – 2022
    • Quad City Music Guild

      Design
      Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella
      2022 – 2022
    • Muscatine High School

      Design
      The Play That Goes Wrong, The Book of Will, Spongebob The Musical, Newsies
      2021 – 2022
    • Alleman High School

      Theatre
      Newsies, Junie B. Jones, Annie, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Miscellaneous
      2019 – 2022
    • The Spotlight Theater

      Theatre
      Children's Summer Camps, Miracle on 34th Street, Miscellaneous
      2019 – 2020
    • Two River Theater Company

      Design
      Living and Breathing, Romeo and Juliet
      2023 – Present
    • Quad City Music Guild

      Theatre
      Beauty and the Beast, Shrek the Musical, A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Sister Act
      2017 – 2021
    • Alleman High School Dance Marathon

      Videography
      Dance Marathon Advertisements
      2020 – 2021
    • Alleman High School

      Acting
      Grease
      2017 – 2017
    • Alleman High School

      Acting
      Hairspray
      2018 – 2018
    • Moline Boys Choir

      Music
      Concerts throughout the Quad Cities as well as in Colorado
      2008 – 2015
    • The Spotlight Theater

      Theatre
      Big, Children's Summer Camps, Matilda
      2019 – 2020
    • Alleman High School

      Theatre
      Lion King, Grease, Winter Plays,, Miscellaneous
      2017 – 2019

    Public services

    • Advocacy

      Christ The King — Tech Director
      2015 – 2016
    • Advocacy

      Sacred Heart Church — Tech Director
      2017 – 2017
    • Volunteering

      Independent — I taught a group of people about drone photography
      2018 – 2018

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    Creative Arts Scholarship
    I’ve had a love for music my whole life. I started piano lessons in kindergarten, then in fifth grade, I took on the trumpet and violin. My band and trumpet teacher, Jane Soko, had the challenging task of teaching fifth through twelfth-grade band classes. Since we were a small private school, she had fifth through eighth grade in one group, and ninth through twelfth in another. She had no separation of classes based on a student’s ability to play an instrument. She could be working with a high school senior who has never touched a trumpet and a sophomore who has been playing the trumpet for five years at the same time. In addition to her band classes, she also taught 9-12th grade choir. She had her work cut out for her. Even though Mrs. Soko had a lot to do, she always took the time to bond with us. Her door was always open, and there was a place for everyone in her band. As I grew up and moved to the High School, Mrs. Soko remained a constant, even through some sudden, and unwelcome, administrative changes at our school. One day, I asked her, “Why do you stay here when you could be getting paid much more elsewhere?” She replied with one small phrase. “I don’t do it for the school or for the pay, I do it for you guys.” As more staff resigned, and the school lost resources, I was given the opportunity to work as the student audiovisual technical director, meaning I oversaw the school’s audiovisual needs in the performing arts center, the gymnasium, the athletic complex, and other miscellaneous events. I was doing it for free then, but Mrs. Soko approached the administration about giving me discounts on my tuition, and to my surprise, they agreed. Mrs. Soko and I worked closely during my high school career, and when she noticed my love of the arts, she encouraged me to investigate theater as a career. Even though I was hesitant at first, Soko reminded me that she got into her career, not because of money, but because she was following her passion, which made her feel complete. I've been passionate about technical design since I was 12 years old, and my love for it has only grown since then. I owe much of my success to Mrs. Soko, who first encouraged me to pursue my passion despite my hesitation. Since my high school graduation in 2021, I've had the privilege of continuing my work at my alma mater, Alleman High School, as well as working with many other schools over the years, including Muscatine High School, where I've had some of my favorite experiences in the performing arts, and Moline High School. Despite limited budgets, politics, administrative restrictions, and the other challenges that come with the territory, the students' passion and dedication prevailed over and over again. I don't do it for the schools or for the money, but I do it for the students… I do what I do for others.. and I was honored to be able to work with them. It's been a joy to share my passion for technical design with others, and I can’t wait to continue doing it for the rest of my life.
    Maverick Grill and Saloon Scholarship
    I’ve had a love for music my whole life. I started piano lessons in kindergarten, then in fifth grade, I took on the trumpet and violin. My band and trumpet teacher, Jane Soko, had the challenging task of teaching fifth through twelfth-grade band classes. Since we were a small private school, she had fifth through eighth grade in one group, and ninth through twelfth in another. She had no separation of classes based on a student’s ability to play an instrument. She could be working with a high school senior who has never touched a trumpet and a sophomore who has been playing the trumpet for five years at the same time. In addition to her band classes, she also taught 9-12th grade choir. She had her work cut out for her. Even though Mrs. Soko had a lot to do, she always took the time to bond with us. Her door was always open, and there was a place for everyone in her band. As I grew up and moved to the High School, Mrs. Soko remained a constant, even through some sudden, and unwelcome, administrative changes at our school. One day, I asked her, “Why do you stay here when you could be getting paid much more elsewhere?” She replied with one small phrase. “I don’t do it for the school or for the pay, I do it for you guys.” As more staff resigned, and the school lost resources, I was given the opportunity to work as the student audiovisual technical director, meaning I oversaw the school’s audiovisual needs in the performing arts center, the gymnasium, the athletic complex, and other miscellaneous events. I was doing it for free then, but Mrs. Soko approached the administration about giving me discounts on my tuition, and to my surprise, they agreed. Mrs. Soko and I worked closely during my high school career, and when she noticed my love of the arts, she encouraged me to investigate theater as a career. Even though I was hesitant at first, Soko reminded me that she got into her career, not because of money, but because she was following her passion, which made her feel complete. I've been passionate about technical design since I was 12 years old, and my love for it has only grown since then. I owe much of my success to Mrs. Soko, who first encouraged me to pursue my passion despite my hesitation. Since my high school graduation in 2021, I've had the privilege of continuing my work at my alma mater, Alleman High School, as well as working with many other schools over the years, including Muscatine High School, where I've had some of my favorite experiences in the performing arts, and Moline High School. Despite limited budgets, politics, administrative restrictions, and the other challenges that come with the territory, the students' passion and dedication prevailed over and over again. I don't do it for the schools or for the money, but I do it for the students… I do what I do for others.. and I was honored to be able to work with them. It's been a joy to share my passion for technical design with others, and I can’t wait to continue doing it for the rest of my life.
    John Traxler Theatre Scholarship
    I’ve had a love for music my whole life. I started piano lessons in kindergarten, then in fifth grade, I took on the trumpet and violin. My band and trumpet teacher, Jane Soko, had the challenging task of teaching fifth through twelfth-grade band classes. Since we were a small private school, she had fifth through eighth grade in one group, and ninth through twelfth in another. She had no separation of classes based on a student’s ability to play an instrument. She could be working with a high school senior who has never touched a trumpet and a sophomore who has been playing the trumpet for five years at the same time. In addition to her band classes, she also taught 9-12th grade choir. She had her work cut out for her. Even though Mrs. Soko had a lot to do, she always took the time to bond with us. Her door was always open, and there was a place for everyone in her band. As I grew up and moved to the High School, Mrs. Soko remained a constant, even through some sudden, and unwelcome, administrative changes at our school. One day, I asked her, “Why do you stay here when you could be getting paid much more elsewhere?” She replied with one small phrase. “I don’t do it for the school or for the pay, I do it for you guys.” As more staff resigned, and the school lost resources, I was given the opportunity to work as the student audiovisual technical director, meaning I oversaw the school’s audiovisual needs in the performing arts center, the gymnasium, the athletic complex, and other miscellaneous events. I was doing it for free then, but Mrs. Soko approached the administration about giving me discounts on my tuition, and to my surprise, they agreed. Mrs. Soko and I worked closely during my high school career, and when she noticed my love of the arts, she encouraged me to investigate theater as a career. Even though I was hesitant at first, Soko reminded me that she got into her career, not because of money, but because she was following her passion, which made her feel complete. I've been passionate about technical design since I was 12 years old, and my love for it has only grown since then. I owe much of my success to Mrs. Soko, who first encouraged me to pursue my passion despite my hesitation. Since my high school graduation in 2021, I've had the privilege of continuing my work at my alma mater, Alleman High School, as well as working with many other schools over the years, including Muscatine High School, where I've had some of my favorite experiences in the performing arts, and Moline High School. Despite limited budgets, politics, administrative restrictions, and the other challenges that come with the territory, the students' passion and dedication prevailed over and over again. I don't do it for the schools or for the money, but I do it for the students… I do what I do for others.. and I was honored to be able to work with them. It's been a joy to share my passion for technical design with others, and I can’t wait to continue doing it for the rest of my life.