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Samuel Maynard

1x

Finalist

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Music
  • Piano
  • Tennis
  • Violin
  • Theater
  • Trumpet

Reading

-

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

Career

  • Lighting and Sound Assistant

    Entertainment · Two River Theater Company

    Jan 2022 – Present

  • Cashier

    Retail · Menards

    Jan 2021 – Jan 2022

  • Director of Operations

    Entertainment · Moline-Coal Valley School District

    Jan 2022 – Jan 2022

  • Mow and care for people's lawns

    lawn care · Self Employed

    Jan 2017 – Jan 2022

  • Install Sound Systems

    Entertainment · Self Employed

    Jan 2018 – Present

  • Fly a drone to get areal footage for construction companies, real estate, special events, etc.

    Photography · Self Employed

    Jan 2018 – Present

  • DJ

    Entertainment · Self Employed

    Jan 2017 – Jan 2023

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Performing Arts
Dream career goals:
Sound Designer
Has nursing license:
No

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.
Samuel Maynard Student Profile | Bold.org