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.

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.

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.