Through interviews with Bosnian refugee women in Vermont or a choreographed series of dances based on the Andover experience, this year’s Abbot Scholars will have the opportunity to pursue their passions for credit. The program, in its third year of a three year test faze with the possibility of continuation pending, enables selected Seniors to conduct research and give presentations on a subject that interests them. The scholar’s projects are expected to be equivalent to 150 hours of work, the workload of two classes. The final result is a presentation to the Andover community and a 20-page research paper. Jesse Seegers ’05 plans to use the Abbot Scholar program to develop his interest in the production of music. “I thought it was cool I could get credit for something I loved to do,” said Seegers. Seeger’s project involves building effects pedals for guitars while composing and recording music in a variety of different genres. As an avid guitar player and a former AP Music Theory student, he will be able to further pursue his passion for music within the context of an academic project. “The program really gives students an opportunity to focus on something they enjoy because usually there isn’t really any time,” he said. During a Winter Term independent project, Seegers will work on composing two classical, two rock, two acoustic and two electronic pieces. During the Spring Term he will build the pedals and record. While Seegers is in the studio, Katelyn Alsofrom ’05 will be interviewing Bosnian refugees for her project. Alsofrom developed an interest in American refugee policy during her time volunteering with the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program over the summer. Her interest grew as she spoke with Bosnian women living in Burlington. Alsofrom hopes to examine how U.S. Refugee policy affects people on a personal level drawing from her own personal experience and the stories of the Bosnian women she interviews to draw conclusions about the success or failure of US policy. From the other side of the planet, Elliot Feng ’05 will be researching the policies and administration of the Chinese Nationalist government, deciphering handwritten notes from his great-grandfather, Dr. Soong, advisor to the Nationalist president of China. Feng became interested in this project when he inherited personal documents from Dr. Soong after the death of his great-aunt Madame Chiang, wife of Nationalist President Chiang Kai-shek. Feng is excited about the prospect of the papers, shedding new light on the misconceptions of this period in Chinese history. “These documents disprove general skepticism surrounding the nationalistic government in China. I had these papers and I thought this would be a great way to use this great resource,” said Feng. The series of Abbot Scholar projects also includes a documentary on early English history by Krisna Gupta ’05 and John Tincoff ’05, research on the economics of the Athens Olympic games compiled by Stephanos Kasselakis ’05, and an original dance piece choreographed by Anthony Reyes ’05 that will represent his Andover experience. Abbot scholars Jessica Schuster ’05 and Morissa Sobelson ’05 will also make presentations. Schuster will present research on smallpox and anthrax and Sobelson will tackle disease research from a social viewpoint examining how HIV/AIDS affects the welfare of children in Sub-Saharan Africa. Andy St. Louis ’05 will produce a musical review devoted to the joy and heartbreak of the college application process. Grant Yoshitsu ’05 will examine the Kennedy tax cuts and how they reflected a shift in early 1960 economic policy. The Abbot Scholar program, in its final year, is currently under evaluation by an independent reviewer. A report on the program’s future is expected in early January.
