Maggie VetterMaggie Vetter of Kings High School in Kings Mills, Ohio received a $2,000 scholarship from Jolesch Photography.

“Maggie is driven toward excellence, and she loves to practice,” her band director Greg Mills says. “She possesses an engaging, upbeat personality and views obstacles as opportunities to improve.”

Observations of her father, who is a music teacher, and Mr. Mills helped Vetter to form her future teaching philosophies as well as define her passion for being an educator.

“I will be patient with my students as they begin to learn,” Vetter says. “I will also be flexible and love the art of music making, all while keeping the passion of teaching music so students can see, feel and embrace it too, and, of course, I will encourage students to practice.”

Maggie has not only learned the importance of arts in her own life, but she already knows the difference a music educator can make in the lives of students and has begun to put these traits into practice. 

“The first [trait] is patience. The second is time. One of the last traits of a successful music educator is love for the art,” Vetter says.  Music is a part of who I am, Vetter says, and she looks forward to the rest of her life as a music teacher.