GENERAL INFORMATION

A. PERSONAL

Name Ethan Neal

Home Address 7211 Hillman Ridge Rd. Georgetown, OH 45121

Home Telephone (937) 515-1129

County Brown Date of Birth 07/24/01

B. FAMILY

Name of Parents Brian and Gigi Neal

Address 7211 Hillman Ridge Rd. Georgetown, OH 45121

Occupations Brian: Self-employed & Seasonal Worker, Carrington Farm Supply; Gigi: AgNR
Extension Educator, the Ohio State University Extension, Clermont County

Number of Brothers 0 Number of Sisters 0

Any brothers or sisters currently attending college? N/A

If so, how many? N/A

C. SCHOOL

School Attending Georgetown Jr/Sr High School

School Address 987 Mt. Orab Pike, Georgetown, OH. 45121

Telephone Number (937) 378-6730

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SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
In the space provided, show your involvement in various school and community activities. Indicate
any offices held.
A. SCHOOL
Academic Team: 2013-2019, Captain, 1st Team All-Star SBAAC League;
Band: 2011-2019, Section Leader, Soloist, Teaching Assistant;
Drama: 2015-2018, Music Director, Actor, Set Manager,
FFA: 2015-2019 2nd Outstanding Greenhand, State FFA Band Representative (2016,2017)
Student Body Board: 2018-2019, Secretary
FCCLA: 2013-2015, President, Secretary
Mock Trial: 2015-2016, Outstanding Witness

B. COMMUNITY
Hamersville Livestock 4-H Club: 2008-Present Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Reporter
4-H Jr. Leaders: 2016-Present President, Vice President, Secretary, 4-H Committee Representative
4-H Camp Counselor: 2015-2018, 2018 Canter's Cave 4-H Camp Ambassador
Brown County Jr. Fairboard: 2015-2018, Secretary
Eastern Brown Bands: 2018-2019, Assistant Band Director
Brown County Fair Sale Committee: 2016-2018, Jr. Fairboard Representative for Swine
Department
C. CHURCH
Ripley First Presbyterian Church: Assistant Director of Music, Principal Organist, Assistant
Principal Pianist
Christian Theatre for Children: 2014-Present, Assistant Music Director, Performer
Georgetown Church of Christ: Member
D. HOBBIES
Music: Multi-Instrumentalist (32), Professional Performing Musician, Was asked to study under
three world renowned instructors: on trumpet, Vince DiMartino, International Soloist & Dr. Jason
Dovel, Prof. of Trumpet, UK and on organ Dr. Schuyler Robinson, Prof. of Organ, UK
E. SPECIAL INTERESTS
Pedagogy: Primarily in Music, but Agriculture as well.
Research: Currently working on research project using oral ultrasounds and linguistic patterns to
formulate mouthpieces for brass players
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AGRICULTURE/LIVESTOCK-RELATED BACKGROUND
In the spaces provided, explain your background and various experiences in agriculture.
Do you currently live on a farm? Yes_____________________
If so, describe your family's farming operation.

My direct family - mother, father, and myself - operates a land rent farming operation, where
we rent over 100 acres to local farmers for the use of grain production. While our busy schedules do
not permit us to directly handle the production of commodities such as soybeans, corn, and hay, we
are still able to provide the opportunities that afford others the ability to do so. We also have pasture
for beef cattle operation that is rented to Ohio Valley Beef Cooperative.

Is your family directly involved in livestock production? Yes_______________

If so, describe the scope of production and your involvement in the process:

For over the past century, Neal Family Farm's has been directly involved in the production of
such agricultural commodities as soybeans, corn, wheat, straw & hay, beef, swine, dairy, and various
fowl. Today, we primarily harvest soybeans and corn in the fields and pork in our farrow to finish
operation. While my busy performance schedule does not allow me to be on the farm helping daily, I
am always at a moment’s notice from helping anytime and anywhere necessary.

In a few words, describe the importance of agriculture and livestock in your county and the future
you foresee for agriculture and livestock production:

In such a time where agriculture is moving away from the family farm to the industrial
facility, Brown County has withstood the toles of time and there is no doubt in my mind that this will
be a continual trend. Not only have we had more than stellar support of local organizations, whether
it be donations to the local FFA chapter promoting the education of agriculture, or the local bank
going well out of their way to open a farm operating line of credit for the new local farmer, we also
have the community to thank. While agriculture is constantly bombarded with the "threats" of GMO's
and enclosed facilities, Brown County will stand strong. Our families pork sales have been constantly
increasing as we are seeing more and more that the local consumer is looking for a locally grown
product, which for the local small facility, as most are in the county, this provides the perfect
opportunity for marketing growth and with the push for a leaner, healthier option as compared to
beef, pork will be able to sweep the local markets. There is no doubt in my mind that agriculture and
swine production will forever hold its own in this little heaven in southern Ohio.
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FUTURE PLANS
A. ACADEMIC PREPARATION
Name of High School Attended Georgetown Jr/Sr
High___________________________________________
Date of Graduation 5/19/19______________
Scholastic Average 3.748______________
*Note: The applicant must submit a copy of his/her transcript signed
by the High School Guidance Counselor.
B. DESCRIBE WHY YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PURSUING A COLLEGE OR TECHNICAL
SCHOOL EDUCATION:

As stated earlier, two of my largest interests in life are pedagogy and research. These both
would be attainable without a college education, but not to the extent and degree that I would like to
achieve. One of the theses that I have spoken with faculty at the University of Kentucky about is
using Noam Chomsky's Theory of Generative Grammar, Leonard Bernstein's concepts of Syntaxual
Music, and the Theory of Transformational Grammar to prove that music is a language and provided
resources and material to teach music along side the English Language Arts curriculum at the
primary level. All of this said, without the resources and networking of a collegiate education, this
would not be feasible.

C. FIELD IN WHICH YOU ARE PLANNING TO MAJOR AND YOUR REASONS FOR
CHOOSING THIS FIELD OF STUDY:

Music Education - Trumpet & Organ Nelson Mandela once said "Education is the most
powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." This quote has always resonated with me
because my soul drive in life is to inspire others to be the best they can be so that they may one day
change the world. Through this, I have discovered that the one way that most people connect the
deepest with their inner self is through music. "Music is the pure, tangible realization of emotion and
the soul" (Vince DiMartino). Music is the way we connect to our soul and performing is allowing it
to come to fruition. I often like to combine the preceding quotes with "then sings my soul, my savior
God to thee" from the well-known hymn How Great Thou Art, because I know that my purpose in
this world is to allow my soul to sing for others so that it may inspire them to one day change the
world.

D. COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, OR TECHNICAL SCHOOL YOU PLAN TO ATTEND:

University of Kentucky, College of Fine Arts, School of Music

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NEED FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP
A. EXPLAIN YOUR NEED FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO OBTAIN YOUR GOAL OF A
COLLEGE EDUCATION. INCLUDE YOUR PLANS FOR SELF-SUPPORT AND FROM YOUR
FAMILY. MENTION ANY SPECIAL OR UNUSUAL FINANCIAL NEED.

Though I received scholarships from the University of Kentucky, this does not cover all of
my costs. I have worked as one of the musicians at Ripley First Presbyterian Church for almost the
past year and I was selected to be one of the five counselors at the world renowned Camp Newaygo
in Newaygo, MI to work this summer where all of that money will go to my college costs. Along
with this, I anticipate on obtaining a student job and a full-time organist position during my studies to
help further pay for my college costs. Though I know my family will help as much as possible to
cover costs, I wish to retain as much financial independence throughout my college years to provide
myself the opportunities that would afford me the skills to properly support myself after my college
years. Along with the costs of college, as a musician there are many other costs that go above and
beyond the average college student such as instruments, equipment, repair and maintenance, music,
competition fees, lesson fees, and accompanist fees; these are not often covered by any scholarship
and must be paid out of pocket by students and often this is the largest detriment to the bank accounts
of music students.

B. LIST ANTICIPATED COLLEGE OR TECHNICAL SCHOOL COSTS FOR THE NEXT YEAR

According to the Cost of Attendance Calculator by the University of Kentucky, the cost of
the average student in my financial bracket is $50,000 a year. When added to the cost of purchasing
instruments, equipment, and music this cost could well clear $60,000 just in the first year.
C. HAVE YOU BEEN CHOSEN OR ARE YOU BEING CONSIDERED FOR ANY OTHER
SCHOLARSHIPS? Yes _X__ No ____
NAME OF BEING ALREADY
SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT CONSIDERED CHOSEN
Bluegrass Spirit: $17,000/yr, chosen

UKy Legacy: $4,000/yr, chosen

UKy Trumpet Studio: 4,000/year, chosen

K&K Insurance: $1,000, chosen

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