Join us in congratulating Sam Bevans of Davenport Central High School as the 2024 winner of our $5,000 Thomas K. Evans Memorial Scholarship!
Sam plans to attend Iowa State University in the fall of 2024 to pursue a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering. His love for aviation grew from his connection with his grandfather.
“As a child, I loved going to the airport with my grandpa and watching the airplanes take off and land. My grandpa was a pilot in the Air Force, flew Chinook helicopters in the National Guard and has his private pilot’s license, so I have been fortunate to fly frequently with him,” wrote Sam in his scholarship essay.
Sam – who admitted his love for taking apart toys and putting them back together in his younger years – found that as he grew older his passion for engineering and creative problem-solving could fit perfectly into his love for aviation.
“Aerospace engineering became my focus, and I began to explore it both inside and outside of the classroom,” said Sam, who has a variety of coursework and extracurricular experience related to the field, including participation in the University of Illinois Aerospace Engineering Institute and volunteering with the Young Eagles program that provides free flights to area youth.
During high school, Sam also participated in multiple band ensembles, National Honor Society, Mentors in Violence Prevention and served as programming captain of Central’s Robotics team. In addition, he combined his creativity and science skills as Lighting Director for the school’s theater department, creating one of only two lighting designs in the state of Iowa chosen for the 2023 International Thespian Festival.
“I love to be innovative and creative in all aspects of my life and I am always looking for ways to improve things,” said Sam. “As a future aerospace engineer, my goal is to use my strong education from Iowa State combined with my drive and determination to make a meaningful impact on the aviation industry.”
“Sam is a hard-working problem solver. This is demonstrated in everything he undertakes,” wrote Davenport Central HS National Honor Society Adviser Cari Johnson in Sam’s recommendation letter. “His ability to think about things from a unique perspective, ask questions, and brainstorm solutions will serve him well in his chosen field.”
Click here for a further Q&A with Sam.
American Power Systems will formally recognize Sam during a reception at APS headquarters later this summer.
