Lacrosse captain. Highly acclaimed pianist. Excellent student. Is there anything Santa Fe Prep senior Samantha "Sam" Secular can't do?

One of Sam's many talents — playing the piano — has been developed through a strong love and passion for music and 10 years of both group and private lessons.

Sam's hard work has definitely paid off. She has won several competitions over the years, including first place in a music composition competition through the New Mexico Young Composers Program and first place at the New Mexico State Competition for Music.

"By far the accomplishment I'm most proud of is a charity event I did in 10th grade," Sam said. "Two seniors and I performed to raise money for the ALS Association." ALS, also know as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a terminal condition that affects the nervous system. "We ended up making over $5,000."

Sam is also one of the captains of the varsity lacrosse team at Prep.

"I started playing (lacrosse) in eighth grade and something just clicked," said Sam. "I just love playing."

Sam's team recently took first place in the unofficial lacrosse state championships.

Sam also excels academically. She recently was deemed a Super Scholar by Century Bank for excellence in both grade-point average and standardized test scores.

At Prep Sam also helps run the peer mentor and tutoring program.

So what's in the future for this "master of all trades"?

"I'm planning on attending the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver," said Sam.

Whatever Sam decides her future will be, her wide array of talents will greatly benefit her no matter what she pursues.



Mara Dauber is a junior at Santa Fe High School. You can reach her at mara.rose_d@yahoo.com.