Brandon Beaver's opportunity came as a surprise

By MICHAEL McBRIDE

Brian Beaver expected his son to go off to school, he just didn't know it would happen so soon.

"This will be a big change -- like Brandon going off to college -- but it is three years earlier than what I had planned," Beaver said about his son last month being named a scholarship recipient at Culver Military Academy between Indianapolis and Chicago.

A Yorktown High School freshman, Brandon Beaver is slated to arrive at the prep-school campus Aug. 2, in time for football practice. School starts later that month. A third baseman eager to land a spot on this spring's varsity team at Yorktown High School, Brandon also plans to play baseball at Culver. He is a son of Brian and of Jennifer Beaver, and his sister is Larah, who is in the seventh grade at Yorktown Middle School.

"I am glad that he has this chance to go, but I will miss him until he comes back," Larah said. "We'll still be able to talk on the phone, and I will be fine."

Jennifer, too, has mixed emotions.

"We are excited for him; we have had to put our personal feelings aside and do what works for him," Jennifer said. "Look at the big picture, and it will all be worth it in the end.

"This will provide more opportunities than we would have ever imagined."

Colleges and universities look favorably on Culver graduates, Brian said.

The scholarship is worth about $120,000 over the next three years.

And it turns out that being a good student attracts attention. After the newly established Duchossois Scholarship was announced, a talent search came up with Brandon's name along with 184 other scholarship candidates.

Culver contacted the Beavers. And after trips to the school, Brandon opted to become a candidate for one of the four available Duchossois Scholarships.

Once the candidates were trimmed down to a dozen, all 12 came to campus and at one point were grilled all alone for more than an hour by the selection committee.

"That was intimidating, but I had decided not to be nervous," Brandon said. "I did not feel the butterflies; I got in and did my thing."

Motivation

"Brandon always had an interest in the military as I remember," Brian said. "He talked about being a doctor in the military."

Brandon's paternal grandfather and great-grandfather were both in the Navy.

Born in Kansas, Brandon moved to Yorktown before his second birthday.

Culver

"We are lucky," Brian said. "Culver is a great school, and we would not have been able to afford it otherwise.

"With $40,000 on the line, the competition for the scholarship was a high-pressure ordeal for kids 14 and 15 years old."

Culver accepts at least 760 male and female students a year. Students come from three dozen states, and 15 percent of students come from 20 countries, including Canada, China, Ecuador, Germany, Korea, Lithuania, Mexico and Taiwan.

He and other Culver students will be required to wear uniforms to school.

"We've been strict about some things," Jennifer said. "But we have been lenient about some things, too."

Sports/academics

If Culver students are not on a team, they are still expected to keep in shape -- just as fitness would be a part of everyone's regime in the military. Beyond participation on middle school football and baseball teams, Brandon was also on the YMS swim team and was a club swimmer.

An A student now, Brandon volunteers at the Muncie Children's Museum, for animal rescue services and at Muncie Habitat for Humanity. He has earned superior achievement awards in social studies and as a member of the middle school band.

Bandon is passionate about developing both his mind and body, a Culver mantra, but knows the school's rigorous academics will be his top priority.

"But I will also definitely participate in sports," Brandon said. "Although it will be weird switching from being a Tiger to being an Eagle" -- also the mascot name of Yorktown's arch rival, Delta High School,

'The hot corner'

"I enjoy the fast-paced action at third base," he said. "There is nothing better than putting an opponent out on a bunt play."

He compared the hot corner to life.

"You have to know what to do before it happens," the Culver recruit said. "Preparation plays a big part in it."