Christopher Boyett, a senior at Westminster Christian School, can best be described as an academic scholar, leader and musician. He combined these talents to form Heartstrings, a musical ensemble that plays for patients and staff at local hospitals. In recognition of these efforts, he was nominated for the prestigious Silver Knight Award in the category of Music.
As founder and president of Heartstrings, Boyett organizes a group of six to 10 musicians from the Westminster Christian School orchestra to play music in the lobbies of South Miami Hospital and Baptist Hospital for two hours each week.
“The ensemble consists of at least two violinists, two violists and a cellist,” said Boyett. “We always receive great feedback from the patients, families and hospital staff.”
Boyett has been playing the violin since he was three years old and has trained with the same music teacher from the start. A member of the school’s orchestra since he was in fifth grade, Boyett enjoys the opportunity to share his music with others.
“I am able to earn my community service hours doing something that I love,” he said. “If you do something you are passionate about when you volunteer, you will enjoy the process and be more committed to it.”
As president of the school’s National Honor Society, Boyett organizes the induction of new members into the academic society. Westminster Christian School’s National Honor Society has more than 80 members and Boyett must be creative and work hard to keep the members actively engaged.
“Because the group is so large, it can be overwhelming for new members,” Boyett said. “It’s important to get them involved with activities and make them feel welcome.”
Boyett and members of the National Honor Society join forces to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity initiatives, provide after-school tutoring classes for Westminster students and organize a monthly blood drive at the school.
As president of the student council during his sophomore year, Boyett founded the Recycling Committee. Today, this student-run organization continues to do its part to recycle and lessen the school’s impact on the environment.
Boyett also serves as vice president of Mu Alpha Theta and is an active member of the French Club. He is a natural leader at Westminster Christian School, where he has attended since the age of four.
“This school is my home away from home,” he said. “I have great memories of my time here and have developed many amazing, life-long friendships.”
To prepare for college, the honor student has taken the most difficult classes and has welcomed the challenge. Boyett has been accepted to the University of Florida, where both parents are alumni, Florida State (Honors Program), Georgia Tech and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
He is waiting to hear from other notable schools, including Harvard, Dartmouth, Princeton, Vanderbilt and Duke. But, the acceptance letter he is hoping to receive would come from the top school on his list – Yale.
