Lyceum Scholar, Prospective Attorney, Photographer
Hello there!
My name is Jacob Citron, but you probably already knew that. For my high school years, I attended a small, classical liberal arts charter school. It was here that I began to fully embrace both my academic talents as well as my talents in arts and media (particularly photography, videography, audio, etc.). Although, of course, I have always been the creative type, it was here that I finally had an outlet. I am also pretty proud of the work I do on the back end (I built my computer as well as a server to store all of the massive amounts of data that these 'hobbies' come along with). While it may seem that I would be pursuing a profession in these areas, I actually plan to pursue a career in law, and hope that Clemson University's Lyceum Scholars Program and my Economics degree will help me along in that journey.The below is my resume.- Research
- Problem Solving
- Reading & Writing
- Arts & Media
- Electronics & Technology
- Proficient in both Microsoft and Adobe Suites
- Electronics and Technology (PC building, server building and maintenance, networking, lightsaber replicas, etc.)
- Music (piano, guitar, trumpet)
- Firearms Training and Shooting Sports
- Photography & Videography
January 2024 - Present
Clemson Athletic Communications manages communications media for the Clemson Tigers. I currently serve as a photographer, responsible for photographic coverage of the various Clemson Tigers Athletics Programs.
September 2023 - November 2023
The Tiger is the official newspaper of record at Clemson University. I have contributed sports photographs in coverage of the Clemson Tigers.
March 2020 - May 2023
In my freshman year of high school, I was approached by Mr. Chacon (the coach for the boys basketball team), who had heard of my work on the Golden View Classical Academy Theater Club’s production of Aladdin Jr., to create a highlights video for the varsity boys basketball team, and I accepted. I then returned to this activity during my sophomore year with significantly more responsibilities. In response to COVID-19, spectators were no longer allowed to attend the games throughout the 2020-2021 season. To enable families to watch the games, I devised a plan for streaming the games, using a camera, capture card, my laptop, and the power of the internet. I also ran a scoreboard overlay on the video feed in addition to taking photos of the game. With the videos I took throughout the season, I created a highlights video at the end of the season. This video was shown at the team’s annual end-of-season banquet. I also took photos for the girls basketball and volleyball teams. During the 2021-2022 season, my junior year, Golden View Classical Academy purchased an automated camera, which allowed me to focus on advancing my photography skills. I was able to go more in depth with my positioning, angles, and focus, creating more advanced photos for both the basketball and volleyball teams than in the prior year. As with the prior years, I created a basketball highlights video for this season. During this season, I also began taking photos for the track and field team and attended the 2022 Colorado State Track and Field Championships. During the 2022-2023 season, I took photos for volleyball, basketball (including seven hours of driving over the course of three days for state games and, unfortunately, consolation games), as well and track and field. I was also a photo contributor to the Golden View yearbook, The Belvedere.
May 2020, 2021, 2022
The Golden View Classical Academy Graduation Team, hearing of my work for the Athletics Department, approached me about recording the 2020 graduation ceremony and I accepted the opportunity. I also streamed the 2021 graduation ceremony for families to watch from out of town. I was approached again for the 2022 graduation, and this time, I was asked to take full control over the media production. This time, I used multiple cameras and microphones to enhance the quality of the production.
December 2018 - April 2019
Summer 2019
- College Club Sports Photographer
- Event Photographer
- Notable Events include: Michael Knowles at Clemson University (with Young America's Foundation)
- College basketball recruitment highlight reel production
- Promotional Photography
- Approached to run social media focused on young voters for a congressional primary campaign
2023 - Present
Clemson University, Clemson SC
I wanted to continue my liberal arts, classical learning from Golden View into college as well—this is what drew me to Clemson University's Lyceum Scholars Program, which had an acceptance rate of 1.4% in 2023. Most of the courses in this program contribute to a minor in political science.
The Lyceum Scholars Program at Clemson University, operating under the Snow Institute for the Study Of Capitalism, is recognized as one of the most prestigious academic programs in the nation. The Lyceum Program takes a great books approach to studying the moral, economic, and political foundations of a free society.
To learn more about the Lyceum Scholars Program, please click here.
2019 - 2023
Golden View Classical Academy, Golden CO
As I see it, a classical, liberal arts education is an education in things worth knowing, and without it, human life is somewhat incomplete, undeveloped, and unfulfilled. This learning is said to “develop the minds” and “improve the hearts” of the students. It teaches them intellectual and moral virtues. The ultimate effect of this kind of learning on the society is to perpetuate the “inestimable blessings” of “civil and religious liberty” and “intellectual piety”. “A disciplined, informed, robust understanding of reality is the proper state or condition of the human mind. The point is to lead rich human lives and humans naturally desire the good, they naturally desire the true, and they naturally desire the beautiful.”
(Hillsdale College Barney Charter School Initiative Curriculum) (Golden View Classical Academy School Profile)2020 - 2023
University of Colorado Boulder & Western Colorado University
Senior Thesis, Golden View Classical Academy
In this thesis, I explore liberty as a requirement for living well. As Aristotle argued, happiness is the end at which all things aim, and the way to pursue happiness is to strive for virtue, which can only be achieved voluntarily, not through coercion. This brings us to the topic of tyranny and its unfortunate rise in America today. I will show how this complicates the pursuit of happiness and therefore the ability to live well. I will then present an alternative: a return to America’s founding principles—and will show why they work and how they are better. In order to live well, men must pursue happiness, and to do this, strive to be virtuous, and to do this, be in a state of liberty. In other words: in order to live well, man must be free.
To read my thesis, please click here.
High School, Senior Year, First Semester
Golden View Classical Academy, Golden CO
Mr. Pfafflin nominates Jacob Citron:
"I nominate Jacob Citron as Student of the Quarter. Coming out of a Senior Thesis meeting with Jacob characterized by vibrant, passionate discussion about morality and government's role in enforcing it, I remarked to myself, "This man is on a relentless pursuit of Truth, and he will not rest until he finds it." As I introduced challenges to his thesis that were the equivalent of intellectual hand grenades, I watched his face becoming increasingly more contorted as it reflected the mental gymnastics occurring in his mind, grappling with ideas that called into question the very premise of his thesis.Jacob embraces the seriousness of deliberation.As exemplified not only in his thesis work, but in my experience with him throughout the semester in class, he is not one who is just going through the motions to check an academic box for completion. For ideas he cares about, he is personally taking on the burden of proving, through vigorous testing, the veracity of the very worldview defining who he is. As far as I can tell, defending his preconceived personal worldview is not his highest priority. Consuming diverse viewpoints that offer alternative ways of understanding reality, then synthesizing them into some sense of the world that may or may not resemble what he started with - is. In other words, he is open to changing his mind. If one bothers to look beyond his combative relational style when his views are challenged, one understands that he is daring someone to prove him wrong. If one succeeds, he will acknowledge that he was bested in the fight. To me, this is the quintessence of the quest students and faculty should be on together anywhere Truth is being pursued with honesty. This is personal integrity; the willingness to be wrong. The quest for Jacob is omnipresent, both inside the classroom walls and beyond the doors of the school. Well done, Jacob."2019 - 2023
Golden View Classical Academy, Golden CO
2023 - Present
Clemson University, Clemson SC
Semester 1 — Dean's List
Teacher and Varsity Basketball Head Coach, Golden View Classical Academy
“I am pleased to provide a reference for Jacob Citron, a talented individual whose exceptional skills in photography, live stream management, and video production have made a significant impact for our high school's athletic department.
Jacob's dedication and passion for capturing moments through his lens are truly commendable. His keen eye for detail and ability to seize the perfect shots have resulted in a stunning collection of professional photographs that beautifully showcase the intensity and excitement of our games. Jacob's photos have consistently captured the essence of our team's spirit, conveying the thrill of victory and the determination of our players.
In addition to his photography skills, Jacob has proven himself to be an invaluable asset in managing our live streams. With his technical expertise and meticulous attention to detail, he has flawlessly executed our game broadcasts, ensuring smooth streaming and providing our fans with an immersive viewing experience. Jacob's ability to adapt quickly to unforeseen challenges and maintain a high level of professionalism has greatly enhanced our team's online presence and expanded our reach to a wider audience.
Furthermore, Jacob's talent for creating season highlight videos is truly outstanding. Through his creative editing techniques, he crafts captivating videos that encapsulate the most exhilarating moments of our basketball season. His ability to synchronize video footage, music, and graphics results in visually stunning productions that inspire and engage viewers. Jacob's dedication to delivering high-quality videos, combined with his understanding of storytelling, showcases his exceptional talent as a media professional.
Given Jacob's remarkable abilities and his undeniable commitment to his craft, I wholeheartedly recommend him for any media position he applies for. His skillset, paired with his unwavering work ethic and ability to thrive under pressure, make him an ideal candidate for capturing the dynamic atmosphere and compelling narratives of competitive sports. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information regarding Jacob Citron's qualifications or his contributions to our school, specifically our basketball team. I am confident that Jacob would be a valuable addition to any media team he joins.”
Sincerely,
Mr. Chacon
[email protected]
Teacher and Athletics Direcotr, Golden View Classical Academy
"I worked closely with Jacob for three years as he helped with live streaming, video editing, and photography for the Athletics Department at Golden View Classical Academy. He has a passion for using that technology, and he is extremely knowledgeable. He is organized and reliable, and he takes beautiful pictures."
[email protected]