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2006 Winners 
MIAOWEI JENNY AN
Ann Arbor Huron High School | Ann Arbor, Michigan As a member of the National Honor Society, Jenny organized and ran a dance marathon that raised $7,000 to benefit a Mercy Corps project in Africa. After the tsunami devastation 18 months ago, Jenny raised more than $1,000 in a "Penny War" fundraiser to benefit an orphanage in Sri Lanka. In her own community of Ann Arbor, she is currently involved in important women's programs: minority advancement, secondary education, sexual education and pregnancy prevention. In this effort she coordinates the efforts of team leaders, city council members and prominent philanthropists. Jenny thinks locally but acts both locally and globally. At her school, Jenny is a top scholar and took four advanced placement classes in her junior year, while involving herself in a host of organizations (some referenced above) at her school and in her community. She will be editor-in-chief of her high school yearbook during her senior year; works for the school newspaper; is involved in drama organizations at school and in the community; and is associated with her school's chapter of Interact, a volunteer organization. At her school newspaper she is a staff writer and columnist who covers everything from gay marriage to a local exhibition of teen artistic talent. She is assistant chair at the Young Women for Change (YWFC) -- an offshoot of the Michigan Women's Foundation, an organization dedicated to teaching young women important skills in philanthropy, decision making and business management. Jenny has extensive work experience. She has worked as a birthday party host for the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum, dealing with pre-school and early elementary aged children, and as an intern at the local public access television channel. At the public access channel she does everything from filming, graphics and cable casting to helping script shows on occasion. To top it all off, Jenny is a concert violinist! Last year her high school symphony orchestra won an Emmy Gold Award and Jenny was among those honored. Jenny aspires to be a journalist who covers the arts and cultural awareness issues. She is a young woman with a deep commitment to social justice, her school, her community, her world. Jenny's determined outlook may come from the fact that her parents managed to escape from China during the Cultural Revolution and she wants to prevent the tragedies she has heard of -- uprooted families, death, and destroyed communities -- from happening again. Deep down she knows not to take anything for granted, even an exciting high school life in America's heartland.
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BIANCA NICOLE BAKER,
Woodrow Wilson High School | Portsmouth, Virginia Bianca Baker considers herself a stand-alone business; and well she should! She works outside of school as an actress and dancer for two educational video television programs designed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for grades three through eight. She has won numerous EMMY and TELLY awards for outstanding children's educational programming for her NASA work and has participated in many national dance competitions. She was the first child ever to give a motivational speech before the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics), and was named National Teen Spokesperson for Space Day in 2002, 2003, and 2004. Her dance accolades include the title of Youth Dance Ambassador - a title she is most proud of because, according to Bianca, the title acknowledges dancing ability as well as good sportsmanship, leadership, and congeniality to other dancers. Bianca has many enthusiasms beyond her performing and her work on behalf of NASA. At school she was vice president of her class last year, has maintained an exceptional grade point average for years, is a member of the National Honor Society and has an avid interest in science - particularly biology. She tutors neighborhood kids in math and science, and is a much-sought-after motivational speaker in her community. "I would like (to receive) a PhD in Biology," she says. She aspires to be "the first actress astronaut to Mars," or at least to have her genetic experiments get to Mars! As a young child Bianca was very ill and barely escaped death. The experience taught her that life is valuable and should not be taken for granted. She pulled through with the help of her parents, siblings, and her grandmother whom she calls "my number one fan, my Nana." Her grandmother recently passed away, but Bianca still hears and feels her strong words of encouragement. On occasion Bianca buys sacks of burgers and hands them out to homeless people on street corners. No doubt Nana would approve.
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RUI BAO
Metro Academic and Classical High School | Saint Louis, Missouri
Rui is an exceptional student with a four-point grade point average who likes to go beyond her many high grades to develop a more complete understanding of the subject. She does this in a variety of ways including her fellow students in math and experiencing work outside of school.
Last year she interned at Anheuser-Busch in Saint Louis and still works there one day a week. "I search for articles written about the company and translate them (from Chinese)," she says. In addition to her work experience at Anheuser-Busch, Rui participates in Junior Achievement. "This year," she says, "I was the President of my company (at Junior Achievement)." One of her Junior Achievement accomplishments was running a firm nominated as "Company of the Year." Rui has a "laundry list" of school activities that includes participating in a Model UN debate, helping with various Amnesty International projects and playing piano accompaniment for the school jazz band. She is vice president of her school's student council and has helped organize school-wide events and fundraisers. Rui is most gratified by her participation in the yearbook, for which she was responsible for a significant amount of the production. She helps to organize and perform folk dances for the community and volunteers for America's Promise Alliance, where she is a member of the national Youth Partnership Team (YPT) and a youth representative on the Board of Trustees. Her YPT duties include monthly team calls, managing a peer-to-peer network for young volunteers called 5PAN, and other activities. When Rui was younger, she developed an intense fear of round objects, such as baseballs and basketballs - anything round. Once, in eighth grade, she found herself running away from a soccer ball, felt silly, and resolved to "eliminate this ridiculous phobia…with baby steps." She signed up for volleyball that summer. It was a struggle, but her coach noticed her determination and gave her a position on the team. Slowly she gained in confidence and skill. Now she plays on the varsity volleyball team and volunteers as an assistant coach for a kids' volleyball team.
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JUSTIN A. BOURQUE
James I. O'Neill High School | Highland Falls, New York
Justin is a top student-athlete at his school. He takes advanced placement (AP) courses and participates in varsity cross country, junior varsity baseball and ski racing. His community service work reflects the fact that he is an Army "brat" (son or daughter of a soldier, sailor, or airman) - his projects tend to be of high impact and short duration. He worked on Habitat for Humanity prior to moving to West Point, where his father, a U.S. Army colonel, is currently stationed. While Justin says it is "unfortunate" there are no Habitat for Humanity volunteer centers near West Point, he found an equally challenging project. Late last year Justin conceived of a project to clean the approximately 2,000 government headstones in the West Point cemetery. The cemetery contains the remains of hundreds of bona fide American heroes, including military leaders from the Civil War to the present plus numerous Medal of Honor recipients. Justin planned the cleaning detail, raised funds for the effort and executed it to perfection. His "command" included a company of approximately 100 West Point cadets - probably the only time in Academy history when a high school student was in charge of so many future military leaders! The project satisfied his community service requirements to become an Eagle Scout. Justin is active in scouting, participates in Young Life (a Christian youth group) and calls himself "a driven young man." He wants to get into a top university and calls his family his support system. "My parents are always trying to push me in the right direction…I also ask my older brother for advice often. He is currently ...at the U. S. Military Academy at West Point."
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 ERIC THOMAS BRUGLER,
Pittsford Mendon High School | Pittsford, New York "I have always enjoyed and benefited from placing myself in challenging environments," says Eric. His academic schedule is one such challenge he has mastered. He has straight A's even though he has chosen to take honors and advanced placement classes throughout high school. He is a member of the National Honor Society and was included in Who's Who Among High School Students. He has won the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Award and American Chemical Society Award, and is a New York State Super Teen. Eric has served as class president for the past three years. In this role he has initiated many activities and events. These include promoting fundraising events and establishing a new tradition called "March Movie Night." He also involved the entire school in a program to provide toys to patients of a local children's hospital, and in another program that entertained local military families. Eric is president of the Varsity Club, was co-captain of the junior varsity basketball team last year and plays golf. He received a scholar-athlete award as a member of the basketball team, and was the sportsmanship award recipient of his golf team. Outside the classroom Eric works as a fire explorer at the Pittsford Volunteer Fire Department. Fire explorers learn from the pros how to become future firefighters. "Through this program I participate in weekly drills," says Eric. "I also assist the firemen at the scene of local fires, and have served as captain and secretary of the post." He is also active in his church, and recently was chairman of a senior citizen community dance program. Eric even finds time to write sports news for the Brighton Pittsford Post, a community newspaper. Eric aspires to a career in the military and hopes to become a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy (USNA). This summer he will attend summer camp at the USNA. Eric says his parents are the most inspirational people in his life. "My parents have molded my character by stressing that doing the right thing is important but being true to myself is paramount. These are the values that have defined me as an individual and will influence the human being I will become."
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 JEMALYN CHAVEZ
Mt. Carmel High School | San Diego, California Jemalyn sees herself as an advocate for children and children's issues, and aspires to a career in public health after college. "I hope to work with teens who may be suffering from drug or alcoholic substances as my own father unfortunately experienced," she says. "I want to make a difference not only in my own family's life but in others as well." Jemalyn is a first generation Filipino-American who is grateful for the opportunity to grow up in America and has an extraordinary list of accomplishments. She has maintained a near perfect grade point average while working to support her family and has still found time to participate in a wide variety of school and community activities. At the community level she has participated in Invisible Children, a movie and movement dedicated to calling attention to the plight of Africa's children; in Think Local, Act Global, an international environmental awareness program, and in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in the Greater San Diego area. At her school, Jemalyn has organized everything from spring dances and proms to diversity school assemblies to special teen relationship programs for parents. She plays on the school softball team, has participated on Red Cross blood drive committees, and is president of two school advocacy organizations, Mix It Up and Speak Up. Jemalyn is the associated student body human relations commissioner for 2006; and is a member of National Honor Roll and the National Honor Society. Jemalyn is very close to her mother, who is an inspiration to her. Ten years ago her mother, who has lupus, left an abusive relationship and life has been difficult. Jemalyn works to help support her mother, her younger brother and two elderly grandparents. She also credits a strong faith and an incredible guidance counselor for her attitude and successes. Her advisor, Ms. Sharon Chrisman, "has proven to me that with my mind set, I can pursue anything despite others' opinions." At school Melissa is active in women's choir, the school chamber orchestra - she is a serious violin student, participates in the high school dance team, and maintains National Honor Society standards. She works part time, and lives with her single mom, two younger brothers and a younger sister.
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 CHARLOTTE CIPPARONE
Old Lyme High School | Old Lyme, Connecticut A while back, Charlotte thought her suburban home needed a rural feel to it. So she started raising poultry. Starting with three chicks, she now has a flock of Rhode Island Red bantams and a flock of White Call ducks. She calls her establishment Melody Hill Farm. She has a thriving egg route, breeds award-winning chicks and ducklings, and sells to others wanting to start their own flocks. Charlotte has learned how to budget, control costs, and practice exacting quality-control standards. Charlotte has entered many poultry shows winning Best of Breed at the Northeastern Poultry Congress and Best in Show at the Southern New England Poultry Show. Charlotte was the reserve Premier Showman at the Southern New England Poultry Show. Charlotte chose Melody Hill as the name of her project because of her love of music. "Music brings me great joy," she says. She plays piano, oboe, saxophone and English horn, and is a member of the Eastern Regional High School Orchestra. Charlotte played oboe in the All-state Orchestra at Interlochen (Michigan) Center for the Arts in summer, 2005, and will do so again in summer, 2006. She is also a member of the Thames Valley Youth Orchestra and played English horn in the spring, 2006 in a performance of Respighi's Pini di Roma. At her school she sang the role of Gavroche in Les Miserables. At school Charlotte is a top student who takes challenging classes and recently was a winner in the 24th Annual Shoreline Writing Contest. She is a student leader with the Student Leaders Program, is the sophomore class treasurer, is a member of the principal's student advisory board, and was chosen to participate in the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Conference. Her community service work is broad and impressive. She helped build a house with Habitat for Humanity, spearheaded several clothing and food drives to aid the homeless, and is an active member of Green Crew. Green Crew clears trails and prunes invasive plants on local Nature Conservancy lands. Last summer she traveled to Ecuador to assist with the construction of homes and a community center and, after Katrina, helped rebuild a house in Gautier, Mississippi. She found the conditions along the Gulf Coast shocking. Last winter Charlotte participated in a "Midnight Run" to New York City. Her group drove five carloads of clothes, food and toiletries to New York in the middle of the night and distributed them to the homeless of New York. Charlotte's source of inspiration is her grandmother, Virginia, who only recently retired from her work as a physician with the New York prison system. Says Charlotte, "She has a terrific interest in people no matter what their circumstances."
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 NADVIA MEOSHIA DAVIS
Minneapolis North Community High School | Minneapolis, Minnesota Nadvia Davis has learned to excel in both work and school. She takes advanced placement courses (AP) and has been an honor roll student throughout her high school career. She cashiers and works in food preparation at a local restaurant. She works to support herself and her family, and to pay the fees for her school activities that "my mom can't really afford." Nadvia is very self disciplined and has learned how to balance work and school to an unusual degree. "The work experience I have had includes being involved in a program called 'YCAP - Youth Career Awareness Program.' This was my first look at the job world. I have participated in this program since the summer of my freshman year." The program, held at Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis, helps students develop life skills while participating in group initiatives, community service and career explorations. Nadvia is vice president of her student council and has participated in basketball, badminton, tennis, cheerleading and her school's education talent search program. Outside of school she is involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters and is the editor of the Minneapolis Citywide Student Government publication "Urban Eyes." As part of Citywide Student Government, Nadvia is an active member of the Community Service Committee which has planned and held events at senior centers in the Minneapolis area. Crediting her mom for support and comfort, Nadvia says, "When I told her that I wanted to play basketball she helped me get started. From here on every activity, sport, church event, you name it -- she did what it took to make me happy." Nadvia also credits her "big sister," Teresa, at Big Brothers Big Sisters for support and service.
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 RACHEL LYNN FOWLER
Little Rock Central High School | Little Rock, Arkansas Rachel is from Friendship, Arkansas, and is very appreciative of her mom who "…is willing to take me to school in Little Rock, so I can get the best education in Arkansas...(and)...haul me all over the state to pursue my rodeo." "Her rodeo" is barrel racing, and she is very accomplished at it because of her relentless dedication to her sport. She works as a horse trainer to make money for rodeo entry fees and 4H trips. Rachel is currently one of the top five Junior Barrel Racers and Pole Benders in Arkansas. Rachel is active in the Arkansas Barrel Racing Association, Mid-State Horse Show Association, 4H, Happy Trails Saddle and Wagon Club, and the Malvern Round Up Club. She is president of her local 4H Club -- Golden Horseshoe 4H -- and is a 4H Teen Star. In addition she is the only youth officer in her local riding club. At school Rachel ranks high scholastically, is on the student council, and is a member of Beta Club, the National Honor Society, Campus Leadership Team, Teenage Republicans, Odyssey of the Mind and Writeous. Last year Rachel was the sophomore representative to Junior Civitans and started an equestrian team at Central High School. This year she is president of Junior Civitans.
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 SARA LYNNE FRODGE
Roosevelt High School | Seattle, Washington Sara has a natural and developed knack for reality-based policy development, a strong sense of fairness, and a talent for pursuing her education in a multifaceted manner. She is an excellent student, but while getting an "A" on an AP Spanish test was rewarding, "a simple conversation with my host brother in Spain taught me more than the conjugation of verbs." Sara readily admits she was not the best athlete on her basketball team, but the training regimen she established for herself just to be on the team is reminiscent of many Olympic training routines. Her involvement in a program called Hands for a Bridge has given her policy development skills that few her age acquire. Through this program, Sara helped to establish a "shadow" program where students from her school visited other Seattle high schools, where each shadowed a student for a day. Then the host students visited Roosevelt High to shadow students there. Finally they all came together in a forum and discussed their results. Sara's conclusion: the schools in South Seattle don't have the same resources as those at Roosevelt in North Seattle. "It's not fair that since I live near Roosevelt my education is better than that of someone living in Rainier Beach (South Seattle)," says Sara. Sara traveled to South Africa as part of a similar effort to "bridge" differences between a white Afrikaner school called Bellville, and a black school a scant three miles away called Islamela. She describes the Islamela school building and its environs as yellow-orange in color, looking like a motel surrounded by barbed wire and located in the vicinity of an impoverished shanty town. Bellville, on the other hand, looked like an upscale college campus. "There was a field for every sport you could imagine and irrigation to keep them nice and green," says Sara. These however, did not reflect the people inside the schools. Given South Africa's apartheid tradition and the walls that still separate blacks and whites, having the black students from Islamela shadow Bellville students and vice versa was a new experience for them, one in which the Sara and her contingent from Roosevelt acted as mediators. At the conclusion of her two-week stay in South Africa, a community celebration was held involving the choirs, dance teams and dramatists of both schools. Bridges had been built. "This demonstrated the ties we had made and the way that we could work together," states Sara. It is also why she and others are raising money for seven Islamela students to visit Seattle next September along with an equal number of Bellville students. When Sara Frodge talks about issues of inequality, race and educational opportunity, it is not anecdotal remarks gleaned from a political talk show. Her words are based on her experiences, which in turn are anchored in research. Such is the material from which good policy evolves.
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 RAQUEL ILANA GOYA
Pinnacle High School | Phoenix, Arizona There's an old adage that goes "if you want to get something done, ask a busy person." Whoever first said that must have had someone like Raquel Goya in mind. Her personal and community service achievements are many and multifaceted. She is a dancer, a top scholar, a fund raiser, president of her Teachers of Tomorrow club, a newspaper editor, a tutor to second grade kids and a small business owner! For the past four years Raquel has coordinated and coached a dance and tumbling group called Dance 'n' Fun Girls (DFG). She schedules DFG performances at area nursing homes and at other community events such as the Rock 'n Roll Marathon and the annual Walk for Wishes. DFG has its own website and bi-weekly newsletter. Raquel's fund-raising efforts have ranged from the sweeping to the ingenious. For the Make-A-Wish Foundation she personally raised over $16,000 through a comprehensive program of raffles, letter-writing campaigns and the sale of "awareness bracelets." Her passion for this organization led to her election to the Kids for Wish Kids Executive Board. On a smaller but no less creative scale, she developed a clever Halloween fund raiser for UNICEF. Feeling that a door-to-door fund solicitation would not work well, Raquel invested in a cache of glow and flashing pumpkin glow necklaces and marketed them to adults returning from work as a means to keep their kids safely lit up during their trick-or-treating that evening. After expenses she cleared $320 for UNICEF. Her creative and leadership skills were recently recognized by city leaders who awarded Raquel a position on the prestigious Phoenix Youth and Education Commission, an advisory board to the mayor consisting of city council members, sixteen members of the Phoenix business community and sixteen youth leaders. Her most notable contribution to the Commission was her dedication to the successful planning and execution of Phoenix's citywide Youth Town Hall, for which she also served as a facilitator. Raquel wants to become an elementary school teacher, a vocation she feels will combine her talent for teaching and her love for kids. She credits supportive and hard-working parents who know how to listen and to offer encouragement and guidance, and a little sister whom she "can always count on...to lend a hand or to make me laugh."
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 HANNAH GLENN HENSEL
Union Intermediate High School | Tulsa, Oklahoma Hannah is a top student at her school and a member of the National Junior Honor Society. She is also involved with athletics at her school and is active with her church's youth program. Hannah also lives with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a progressive, potentially life threatening genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system.* Hannah's approach to Cystic Fibrosis is stated in her motto: I have CF, but CF doesn't have me! She has decided that having CF is not a curse, as many would view. "The way I see it is that having CF is more like a blessing in disguise if I can serve as an example of hope for others with CF. Who knows? I may be the first person with CF to run in the Olympics!" That ambition may not be too far fetched. As a freshman, Hannah ran varsity cross country and helped her team win a state championship. "My main goal in my life right now," says Hannah," is not just to show that I can merely be healthy, but to see just how far I an excel physically." She says she feels she is being held to a higher standard in order to inspire and lead others in their fight against CF. Others have taken notice. She helps fundraising efforts to support CF research and was recently awarded a Heroes of Hope award from the Heroes of Hope Living with Cystic Fibrosis Program. "We are very proud of Hannah and her achievements," said Mike Stanton, one of her coaches at Union Intermediate. "She is an inspiration to others with cystic fibrosis to her fellow students as well as the teachers." Hannah credits many people for her attitude and success. "My parents and my brother are the main people who give me the strength to fight and who also never let me feel sorry for myself," she says. Track coaches have given her inspiration and the greatest gift of all "…they don't treat me any differently or lower their expectations...because I have CF."
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 BRANDI ALEXIS JARRETT
Taylor High School | Kokomo, Indiana Brandi's nickname is "Big Bird." She calls herself an outgoing "tall, goofy, fun loving girl who wants to enjoy life to its fullest." However, she combines her love of life with a strong determinism and visionary sense. "My number one philosophy in life is never to take anything for granted because you never know when your last chance at it will be." Her high school resume suggests she is well on her way to achieving her goal. She has been her class president for the past two years, is editor-in-chief of her school's yearbook, Helio, and was selected for the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Summit. She recently attended Hoosier Girl's State where she was selected as a senator then appointed Senate Minority Caucus Leader and City Chairman. Brandi was named to the Who's Who Among America's High School Students, the United States Achievement Academy, and the National Society of High School Scholars. Brandi plays varsity soccer; basketball, in which her team won its regional championship in 2005 and the Mid-Indiana Conference Championship this past season; and varsity track, in which her team won the Mid-Indiana Conference Championship, Howard County Championship, and Sectional Championship. Brandi is captain of her varsity basketball team and has won several Grand Champions titles in 4-H for her goods and gift-wrapping projects Brandi is student council liaison to a local mental health serves as a Red Cross volunteer, Oakbrook Community Church volunteer, Samaritan Caregivers volunteer, and participated in the March of Dimes and as a captain for the recent Alzheimer's association Memory Walk. In addition she is a member of SADD (Students Against Drunk Drivers), is past treasurer of the debate club, and is a member of the principal's advisory committee and of the local historical society. A proven leader at her school and within her community, Brandi wants to double major in political science and psychology with a minor in Spanish in college and hopes to make an impact on younger children as a motivational speaker. She certainly has an impressive start along the way. But perhaps the most important attribute that could lead her to success as a motivator can be felt when Brandi enters a room and speaks. Others report they are frequently overwhelmed with her sense of joy. She just makes people feel good. Brandi speaks lovingly about her parents and her little brother - "the one who drives me crazy, but you have to love him because he is so great."
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 SAMANTHA LEE LENHARD
Gates Chili High School | Rochester, New York "Sam" is a member of the National Honor Roll and National Honor Society. She maintains an A average while taking advanced placement and honors courses at her school and believes in challenging herself. "This year alone I took four college courses," she says. She is proud of her academic achievements - as are her teachers. Samantha works at a local department store up to 12 hours a week, teaches saxophone to elementary school children, and baby-sits. "The money I make is being put away for college tuition," she says. Many of her extracurricular activities at school and community service work outside of school are centered around her love of music -- such as singing and playing the saxophone. She has played the sax since the late 1990s and is a member of both regular and jazz bands at her school. She is also involved with jazz choir and the school's marching band. Occasionally, her many bands have paying gigs at festivals throughout the state and annually at the Rochester Psychiatric Center. Through her involvement with Tri-M, a music society, she plays for the residents of a local home for the developmentally disabled. Other benefit performances include numerous Christmas concerts held at the Hudson Independent Living Center and at St. Joseph's, a retirement and nursing home in Rochester. Samantha credits her parents and an aunt, who is a nurse practitioner, for helping her develop a vision of herself and her place in the world. "There are wonderful people in this world who create cancer research organizations and raise funds for other extremely worthy causes. I am the person who will be sitting side by side with the cancer patients, becoming involved with their lives and pain…This is my first passion. My second passion and greatest personal achievement deals with music. In combination, I hope to become a music therapist. In this way I can continue to help people explore music in the future."
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 AMANDA JEAN MEYER
Daniel Hand High School | Madison, Connecticut When Amanda Meyer decides to get involved in something, she brings a level of tenacity to her efforts that few can rival. She is involved in a dispute over pioneering astronaut Gus Grissom's 1961 Mercury space suit. Grissom's suit has been kept for years in the Astronaut Hall of Fame in Florida for years, but Grissom's family would like it at the Gus Grissom Memorial in his hometown of Mitchell, Indiana. Amanda launched a website (here), where she started a petition to get the Smithsonian to loan the suit to the Grissom Memorial. Amanda has also "thrown herself" at other issues, according to her mother, Carolyn Meyer. According to an Associated Press report, "She has raised money for a local no-kill animal shelter, worked on a state representative's campaign, and after growing her hair to the point where she could sit on it, abruptly cut it off and donated it to make wigs for cancer patients." At school Amanda is a member of the debate team, Young Republicans, and is a solid honors student. She is artistic -- she is a potter -- and is currently looking for a part time job at a local pottery studio. She describes herself as "determined", and this trait is even evident on the domestic front: she is responsible for her younger siblings until 5:30 pm on schooldays, cooks dinner at least twice a week for the family, is a favorite neighborhood babysitter and takes care of her three cats. Amanda was born with chronic hip dysplasia and has had eleven surgeries to correct it. More will follow. After one surgery, she was not permitted to go to school for a month because of the wheelchair she had to use. "I never saw what was different about me," says Amanda," and wanted to go to school even when the principal said no. Now it's with the same tenacity I am trying to convince the Smithsonian to give my hero's space suit back."
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 DONALD CHARLES MUNRO IV
Biloxi High School | Biloxi, Mississippi Donald "Chase" Munro will serve as president of the student body of Biloxi High School next year, a position that seems altogether fitting to cap the secondary school career of this amazing Mississippian. He is a stellar scholar, scoring a perfect 500 on the state's biology test. He is a former member of the school's state championship swim team; has performed in or served as technical director in school plays ranging from Les Miserables to Grease and performed with the Biloxi High School Chamber Choir in a Carnegie Hall presentation of John Rutter's Requiem this past Memorial Day. A member of the Chase is president of the National Honor Society and the Future Business Leaders of America, is sergeant-at-arms of the National Honor Society of and the Junior Civitan club and , treasurer of the Key Club. Chase is also a mentor with the Boys and Girls Club and is president of his school's chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America. He will be a delegate at the National Student Council Convention in summer, 2006. Chase is as active within the community as he is at school. He holds numerous positions of leadership in community organizations, such as having been recognized as "Mayor for the Day" in nearby Gulfport; serving on the Teen Board of the local paper, the Sun Herald; working as a page at the Mississippi House of Representatives; and holding an officer position at his church, the United Methodist Youth Fellowship. He served on a Honduras Dental-Medical Mission last year, volunteered at a local homeless shelter, worked with other Sierra Club volunteers to help save the Barrier Islands and participated in campaigns of both Democratic and Republican party candidates. He also served as a recent keynote speaker for Michel Middle School's African-American history program. But perhaps Chase's two most important projects occurred last year. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Chase produced a video titled "Hurricane Katrina Memorial Video," complete with edited music, video clips, photos, and statistics. The other project was developed in conjunction with the completion of his Eagle Scout requirements. He coordinated with Biloxi city officials on plans to establish the Historic Biloxi Bike Path to showcase thirty historic sites along the path and to enhance tourism and educate the public. When Hurricane Katrina destroyed all but a few of the sites, Chase moved from a mode of development to a recovery mode with his project, coordinating an effort with Rotary Clubs in Virginia and other Mississippi communities to collect and distribute 200,000 books to libraries devastated in the wake of Katrina. Chase lives with his single mother and younger sister. His father instills in him strong "people skills." Chase credits his successes thus far to his mother's motivation to persevere, be patient, and to respect for the individuals; to his extended family; and to teachers who have kindled his curiosity. His mother helps him be patient but also determined and ambitious.
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 AIME ANYI TANGU
Alief Kerr High School | Houston, Texas Aime is a strong student who, with her family, is involved with a new business venture called McCare, a daily living center for the mentally challenged in the Houston area. Like most people involved in a start-up enterprise, Aime does it all! She cooks, cleans, and acts as a personal tutor to the children the organization cares for. The children are her passion. Says Aime, "Although they are with us only a short period of time, I try to teach them things that will have a lasting impact on their lives." She and her family also take care of area foster children associated with Catholic Charities. At school Aime is active in speech and debate, and excels at both. She recently won district level and state-wide debate competitions, and was eleventh at a national event. She was captain of the debate team last year and is president-elect for next year. Aime is also a distinguished member of the National Forensic League, a speech and debate education honor society and educational resource for teachers, students, administrators, and parents. She was secretary and is now vice president-elect of her local chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America. She is part of the principal's breakfast club, an administration/student group that addresses school problems and other issues such as school spirit. Aime's other school activities include: the National Honor Society, Cultural Club, and Book Club. As a native of Cameroon, Aime has a strong interest in cultural issues and is active in her school's annual cultural fashion show. Aime's community service is a direct extension of her talents and interests. She sees herself as a communicator with a strong respect, imbedded in her cultural roots, for elders. She volunteers considerable time in Houston-area nursing homes to "talk, play, and keep them company." She is involved with the YMCA, Catholic Charities and the Rotary Club, and uses her experience at McCare, business acumen, and debating skills to communicate the needs of those for whom she advocates. Aime credits her successes to supportive parents, both Cameroon natives. "My mother has high blood pressure and my father suffers from Type II Diabetes. It was only after my father had a near-death experience that I truly dedicated myself to the idea of making an impact... any day could be your last." Aime lives that philosophy every day of her life.
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TIMOTHY JAMES WALANT
Nashua High School North | Nashua, New Hampshire Timothy strives to be involved and achieve excellence in everything he does. Academically he ranks second out of over 450 students at his high school. He participates in student government and is a member of three athletic teams - basketball, track and field, and soccer. Outside school, he has work experience at a local department store and as a soccer referee. He also plays trombone in a local group, the Hudson Post Band, marches in parades and plays concerts with his father and brother. Timothy was the junior class treasurer and a member of the student senate last year, and has been reelected to both positions for his senior year. He is a member of SPIRIT (Student Problem Identification and Resolution of Issues Together), has attended Future Business Leaders of America conferences, and is a member of several honor societies, including the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. He attended the 14th Annual New Hampshire Athletic Directors Student Leadership Conference in spring, 2006, was one of three students chosen to interview candidates for the position of principal at Nashua High, and was master of ceremonies at his school talent show. He works with Interact, which is a school community service club involved in food drives and various holiday activities. In athletics, Timothy received his basketball team's Most Valuable Player award for "playing with his heart and leading by example." On his track and field team he runs sprints and hurdles, and his soccer team made it to the state semi-finals last year. People often turn to Timothy when they need something. He says of himself, "I may not say much sometimes, but I will always lead by example. I work hard in all of my classes and outside of my classes doing what I believe is right and best for my school and community."
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 VICTORIA L. WILBURN
Huntington High School | Huntington, West Virginia Victoria not only has high expectations for herself - she aspires to be a surgeon - but she has balanced work, school and the spiritual in a way that can be described as truly extraordinary. A list of her activities and accomplishments attests to this assertion. She is a member of: the Huntington High School honors program, Beta Club President, Student Council Historian, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, MU Alpha Theta, Key Club, Ebony Club, Young Democrats, and Relay for Life. She is also group leader of her school's National Honor Society and the student council vice president. She has been nominated for a Prudential Spirit Award, won a Marshall University outstanding black student award, is listed in Who's Who Among America's High School Students and is on the National Honor Roll of Key Club International. She is one of her school's top basketball players, has attended Rhododendron Girls State where she was elected Girls State Governor, and has been accepted into the State of West Virginia Honors Academy. She is also West Virginia's representative to the World Scholar Athlete Games, a member of her church dance team and participates in recreational crew. Community service is broad-based and a major part of Victoria's life. She has volunteered for the Jerry Lewis Telethon and the Ronald McDonald House - the latter for eight years! Says Victoria of her work with the Ronald McDonald House: "I've been able to raise lots of money for the families who have children with life-threatening illnesses at nearby hospitals through many annual fundraisers including Chili Fests, Marshall Hall of Fame golf charity events, radio station broadcasts" and various other events. She hones her business instincts by being part of a local mall's fashion advisory board. "We do fashion shows for the mall, (and) help promote events for the mall." Victoria also works at a local restaurant to help support herself and her mother. Victoria is a person of strong faith. "My church family humbles me and helps me keep my life in perspective by reinforcing what's really important [and my] family is a unified, conversational, supportive group of people. It's all for one and one for all when it comes to my family."
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DANIKA YOUNG
West Holt High School | Atkinson, Nebraska Danika was recently named "America's Youngest Web Wizard" as part of a nationwide contest by Hostway Corporation, a global web-hosting company. She is a straight A student, and has won numerous scholastic awards including the Leta Hollingsworth Gifted Student Award. Danika is a Who's Who in America award recipient and runs her own start-up business called Danika's Dynamic Designs, helping local businesses design their websites. Not bad for a ninth grader from a small Nebraska farming community! The area of computers and web-design has been one of gratification and success for the young web-wizard. She designed her school district's High Ability Learners (HAL) program's website, and redesigned the Atkinson city business section's website. But her most ambitious project involved the "hundreds of hours" she spent developing and perfecting a web project based on the popular children's book Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli. The site has a target audience of fifth and sixth graders and their classrooms, and resulted in Danika winning statewide recognition as the Nebraska Educators and Technology Association's (NETA) champion. As a result of her work, teachers across the country and the continent have e-mailed to ask for her suggestions on how to teach Spinelli's novel in their classes or to incorporate her website into their lesson plans. Danika plays softball at school, is a member of her school's varsity track team and state qualifying cross-country team. Danika is active in band and the school drill team. She was class secretary this past year, is a member of the school's quiz bowl and mock trial teams, and has competed in algebra, physical science and world history scholastic contests. She is also very active in her school's chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In her community she has participated in the Atkinson Hometown Competitiveness Program, an effort to keep rural towns alive and thriving, and has interviewed World War II veterans for the Library of Congress. At her church she makes, designs and runs PowerPoint presentations and is a member of the church leadership team. She has an extremely supportive family but credits her fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Katie Morrow, for inspiring her to investigate technology. Danika says of Mrs. Morrow that "…she is an incredible person and somebody I still value as a huge resource and mentor".
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 JOELLE EVE ZASLOW
William H. Hall High School | West Hartford, Connecticut Joelle has a near-perfect grade point average, is an experienced journalist and accomplished dancer, and wants to pursue a career in public relations and advertising. She has danced tap and jazz routines for longer than she can remember (thirteen years), and was a recent guest editorialist with one of Connecticut's leading newspapers, The Hartford Courant. But it is Joelle's passionate sense of social justice that makes her a real community leader. She has been involved in AIDS awareness issues in the Greater Hartford area for several years. Her group, called AIDS Awareness, works with AIDS Project Hartford to give support to those in the Hartford area who suffer. She helps host an annual silent auction to benefit AIDS Project Hartford. Last year they raised over $3,000. To prepare for the event, Joelle works on all aspects of the event: donation solicitations, entertainment planning, event catering and decorations. In addition, her group recently organized a school-wide assembly on AIDS awareness. Says Joelle, "I think this helped educate students about the virus and put to rest many misconceptions about the disease, such as that it's only an issue in Africa…My hope is that by educating people in my community, I can help stop the spread of the virus by telling people how to protect themselves from it." Joelle is a strong believer in equal rights for everyone no matter what their sexual orientation, and does not shy from controversial subjects. She is a member of her school's Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), a teen support group, and she works with Love Makes a Family, a pro-gay marriage organization in Connecticut. Through the GSA she helped organize a national day of silence which calls attention to "the thousands of gay teenagers who have been harassed because of their sexuality." Social justice is important to Joelle, in part because her own family, which she describes as loving and supportive, has dealt with issues of sexual orientation. She describes her parents as giving her constant reassurance. In turn Joelle has given her sister that same type of reassurance. "I have been there to comfort her through one of the toughest times of her life." This summer Joelle will volunteer as a camp counselor in Colebrook, Connecticut. She will be working with kids in the Colebrook area ranging in age from five to twelve. "I am inspired by anyone who is passionate about what they do," she says, "whether it be working with underprivileged children or even just playing a sport they enjoy."
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 ZHEN-YING JEANY ZHANG,
Ann Arbor Pioneer High School | Ann Arbor, Michigan Jeany is passionate about community service, academics and music. Her grade point average is nearly perfect, and she has supplemented her academic work with mathematics courses at Eastern Michigan University. She tutors and works in school as a math teacher assistant and is a member of the National Honor Society. When Jeany realized that her school - the largest in Michigan - did not have an organization dedicated to developing civic activism, she decided to start one. The result was Young Americans for Liberty (YAL). YAL is dedicated to spreading civic engagement and awareness within the student body. Their first project was to address issues of poverty in her community. Members volunteer at the local soup kitchen, collect needed items for the homeless and publicize general information at school. Jeany, as president of Interact, a community service club sponsored by Rotary International, began another important program. This program, called PBBUDS (Peers Building Bridges to Unite Diverse Students), provides academic support and friendship to middle school students. In addition to these service programs, Jeany is a board member of Helpsource (a nonprofit organization in the Ann Arbor area providing services to families in need) and volunteers at the University of Michigan's Mott's Children's Hospital. She has also participated in voter registration drives as part of the Youth Empowerment Project, another Ann Arbor nonprofit organization. An accomplished and experienced musician, Jeany plays both piano and viola. She is a member of her school's symphony - an orchestra that won a National Grammy Award this year. She frequently performs piano concerts as part of her community service work and is often heard entertaining the residents of Alterra Assisted Living Senior Home for Alzheimer Patients.
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