Alabama
Records 16 through 30 out of 40

	Year: 2001 Andrew D. Galanopoulos Spanish Fort, AL, Daphne High School   Andrew Galanopoulos is a man of passion - not just for one but for all endeavors. He writes poetry with the same zeal with which he runs cross-country. He attacks a math problem in the manner that he plays his guitar - logically, creatively, and ferociously. Andrew's widespread enthusiasm has shaped him into a learned scholar in areas from physics to golf to Led Zeppelin. For this, he has received much recognition - National Merit Scholar, winner of countlesswriting contests, All-American Scholar, All-State Academic Team finalist, and now Presidential Scholar.
	Year: 2001 Ashley M. Lott Citronelle, AL, Saint Paul's Episcopal School   Ashley lives in a rural area near the small town of Citronelle, Alabama. She commutes forty-five minutes each morning and night to attend private school in Mobile. She feels her biggest accomplishment has been balancing her job at Hardee's, her academics, and her social life. If Ashley has any time alone, she devotes it to her passion - reading classic literature, particularly Shakespeare.
	Year: 2001 Yong-Xuan Qiu Birmingham, AL, Vestavia Hills High School   I believe life is about experiencing and influencing. My personal experiences range from creative interests such as violinperformance and figure skating to academic challenges such as math team and debate team. As a first-generation immigrant, my exposures to both Chinese and American cultures have taught me the importance of community versus individuality, government versus self-rule, and discipline versus creativity. Within my school, I have worked to increase acceptance and appreciation of diversity through multicultural clubs and personal projects. I also hope to influence the prevalent but often masked plight of women in society by working to increase education, self-confidence, andself-autonomy of women. From the many experiences that others have afforded me, I have learned what beliefs to advocate in hopes of continuing the cycle of influencing others.
	Year: 2002 Zachary A. Madonia Mobile, AL, McGill-Toolen Catholic High School College Plans: University of Notre Dame   As the son of a doctor and of a theologian, I was reared with a firm foundation in academics, integrity, and faith. This backgroundhas instilled in me a strong work ethic, a deep spirituality, and a desire to learn. I am an avid reader, consuming all genres of literature, from classic works to the daily sports page. My passion for all things sports runs deeper than the daily newspaper, however.Basketball, football, and baseball games are fixtures both in my backyard and on my television set. Throughout high school, Iparticipated in track and cross-country. My parents are of ethnic Catholic descent giving me both a strong respect for culturalidentity and an exotic culinary palate. I enjoy writing.
	Year: 2002 Nicole A. Oertli Mobile, AL, Murphy High School College Plans: Spring Hill College   Nicole counts her experiences in the Murphy High School International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme among those that have changed her life. The International Baccalaureate program taught her not just to experience, but to evaluate; not just to learn for alocal short-term, but also to analyze and to know on a global scale. Her interest in the international world, stemming from her immigrant father and dual citizenship, combined with her interest in the environment and scientific research, led her to combineadvanced materials with consumer electronics to build a prototype of an inexpensive air-monitoring device which could potentiallybe used to detect pollution in economically less-developed countries. Aside from her interest in science, she enjoys writing, volunteering,and international politics, and hopes to eventually work for the United Nations.
	Year: 2003 Matthew Pittman. Austin Montgomery, AL, The Montgomery Academy College Plans: The Rhode Island School of Design   You can find me, in bright orange pants climbing a tree, throwing Frisbee in the park with my friends, running around my backyard with my younger brother and sister, or in my studio working on art. It certainly has been an interesting journey getting to this stage in my life. Jobs in construction and telemarketing mixed with the typical teenager anguish left me confused and in search of myself. The summer after my junior year I attended a five-week program at the Savannah College of Art and Design. This experience forever changed my life. It was as though someone had pulled open a curtain onto a whole new world. I uncovered a passion and love for art, and found peace being surrounded by many others very much like myself. I left there driven to take life for its fullest and pave my future.
	Year: 2003 Helen L. Eckinger Birmingham, AL, Indian Springs School College Plans: Yale University   Academics have occupied much of Helen's time during high school. Her primary academic interest is writing, and she plans to work this summer for a local arts newspaper. She has been in several school and community theater productions, including Gypsy and Anything Goes!, and has spent the past three summers as a counselor and director at a day camp for underprivileged children. In her free time she enjoys yoga and rock-climbing. She currently works in an Italian restaurant.
	Year: 2003 Neel B. Srikishen Madison, AL, Bob Jones High School College Plans: University of Southern California   I am proud of my academic record and my extracurricular activities. I have represented my school in various academic and leadership endeavors with a fairly high level of success. I have also taken part in many community activities such as playing violin in a youth orchestra, being active in my Boy Scout troop, and doing service at nursing homes, rescue missions, and the hospital. Thankfully, I have been able to concurrently maintain high academic standards at school. My high school life has been nothing short of rewarding. In my free time, I enjoy playing the violin in the community, managing my fantasy sports teams, and participating in outdoor activities such as hiking and canoeing. In college, I will major in biomedical engineering, and I plan to continue to medical school after completing my undergraduate studies. My initial interests in the field of medicine lie in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine.
	Year: 2004 Bronwyn N. Fullard Hoover, AL, Hoover High School College Plans: University of Notre Dame or Greyfriars Hall, Oxford University   Strong faith, commitment to others, and love of learning drive me. Faith defines my choices and life, leading me to join retreat teams, perform onstage for 6,000 people, and spend Christmas break helping at a Carmelite Retreat House. I love traveling and immersing myself in the culture and history of other regions. I abhor feeling nonproductive, and multitask when possible: while rolling silverware at Outback Steakhouse, I read an article; while exercising, I write music. Sports are another outlet: I play volleyball and soccer, sometimes running 8 miles after practice. As the only female in my flag football league, I've taught the guys that females can play hard too. People find my random knowledge and quirky behaviors intriguing, which allows me to spread joy. While work, sports, and travel provide adventure, nothing fulfills me more than serving others, touching hearts, sparking faith, and building trust. The world may not remember me, but it will not remain unchanged.
	Year: 2004 David Merrill. Rooney Birmingham, AL, Mountain Brook High School College Plans: Wake Forest University   Blessed with ever-supportive parents, I always have pursued my diverse interests with passion. As a young child I was an avid admirer of the Ninja Turtles, so with my parent’s guidance I took Tae Kwon Do, ultimately earning a black belt. Similarly, my parents fostered my love of singing by enrolling me in the Birmingham Boys Choir. Five years later, I graduated as Head Chorister after performing in churches and cathedrals throughout Canada and Great Britain. I continue to explore music through voice lessons, guitar, piano, and my school’s honors choir. Also in school, I performed in a musical, played football, and volunteered extensively through Interact Club. Pursuing a possible career in medicine, I had the opportunity last summer to perform nuclear imaging research under a neuropsychiatrist. I am a member of several school clubs, Mu Alpha Theta, the French and National Honor Societies, and am a National Merit Scholar.
	Year: 2005 Lance J. Collins Birmingham, AL, Alabama School of Fine Arts College Plans: Massachusetts Institute of Technology   Lance Collins, son of Larry and Cynthia Collins, developed a love for learning and self-improvement at an early age. Continually confronting challenges, he strives to excel in every aspect of his life. His deep love for music, namely piano, is completed by a keen intellect in science and mathematics. Lance enrolled in the Math/Science Department of the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA) where he has been challenged to reach his full potential in his major through critical thinking and creativity. During his time at ASFA, Lance was exposed to the field of engineering through NASA SHARP and University of Alabama summer internships. His experience during these internships and his problem-solving acumen lead him to enter engineering, a field that will not only challenge his skills in science and mathematics, but will also engage his creative side.
	Year: 2005 Lydia C. Hardee Beatrice, AL, Monroe Academy College Plans: Harvard College   If there exists such a person as a neo-Renaissance woman, then Caroleene Hardee is one. Growing up in a small south Alabama town, she appreciates every opportunity to take risks and broaden her horizons. At school, she serves as president for the senior class, the Student Government Association, the Key Club, and the Anchor Club, and plays for the tennis team as well. An avid horsewoman, she competed in the 2003 National High School Finals Rodeo and was chosen 2004 Junior Miss Rodeo Alabama. Another love of hers is music; she has played the piano for ten years and was an Alabama Music Teachers Association state finalist. Always ready to take on a challenge, she plans to attend Harvard College this fall and eventually pursue a career as an environmental lawyer protecting Alabama’s natural beauty.
	Year: 2006 Sarah C. Campbell Birmingham, AL, Alabama School of Fine Arts College Plans: Smith College   Sarah, a writer from Birmingham, Alabama, is a graduate of the Alabama School of Fine Arts, where she specialized in Creative Writing. She writes poetry, fiction, non fiction, and plans to keep at it. Sarah received a Silver Award from the NFAA ARTS program in 2006, won a Gold Award in the 2004 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, and was the winner of the Howard Nemerov Creative Writing Award in Fiction in 2005. She has been published in Cargoes; The Apprentice Writer; and Where We Are, What We See: Poems, Stories, Essays and Art From the Best Young Writers in America. Sarah plans to study the humanities–probably English, History, Government, or Religion - at Smith College next fall.
	Year: 2006 Amanda Rose. Long Anniston, AL, Oxford High School College Plans: University of Alabama, Huntsville   Rose is one of the most inquisitive souls one may ever encounter. She is extremely interested in the world around her, and she takes great pleasure in the pursuit of knowledge. Aside from her love of academia, Rose enjoys leadership. As president of several of her school’s service organizations, Rose takes an active role in the community and devotes much of her free time to helping others. She is the recipient of numerous local, state, and national awards for outstanding academic achievement and exceptional service to the community, and is respected by all who know her. Family is very important to Rose, and she likes nothing better than to spend time traveling to interesting places with her parents, brother, and sister.
	Year: 2006 Kelly M. McConnaughey Huntsville, AL, Grissom High School College Plans: Boston College   The only sure thing about my plans for the future is that I want to help people, and I have not yet discovered what that will entail for me specifically, but I’m sure I will enjoy it as much as I do now. My greatest accomplishments are those that are not measured in test scores, GPAs, or medals; the greatest things I have done are about becoming who I am now and getting through things that should have stopped me. I was once told that the only things I might not like are knitting and cheerleading, and since then I have taken up knitting, so my interests include almost everything. I love music, art, writing, coffee shops, kites, squirrels, dancing badly and singing worse, sunshine, thunderstorms, rooftops, rowing, and hammocks.

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