Presidential Scholars  2001

Records 1 through 50 out of 142

	Nafis Ahmed Springfield, VA Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology   As a proud resident of Northern Virginia, I fervently watch Redskins football every Sunday. Filling out crossword puzzles, reading science fiction novels, and playing basketball and table tennis with my two brothers also fills my free time. At school, I participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, including debate, drama, and tutoring. As a member of Model UN for four years, I have learned much about the importance of diplomacy, cooperation, and leadership. As a volunteer at Alexandria Hospital for three years, I have realized that doctors touch people's lived in a magnificent way, a role that I want to partake in some day. As an actor in school drama for one year, I have already learned much about intonation and body language as well as experienced the thrill and excitment of an opening night. When I attend Northwestern University this fall, I plan on delving into anything and everything that is within my reach.
	Aaron C. Apaza Rapid City, SD Interlochen Arts Academy   I have always had a creative and inquisitive nature. My parents encouraged me to be curious and to pursue activitiesthat would satisfy my curiosities. My parents, who read to me and encouraged me to listen to music, nurtured mycreative nature. Music always fascinated me in a way that few other things do. In fifth grade, I began playing the altosaxophone, which began my career as a musician. After hearing the bassoon for the first time, I decided that I had to play bassoon. Since then, I have studied the bassoon and music with passion and determination beyond that ofmany of my peers. Nothing is more rewarding to me than playing a beautiful phrase on the bassoon. My training in music and bassoon have brought me success, but more importantly they have brought me a great deal of happiness.
	Michael J. Arden Midland, Texas Interlochen Arts Academy
	Victoria E. Astley Lakeland, FL Bartow High School International Baccalaureate Program   I was born in New Orleans but now I live in the middle of nowhere. I'm slightly eccentric and am widely believedto be not from this planet. I love fantasy, science fiction and anime. There are a number of hobbies I enjoy but am no good at, including theatre and drawing. I think I'm good at writing, dancing, and martial arts, but there isadequate evidence to the contrary. I do have a talent for languages (French and Japanese so far) and I hope someday to become an astronaut to get as far from here as possible. Love and Peace!
	Martin T. Authier Vivian, SD Lyman High School   I was born into a family of four sisters and a brother in rural South Dakota. My family led the life of poor farmers in a small farm house five miles from an organized town and thirty-five miles from a McDonald's. I led a happy childhood surrounded by love, and, although we did not wear name brand clothes and did not drive fancy cars, wehad everything we wanted - we had plenty to eat and plenty of toys to play with. My parents have both taught atlocal schools my whole life; therefore a large emphasis was always placed on academics. Additionally, my father farmed our land and raised a small herd of cattle, so an emphasis was also placed on hard work. After I go to college this fall, my family will have all scattered around the country, but we will take the lessons of small-town America with us.
	Nicholas G. Baldasaro Clifton Park, NY Shenendehowa High School   After graduating MIT in physics and a 1 year stint at Cornell for a Master's of Mechanical Engineering, Nick descended on the South, spending one year as a Beltway Bandit in Alexandria, Virginia, and eventually settling down in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he has lived for a year. He currently works for the Research Triangle Institute, where he plays with neutrons and thermoelectrics, and always bakes a cake on coworkers' birthdays - not that he has gone soft. On the contrary, he plays WAKA kickball, makes fireworks, kayaks, attends local church, tutors kids, volunteers at the animal shelter, confuses locals, taunts students, and generally stirs the pot. His new favorite food is BBQ, and for that he believes North Carolina to be the finest spot in all creation. The transition has not been entirely smooth for Nick, who having grown up a New Yorker, regards politeness and manners as an obnoxious foreign dialect, to be mastered only with great efforts. But locals are confident that he will eventually be ready for release back into the wilds of North Carolina, which include scenic Smoky Mountains views, lush pine forests, and some wonderful beaches to visit. Nick's latest interests are possibly taking up piloting, and confusing people by quoting Andy Bernard from The Office by saying he went to Cornell - ever heard of it? Nick hopes his fellow 2001 Scholars are happy and well-off.
	Shannon F. Beddingfield Sylva, NC Smoky Mountain High School   The most accurate diagnosis for my condition was given by my best friend, who dubbed it a "relentless pursuit of superfluous knowledge." I am cursed, or blessed, with an insatiable hunger for beauty, art, experience, and ideas. I love learning not for its practicality or its pragmatic applications but for its utter simplicity and often for its uselessness. To feed this monster is its own reward, but to be in the company of others with the same condition is the utmost inspiration.
	Isabel M. Bernal Trujillo Alto, PR Saint John's School   January 10, 1983. Beautiful date - ain't it?/Now I'm three (nineteen eighty-six)/Broke my chin in the tub/No sweat -just a scar left/And now I'm back on my feet, keeping it neat/Life is so sweet. Gimme a break/I mean...it gets a lotharder than that/We all know its like that: in third grade - broke my leg/Three years later: (give it a rest) in sixthgrade/It's all good playing sports and stuff/Volleyball above them all. Soccer's next and then-/A song. School choircomes up./And then dancing, and acting./I mean - it's all about starring.../In your own life/And graduation ("emancipationproclamation")/Of your soul, and don't forget it boy/And use it for your best (this is my song)
	Alex A. Bishop Chesterton, IN Chesterton High School   B.S. Industrial Engineering
	Stephanie F. Bridges Darien, CT Milton Academy   I have always been interested in the stories of people and places. So far in my life, I have moved four times, living in suburban Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and now Boston. Each move has given me the opportunity to view my surroundings with a fresh eye. I have been drawn to writing as a way of understanding the world from another pointof view, as I place myself in the shoes of a character different from me. Beyond writing, I also love sailing and traveling, and I look forward to doing all three in the future. I plan to attend Harvard University, after first taking a year off.
	Mary E. Burt Kwajalein, MA Kwajalein High School   I am a passionate person. I live to throw myself into something I truly believe in. Sometimes it is a fundraiser that Ijust know will be a success. I happily plan it and put in the necessary hours. Sometimes it is a new school policy Ifeel strongly against. I'll talk to the principal, write a letter to the editor of the student newspaper, and look for supportamong students and teachers. Sometimes it is a new mathematics concept I learned or a scientific discovery I readabout. Sometimes it is a close friend going through a tough time who I believe will pull through to be a better person.In school, in my activities, and in my personal life I strive to fight for what I love and to fix the things I hate.
	Samuel Y. Chang Austin, TX Lyndon B. Johnson High School   I like to participate in a wide variety of activities just for fun, which helps keep me well-rounded. I believe anything worth doing is worth doing well, but that doesn't stop me from kicking the perfectionist attitude once in a while andjust relaxing. Some things are important and can't be less than perfect, but for those activities that won't matter inthe long run, taking a little time off is always an option. I've learned not to dwell on past failures because it always detracts from present performance. Accept your mistakes, learn from them, and move on because, as my fiends have told me, nothing is a bigger killjoy than someone who keeps kicking himself over last week's physics test. I mainly participate in Scouting, math/science activities, policy debate, Latin activities, church, orchestra, and academic competitions. "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."- Philippians 4:13
	Christina H. Chen Charleston, WV George Washington High School   Although I have lived in the rugged, mountainous beauty of West Virginia my entire life, I have been able to blend a fusion of Asian and American culture in myself. While one cannot find an abundance of Chinese families in my town, I have faithfully attended the Kanawha Valley Chinese School for fourteen years - as a result of my quest to maintainan equilibrium between my two heritages. As a die-hard West Virginia Mountaineers fan, college football is only oneof my many passions; I enjoy watching the NBA, playing tennis, eating ice cream and persimmons, and playing the piano. My desire and drive to excel have been rewarded both in academics and athletics, as I have garnered six state tennis titles and participated in three national championships. Though many of my academic endeavors focus on science and math, I find the abstractness of literature and psychology equally intriguing.
	Andrew Chi Terre Haute, IN Terre Haute South Vigo High School   "Truth is the cry of all, but the game of the few." My search for the truth and meaning in my world, truth in thelaws of nature, and truths that stand out in music and art, is what inspires me. Whether this search exhibits itselfthrough research on nuclear spins, performing a Kabalevsky violin concerto, pondering a beautiful theorem in geometry,writing a character analysis of Hamlet, or simply helping peers solve tricky integration problems while munching away in the school cafeteria, is not really important. At this point, I am fascinated with chemistry and physics, but later I envision myself applying them to medicine so I can work to meet people's needs more directly. But at the same time, I love to have fun: tennis, running, good fantasy books like those of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, and talking to friends online are all invaluable.
	Melanie C. Chuen New Canaan, CT New Canaan High School   I used to wonder how I made it through four years of running from gymnastics practices to meetings and finishing hours of homework without losing my sanity from stress or sleep deprivation. Now I know, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13. I look forward to attending Stanford University in the fall.
	Michelle Chun Weston, MA Weston High School   Michelle was born in Torrance, California, and lived in Irvine, CA, Tacoma, WA, and North Andover, MA, before moving to Weston at the start of her freshman year of high school. She was the editor-in-chief of her school's fine artsand literary magazine, co-founder/co-president of the French Club, and proud member of the Math Team and WestonInternational Affiliation. Her work extends into the community as well, as she served as a state certified rape crisiscounselor and public educator at the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, an ESL teacher at the Ana Maria da Hora Workers'Center, and devoted many more hours to the International Rescue Committee and the Massachusetts Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice. She graduated at the top of her class at Weston High School, and looks forward to pursuing her interest in literature, languages, and social studies at Harvard University in the fall.
	Laura R. Cole Bethesda, MD Holton Arms School   I have always loved puzzles. As a child, I favored jigsaws and tangrams over dolls and teddy bears. As I have progressed through school, I have gravitated towards subjects that allow me to solve puzzles: science, with its inductive reasoning; mathematics, with its intricate proofs; and music, with its gorgeous interlocking patterns. I love Latin poetry because the complex system of declensions and conjugations leave word order entirely unrestricted, an aspect of the language that not only adds new dimensions to literature but also makes reading a puzzle. Even my favorite recreational activities typically include some kind of a puzzle. I love mystery novels, crosswords, and bridge.
	Abigail S. Cooley Madbury, NH Oyster River High School   I bring a unique perspective to the education process. My mom schooled me at home for eight years, and I entered "real" school as a freshman. Through homeschooling, I learned more than just academics; the foundations of self-motivation,strong character, and hard work that my family imparted to me have served me well in high school. I have learned to pursue my interests and to be interested in everything. Whether I'm on the softball field, in the classroom, serving on a student government committee, or playing guitar for my church youth group, I try to give out from everything I have been given. Someone once said that God's calling on your life is where your chief delight intersects with the world's greatest need. If that is true, then my passion for everything I do and my ambition to bless others will serve as a firm foundation for my life's calling.
	Matthew M. Crane Amman, Jordan American Community School   I was born in Washington State and by the time I was four I had lived in New Mexico and Washington, D.C. At the age of four my family moved overseas where I have since moved from country to country around the world. This has left me searching for something steady and unchanging that I could grasp hold of in times of uncertainty. I found this in my Lord Jesus Christ. My beliefs as a Christian have formed the foundation for my life and the decisions that I make.
	Zane A. Curtis-Olsen Charlotte, NC Myers Park High School   Since my father and I built remote control boats and planes from scratch when I was young, I've had a love of science. In middle school I began attending science programs at Duke through the Talent Identification Program. I have since attended summer programs at Caltech and the Research Science Institute at MIT. My love of science has developed into a love of research, specifically in physics and engineering fields related to nanotechnology. I have done this kind of research at the Research Science Institute and with a professor at a local university. It seems scienceis the one thing that is definitely working toward the truth. With science, I can create things that directly help people in their lives. I was born in Tucson, Arizona, and have also lived in Maryland, New York, New Jersey, andNorth Carolina. I have traveled in Europe and Australia, Canada and Mexico, and I hope I'm not finished yet.
	Diara D. Dankert Asheville, NC T. C. Roberson High School   According to a personality test, I am life's natural organizer, and this is evident in everything I do. In school, I always adored math and science for their logic, and I hope to major in biology or biochemical sciences when I enter Harvard University in the fall. My interests do seem fairly diverse though; I love to experiment in the kitchen and bake for my church groups, I volunteer at the summer migrant camp for children who speak Spanish, I was a page for congressman Charles Taylor, and I try to keep my own tutoring program running smoothly. Attacking every challenge with the same determination and hard work, I attempt to accomplish as much as I can with what I have.
	Melissa L. Dell Enid, OK Oklahoma Bible Academy   I am a person who above all else has a passion about everything I do. I never do anything halfway. My first passion is a love of learning - a love for books, for debate, for travel, for independent research. I also love to run; I founded the girl's cross-country team at my school. I become so excited about my activities that I can't help but share them with others. I wanted to share my love for advanced study so I helped to start an Advanced Placement program at my school. As a part-time job, I have my own test preparation business so that I can help other students be successful. Perhaps I am a bit of an idealist, but I hope my passions will light a spark in others so that they too will follow through on their dreams.
	Kyle P. Detwiler Rapid City, SD Stevens High School   Raspberry, strawberry, grape, even the deformed, yellow, lemon leftovers in the package, I crave fruit snacks. Debate and forensics grab my attention. Thumbing through ten-pound law reviews and the Washington Post conjures up mystical feelings similar to that of scanning over ancient and worn pirate treasure maps. Math, à la Thomas Paine, is a "necessary evil." The décor of my room has not changed since eighth grade, but my parents still describe it as "messy." Each day is a new life for me. I abide by a saying attributed to Homer: "The journey's the thing." In other words, the destination is not so important; the actual voyage is what makes life invigorating. My pet poodle, Maggie, could take First Dog Spot any day.
	Kelly E. Devereaux Scottsdale, AZ Chaparral High School   I have always been interested in a variety of apparently contradictory activities. While my primary academic interestrests in math and the sciences, especially in physics and civil engineering, I am also just as happy to spend the afternoon oil painting or drawing. Although from Arizona, my favorite sport is SCUBA diving, which I unfortunately do not get to do very often for obvious reasons. Last summer, I attended the Research Science Institute at MIT where my interest in the sciences was affirmed. My philosophy in life is to reach for your dreams and enjoy every minute of it. And, if life ever gets you down, ice cream, and lots of it, does the trick!
	Daniel E. Dubelman Englewood, CO Cherry Creek High School   I am a very competitive person. I am considerably competitive with other people, but even more so with myself. I hold myself to extremely high standards and I am most definitely my greatest critic. However, I believe that my competitivenature is substantially responsible for my successes both inside and outside of the classroom. I take greatpride in my academic accomplishments, but my most satisfying accomplishment was placing second in the state of Colorado at #1 doubles in tennis. I worked extremely hard throughout high school to make the varsity team at my school, and therefore my successes were exceedingly gratifying. I try to live my life by the philosophy that with hardwork, determination, and an optimistic attitude, any goal is attainable.
	Madeleine R. Dwertman Park Hills, KY Holmes High School   I come from inner worlds of otherness - from the only child in Kindergarten not allowed in the reading circle, the only girl on the math team, and the only person in my family to step beyond the boundaries of Catholic education because I longed to experience the challenges and freedom of independent thought. In the midst of what outsiders would term an easy life of academic and athletic success, I sold my voice to society in exchange for an acceptance that stole myself from me. Now that I have discovered, through writing and art, that my voice possesses the power to change my world, I have embraced an activist lifestyle. A passion for justice and a desire to cure others of the "chronic otherness" that afflicted me for so long fuel nearly all of my decisions and actions.
	Joseph A. Elias Idaho Falls, ID Idaho Falls High School   Throughout my life, two basic principles have guided my actions. "Always do your best," my father used to tell me, lovingly brainwashing me into an assiduous student. The work ethic I have learned has helped me accomplish my best in academics, music, athletics, and community activities. In addition to practicing diligence, I have learned the value of compassion for others. From tutoring children after school at the Salvation Army, to ministering to the homeless at the local soup kitchen, to simply stopping to say "Hi" to students at my school who are sometimes ignored by others, I find great joy in touching people's lives. My desire for excellence, compassion for people, and interest in science have helped mold my decision to serve others as a medical doctor.
	Magali A. M. Fassiotto Honolulu, HI Punahou School   I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, by the two greatest parents to ever walk the earth. My mother immigrated to America from France at the age of 20 so we speak French at home and visit our family there each summer. My dad, an Italian-American from San Francisco, has taught me the joys of my culture through his exceptional cooking! My sister, Alana, amazes me. In her I have seen the will to succeed at its very finest. She also gave me a love for running as I participate in cross-country and track because of her. Finally, growing up in Hawaii has shaped me into a lover of both Hawaiian music and hula dancing while relaxing in our easygoing local way of life. Aloha!
	Alexander A. Fierro Wilmington, DE Archmere Academy   When I was in first grade, I was given a four-volume set of books called How Things Work. When properly set sideby side, a diagram of an old steam engine spanned their silver spines. For a while these books did little more than take up space in my bookcase, but when I finally decided to see what knowledge they contained, I was forever changed. The books had an immense impact on me: they detailed the operations of technologies from televisions to nuclear reactors, and while I did not understand everything at the time, the books set my mind in motion. Over the years, I picked the books up repeatedly as I became able to understand more and more of the devices explained,and since I first read them, I have become immensely interested in understanding how things around me work. To this day, those books still sit on my bookshelf as a monument to my scientific and technological curiosity.
	Jennifer M. Forsythe Birmingham, AL John Carroll High School   I have written to entertain myself since I was seven, I have only recently discovered that sometimes other people seem to be entertained by what I write. I write because I like to make people laugh and ask questions. I like writing characters that are people I want to meet. People and words fascinate me. R. Buckminster Fuller said, "Dare to be naïve!" Those words are some of the best I have ever read. Salvador Dali called one of his paintings "Two Pieces of Bread Expressing the Sentiment of Love." Those words are excellent as well. Also, one time my fortune cookie said, "the weather is wonderful," and when I went outside, it was raining.
	Eric L. Frantz West Linn, OR West Linn High School   My academic career has been spent almost entirely in the public schools of West Linn, Oregon. From an early age, Ihave been interested in science, and participated on my school's science bowl team each of the last seven years. Other activities I have enjoyed in high school include Ultimate Frisbee, baseball, intramural basketball, and BoyScouts, which culminated with the recent completion of my Eagle project building two handicapped-access picnic tables. Last summer I spent two weeks at Philmont, the Boy Scout wilderness camp in New Mexico, hiking over 75 miles and climbing Mount Baldy. Church has also been an important part of my life, and I spent a week last summer on a mission trip to rehabilitate houses at an Indian reservation in Northern California, while also having the opportunity to explore my religious faith with a group of about 50 other teenagers from the Western United States.
	Catherine L. Funke Partridge, KS Haven High School   For the last four or five years, I have been extremely interested in the study of deadly viruses. One of my lifetime goals is to study them at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, or to do field research in far-off places.I have always had a very inquisitive mind that prompts me to pursue the reasons behind things. "Because that's the way things are" was never a good enough reason for me. It never ceases to amaze me that something as small as a virus can have such destructive consequences and work in such unique and amazing ways. I enjoy competitions of all kinds. My participation in distance running, basketball and debate have helped me be a stronger person and abetter leader. I do not look at being from a small farming community as a disadvantage, but rather as a large family all encouraging me to do my best.
	Barry D. Gackle Waterloo, IA West High School   I am driven by an intense curiosity about the world around me. I enjoy taking apart, analyzing, and visualizing the inner workings of anything that catches my interest, whether it is the engine of my car, the water chemistry of a lake, or an abstract mathematical concept. I pursue my interests with a single-minded intensity that sometimes borders on obsession. The focused nature of my personality finds its physical expression in the stacks of books and printouts that perpetually clutter my desk, in the immaculate water of my aquariums, or in the worn out soles of my running shoes. It is even more evident in myself; at the core of my personality is simply a small child who constantlyasks "why?" and then tirelessly and impatiently pursues the answer.
	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.
	Samuel M. Ganzfried Bethesda, MD Landon School   My intellectual interests range from mathematics to philosophy, psychology, economics, and Latin. As much as I love to learn, I also love to teach and give back to my community by sharing my learning with others. I believe it is important to have balance a and strengths in non-academic as well as academic area; and, for more than nine years, I have actively pursued sports and music. I have learned many valuable life lessons in teamwork, cooperation, and self-discipline from playing and training in two varsity sports throughout high school - tennis (varsity captain) and cross-county. I have similarly experienced a communal spirit playing the oboe throughout high school in our state and national award-winning symphonic band. With my wide-ranging love of learning, love of teaching, and longstanding commitment to athletics and the arts, I have gained great satisfaction from my school and community experiences.
	Elisabeth N. Gayer Cape Elizabeth, ME Cape Elizabeth High School   My name is Elisabeth with an "s," not a "z." I play classical and Irish flute, and I love to sing, read, and travel. My major academic interest is history, though I also greatly enjoy physics and English. I have lived in Maine for most ofmy life, and I love the variety of outdoor experiences Maine offers, including camping, hiking, boating, and skiing. Some combination of the many military history books I have read, my father's example of character, and my love ofthe ocean lead me to decide when I was still in middle school that I wanted to attend the United States Naval Academy and become a naval officer. In this career path, I hope to find challenge, adventure, and the opportunity to use my skills in the service of a cause greater than myself.
	Vikas Goela Andover, MA Phillips Academy   Vikas Goela is a Harvard Book Prize winner and a Lucent Global Science Scholar and is on the Cum Laude Society at his school, a recognition of his academic excellence and service to his community. He is president of a newspaper distribution service and a member of the math team, computer club, and Indian cultural club. A perfect scorer in the SAT, he is also winner of numerous awards, including an Ayn Rand National "Anthem" Essay Contest Prize and Rensselaer Polytechnic Math and Science Award. Vikas Goela is also involved in sports and music. He is a member of his school's varsity squash team and varsity soccer team, which had an undefeated record this season. He has been playing the trumpet for nine years and is the first chair trumpeter in the school's band, orchestra, and brass quintet.In the fall, he will attend Harvard University to study computer science and biotechnology.
	Molly A. Goldberg Montpelier, VT Montpelier High School   I am passionate about most everything I do. The darkroom is my haven, and painting is an escape that I quite literally immerse myself in. I write daily and love to bend language in as many directions as possible. I love to swim in rivers around Vermont, play rugby, get dirty, and sing. Beneath it all I am an activist. I want to make a difference in this world and use my life for positive change.
	Vernon D. Gooden Dallas, TX Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts   The feeling of excitement tickled my face as I stared onto the vibrantly illuminated stage. As I was pulled into the current of the tumbling music, I allowed myself to wonder when it all started. I was seven when I fell in love with dance. With my first dance class came a sensation so ebullient that I felt like a champagne cork exploding from a bottle. For the first time in my life, I felt alive. At that moment, I know that life was about wholeheartedly giving yourself to something you love. In return, I found myself achieving goals that I never imagined possible.
	Denise A. Grab San Gabriel, CA San Marino High School   Denise grew up in Southern California and has picked up some of the region's vernacular. Consequents even though her achievements (and hair color) would indicate otherwise, her friends tease her about being a valley girl. A National Merit Scholar, Denise was Co-Lead Counsel of her school's award-winning Mock Trial team. She worked on her school newspaper for four years, and she was also Editor-in-chief of a political newspaper. Denise was on the Science Olympiad team for four years, and she received the Bausch and Lomb science award. She was a three-year math team member, and she was also co-president of her school's Amnesty International club. She volunteers tutoring foster children with the Department of Child and Family Services. She is looking forward to attending the University of California, Berkeley in the fall, where she may finally be able to relinquish this valley girl reputation - or, like, maybe not.
	David A. Green Santa Monica, CA Crossroads School   Other kids would play with a football or a baseball bat, but when I was eight years old, I would play with a small cardboard box of Higgin's ink. Using this dirty corrugated device as my makeshift viewfinder, I pestered friends and plagued family by staring at them, "framing" them, shaping their lives into my wild fiction. I would rollick around the room with violent and energetic happiness, just to get the perfect "shot" or "angle" or "camera movement." Soon, I abandoned my cardboard inkbox for my father's home-video camera. While experimenting with the language of film, my childhood dreams became something better than real; film blossomed my dreams into a nearly palpable hyperreality. Film merged painting, literature, and music in one malleable art form that I could shape and design. Ten years later, I believe that art - and film - is watching the world move and moving with it.
	Julie K. Gremillion Lafayette, LA Lafayette High School   Many people choose to follow the paths of Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr., or even Oprah, but I choose to live according to one incredible lyric from the great pop philosopher Vanilla Ice - "...anything less than the best is a felony." Consequently, I have striven to put forth my utmost effort toward everything I undertake. I have extremely high expectations of myself and others because I believe leaving something as "merely acceptable" cannot be justified. My one true passion is music followed closely by arguing, to which I often devote more time, fortunately or unfortunately. I believe one must always be open to new ideas and experiences and to step outside of this comfort zone. We should not be afraid of progress or evolution in both our world and ourselves. Great changes occur when people break the rules, not bend to society.
	Caroline A. Gross Ann Arbor, MI Ann Arbor-Huron High School   Many people were surprised when I first told them that I plan to spend a year in Israel after high school. However, looking back at the way I have been raised and beliefs I now hold, I see that this plan fits right in with my mindset and my ideas about the future. I attended a Jewish day school for elementary school in which half of my daily instruction was devoted to Hebrew, Jewish law, and Torah study. For seven summers beginning at age ten, I attended camps of international Zionist organizations, and there I learned all about the history of the formation of the state of Israel and the Middle East peace process. The three times I've visited, Israel charmed and mystified me, and I knew I had to go back there. This fall, I will immerse myself in the culture as I work and study there.
	Kiran Gupta Great Neck, NY Great Neck South High School   Growing up, I sometimes felt different from others, half Indian and half American. My heritage is something that I have come to accept and appreciate, for it is part of who I am. I am fortunate enough to attend a high school where all ethnicities, cultures, and backgrounds are represented. Understanding and tolerance are essential to anycommunity. By involving myself directly in my community and participating in a variety of activities, I learned a great deal about people. I have worked hard to address the concerns of my fellow students and to create a community in which everyone is welcoming and supportive. Quiet pastimes of mine include the flute, the piano, and painting. I have tried not to limit myself to one stage, one subject, or one outlook. I hope that I will never stop learning from the varied experiences and the diverse people I will no doubt encounter throughout life.
	Rebecca J. Hammon Los Alamos, NM Los Alamos High School   Rebecca has lived in Los Alamos, NM for her entire life. She greatly appreciates the support that the close-knit community of a small town can give to its members. Although music is her passion, Rebecca also plays tennis and is an avid reader. Her insatiable thirst for knowledge has opened numerous fields of interest, such as archaeology, chemistry, ancient history, and materials science.
	Talya C. Havice Warren, OH Champion High School   I am a runner, a scientist, a musician, a leader, but most of all I am a curious person. I run marathons and have apassion for chemistry. I am happiest when I am busy or spending time with my friends.
	Luke B. Hedrick Haines, AK Haines High School   I am Alaskan, born and raised, and I've never lived in a town with even 3,000 residents. I am an only child and have grown up living the small-town lifestyle. My greatest dream and greatest pursuit is the theatre; my father has acted in community theatre since I was a toddler and I've performed in over 15 plays in my lifetime. From an early age I've been a public speaker; though I still feel the terror everyone feels when speaking to large groups, it's never really been enough to dissuade me. That's why, to this day, I take every chance I get to meet the amazing people inthe world around me. There are so many stories out there, if only we have the compassion and perseverance to listen.
	Ashley M. Hinerman-Mulroy Moundsville, WV The Linsly School   For as long as I can remember I've been surrounded by science. When I was growing up my mother would point out natural phenomena and explain the scientific principles behind them. My mother's persistence paid off when I started doing scientific research. These unofficial science lessons had taught me how to look at a complex situation and see the individual principles responsible for the effect. Outside of science, I enjoy playing and watching team sports and working with animals.
	Maura W. Hobson Tolland, CT East Catholic High School   For fifteen years, Irish dancing has been an integral part of my life. It has taught me perseverance in all that I do, something that has transferred into other aspects of my life, including my academic interests. I love to teach dance because I get so much out of seeing what I love to do being passed on to others. I continue to be an active member of the community, playing in my high school Concert Band, being a member of the Jazz Choir, Student Ambassadors, Peer Ministry, and Executive Board. Next year I plan to attend Bucknell University with an undecided major but pursuing a minor in dance.
	Angel Hsu Greer, SC Riverside High School   My parents, both immigrants from Taiwan, named me An-Chi, meaning "peaceful jade." My mother once told me that we are all born as rough pieces of jade, and that with each obstacle in life, we become more polished and beautiful. With each debate round, with each piece of violin or piano music I tackle, with each leadership role I take, with each new discovery I make, I become more and more myself, of my name. I hope to become even more polished next year when I attend Wake Forest University as a Reynolds scholar, Coca-Cola National scholar, and National Merit scholar.

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