Presidential Scholars  2005

Records 66 through 115 out of 141

	Brittany M. Lee Franklin, TN Christ Presbyterian Academy College/College Plans: University of Georgia   Always one to strive for excellence, my high school career has been one full of fun successful experiences. From being named a Wendy's High School Heisman National Finalist to being on the All-State Soccer and Basketball Teams, I have enjoyed every day as a gift from God. My family has been supportive in every endeavor, and has helped shaped my love for athletics that spurred me on to letter in eight sports during high school. Being named salutatorian for our senior class while at the same time being student body president is an honor. Having to move cities during my junior year was quite an obstacle to overcome, but optimism and my faith helped be to persevere and reach my goals for high school.
	Felicity M. Lenes Mount Pleasant, SC Wando High School College/College Plans: The University of Texas at Dallas   Felicity defies stereotypes. A National Merit Finalist, her school's valedictorian and the reigning Miss Wando, Felicity is as comfortable in a tiara as she is tutoring fellow students. She is the Lowerstate SC SAT Team Individual Champion, a Governor's Scholar and a varsity swimming, Quiz Bowl, and Ocean Science Bowl letterwoman. An editor of Wando's nationally-ranked newspaper, Tribal Tribune, Felicity is first vice president of the SC Scholastic Press Association. She is president of Wando's National Honor Society (NHS) and received the state’s NHS Leadership Scholarship. As vice president of Mu Alpha Theta, she has captained the girl's math team to statewide victories. She played first violin with the Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra, has won several concerto competitions, and has soloed in London. Felicity plans a major in molecular biology as a McDermott Scholar at the University of Texas at Dallas and aspires to become a physician after a stint as a Rhodes Scholar.
	Emily Lentz Milbank, SD Milbank High School College/College Plans: Drake University   Growing up in a small, anonymous town in the middle of the South Dakota cornfields has proven to be a blessing for me. It has given me a background that is quickly becoming lost to the fast-paced life of urban America. I’ve had the opportunity to be student body president at a school in which I know every student by name. I’ve known my volleyball teammates all of my life, and my forensics team is like my family. Being involved is stressed in my school, and I feel that I have met the challenge. Besides being in volleyball and forensics, I have participated in band and tennis, I have volunteered at Red Cross blood drives and as a youth mentor, and I have served as prom chairman and junior class vice president. I fill what free time I have with reading, swimming, piano, and a part-time job.
	Andre M. Leone Las Cruces, NM Mesilla Valley Christian Schools College/College Plans: University of Tulsa   Andre is a jack-of-all-trades. He is a musician, an athlete, a scientist, a poet-philosopher, and a leader. He grew up playing the piano, has taught himself guitar and accordion, and has played in a jazz band. As an athlete, he runs frequently, climbs every rock he can find, and competes in soccer and basketball. Last summer Andre worked at New Mexico State University doing research on carbon dioxide sequestration and is planning on studying Engineering Physics—the genuine rocket science. He has found poetry to be a satisfying method of expressing his philosophies, and has been a finalist in several poetry competitions. Leadership is integrated into these roles as a worship leader in church, captain of his soccer and basketball teams, and roles in student government. Life has taught him that if something is worth being done, it’s worth doing well.
	Mary Beth Liederbach Petoskey, MI Petoskey High School College/College Plans: Undecided   Into the far northeast coast of Lake Michigan juts a tranquil bay surrounded by hills, forests, and farms. On the shore of that bay rests the busy little town of Petoskey. In Petoskey lies an ordinary street with a simple twostory house and a gravel driveway, and in that modest house live Mom, Dad, Mary Beth, and her four younger siblings. If you visit, you’re likely to find Mary Beth perched on a couch reading a book, but she might be playing her violin, French horn, or piano. She might be outside raking leaves or hanging laundry. She might be joking with Patrick, braiding Margaret’s hair, helping Freddie with math, or changing Sarah’s diaper. She could be off to orchestra, work, youth group, teaching violin, or at a friend’s to make goofy videos. Whatever she is doing, she is doing it quietly, modestly, and with a generous, loving spirit.
	Janice L. Lin Indianapolis, IN Lawrence North High School College/College Plans: Indiana University Bloomington   I'm currently a candidate for a Biology B.S. and an Individualized Major (Romance Languages) B.A., both with honors. In addition, I am minoring in chemistry and economics. On the side, I enjoy volunteering, participating in many extracurriculars, lab research, and the fine arts.
	Christian S. Ling Wailuku, HI Maui High School College/College Plans: Boston University   Although born on the busy island of O’ahu, Christian Ling is truly a Maui boy at heart. Competitive without being overbearing, and studious without a trace of fanaticism, Christian still manages to gain distinction for himself at the state and national level. As a three-time State Science Bowl Champion, two-time State Ocean Science Bowl Champion, and four-year Math League veteran, he has proven his aptitude and passion for science and math. Christian is also a musician; he has been a French horn player for three years and is first seat in the Symphonic Band. In addition, he is learning to play the guitar. Christian also serves his campus and community as president of Maui High’s National Honor Society and a member of Key Club. During his free time Christian enjoys reading, listening to music, and writing poetry. He currently entertains the prospect of becoming a biomedical engineer after college.
	Grace Lu Kennesaw, GA The Walker School College/College Plans: Yale University   Ambitious and creative, Grace's interests are wide-ranging. Her lifelong passion for the arts led her to create Art Club, through which Grace has organized numerous artistic projects, including a 60-foot long mural for a preschool building. Avid in languages, Grace is fluent in English and Chinese and has taken classes in Latin, French, and Spanish. In 2003, she traveled to Nice, France, for four weeks on a student exchange. In the sciences, Grace is co president of Mu Alpha Theta and Science Olympiad at her school. Last summer, she attended the Research Science Institute at Caltech, studying the release of respirable pollen allergens in an attempt to better understand the link between allergies and asthma. Grace is also activities coordinator for the Social Sciences Honor Society and an active member of the National Honor Society and Walker Drama. In her leisure, Grace enjoys jogging, playing volleyball, drawing and playing the piano.
	Marilynn Ly Tempe, AZ Corona del Sol High School College/College Plans: Yale University   I am in love. First and foremost, I love my family, which includes my amazing mother, buddy-dad, and two spunky sisters. I love learning—it’s my favorite thing to do! I devour writing in every form it comes in, whether it be textbooks, newspaper, poetry, plays, or novels. My third love is volunteering, especially with children. It makes my heart smile in a million different places when I get the opportunity to help someone in need. I love to travel because I can create a worldwide family; I have been to Italy, France, Switzerland, Canada, Hawaii, and Vietnam. My dream is to give my family and the world all the wonderful things it has given me. I will begin making my dream a reality by becoming a cardiovascular surgeon; after all, I love so many things that I might as well deal with matters of the heart for a career!
	Cullen O. Macbeth Washington, DC St. Alban’s School College/College Plans: Yale University   I love being involved in the life of my school. At the end of my sophomore year, I earned an appointment as opinions/editorials editor of our school newspaper, and the next year rose to be a co-editor-in-chief. After two years spent debating in the Government Club, I was elected last spring as co-liberal president, given the responsibility of helping organize and run the club’s meetings. This year I have served on the student council as a senior prefect and have spent the winter and spring working with teachers and other students to improve the student body’s understanding of the Honor Council in an effort to heighten community awareness of and dedication to honor. For the past three years I have also rowed crew, and I earned a silver medal in 2003 at the Scholastic National Regatta in the lightweight four event.
	Elizabeth Ashmore MacFarlane Oxford, GBR Phillips Exeter Academy College/College Plans: Princeton University   I am an American living in England. I go to boarding school in the United States. As a child, I was confused about identity, perceived as American in England and English in America. At home we always had visitors from around the world. Hearing about their countries, I came to love my broad identity. I read avidly as a child, learning about as many people as possible. My concern for people brought me to volunteer in an Irish community for disabled children for the past two summers, where I will also volunteer next year. I love English, history, religion and creative writing. I don’t know what I will be. I want to change people’s lives and to help the world, be it through aid work, writing or academics, remaining true to my upbringing by drawing the world closer while expanding my horizons and those of others around me.
	Paul Magyar Providence, RI Classical High School College/College Plans: Dartmouth College   I have always been curious about the world around me. This curiosity has led me to a passion for science, and I have conducted research in environmental science and geology over the past seven years. This work has given me the chance to participate in the Rhode Island and International Science and Engineering Fairs and to be semifinalist in the Intel STS program. I have explored many other areas of science through the National Science Olympiad. Additionally, as an Eagle Scout, I have had many opportunities to explore the natural world. In a different realm, I enjoy learning about the people of the past and have studied Rhode Island’s historical figures. My school’s motto is a quote from Tennyson’s Ulysses: “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield;” this is a tenet I will continue to pursue.
	Dhruv Maheshwari Wayne, NJ Wayne Valley Senior High School College/College Plans: Harvard College   Dhruv is a scholar who is always searching for something new and challenging to investigate. Whenever he comes across an area that intrigues him, he seizes the opportunity to learn more and think of new applications. Over the past several years, this has led him to explore in great depth topical fields such as astrophysics, biochemistry, discrete mathematics, and architecture. He hopes to someday synthesize different, seemingly disparate fields of study to provide solutions to problems being faced by modern society. He is also a leader, having served as the president of his school's student council, Junior Statesmen of America chapter, and computer club, as well as editor-in-chief of the school newspaper and captain of the Quiz Bowl team. He enjoys playing several musical instruments in his spare time, and is a competitive tennis player. He serves the community through volunteer tutoring and Vivekananda Vidyapith, a youth organization.
	Kyle Mahowald Fort Lauderdale, FL Pine Crest School College/College Plans: Harvard College   My general philosophy is to work hard at whatever activity or passion I choose to pursue. As co-editor of the school newspaper, I take great pleasure in English classes, although I also often enjoy work in math and the sciences. Perhaps because of my love for words and English, I have a passion for solving and creating puzzles of all types, particularly crosswords. My crossword puzzles have appeared in the Tribune Media Service, Universal Press Syndicate, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times. Another great passion of mine is tennis, which I have enjoyed playing for almost my entire life, and at the varsity level for six years in high school. I also love many other sports and can often be found playing games of pickup football, hockey, and basketball, or cheering on my beloved Dolphins and Marlins at the stadium.
	Andrew L. Malcolm Fort Lauderdale, FL Pine Crest School College/College Plans: Princeton University   As a rare “native son” of South Florida, Andrew has strived to soak up the experiences and diversity of his unique community. From a very young age, public service has been his passion, leading him to serve in numerous leadership roles in political campaigns on the national, state, and local levels. He has sought to expand his campaign experiences into other areas, serving on the student council, editing the school newspaper, and working in the U.S. House of Representatives as both a page and an intern for Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Andrew has strived to serve others and discover his heritage by collecting and distributing books to independent libraries in Cuba through the organization he founded, Libros Para La Libertad.
	Dylan B. Mathieu Madison, WI West High School College/College Plans: Washington University   With interests in the physical sciences, athletics, and social justice, I participate in a variety of activities that range from meteorology research at the University of Wisconsin at Madison to delivering meals to homebound elderly through Meals-on-Wheels. As a captain of a State Premier soccer team and a two-year high school varsity player, I have embraced soccer since childhood. The sport has influenced me beyond my athletics on the field, as I coach underprivileged youth each Saturday and referee in the spring and fall. I proposed, organized, and directed summer soccer camps on a Native American reservation in Sisseton, South Dakota, during my sophomore year, and the camps have since expanded as the sport becomes increasingly popular in the community. Through the West Rocketry Club, I have developed an interest for rocketry that recently culminated in a successful high-powered launch at the Marshall Space Flight Center through the NASA Student Launch Initiative.
	Caitlin L. McAuliffe North Miami Beach, FL Pine Crest School College/College Plans: Yale University   At the age of three, Caitlin announced that she would never go to school and never take music lessons. Her early pronouncement was eventually forgotten as Caitlin eagerly engaged each new subject in school, completing her third grade year ready for Algebra I. In the years since, Caitlin has excelled in math and science competitions, held positions of leadership in her community and school, been a hospital operating room volunteer, and engaged in summer study in genetics and molecular biology. Her interest in science is equaled by her passion for music. From her first public performance at the age of four, Caitlin has won violin competitions, sat as concert mistress in orchestras, founded the Helios Quartet, and performed to live and television audiences throughout South Florida. Most recently she was featured in the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel prior to her performance of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Ars Flores Symphony Orchestra.
	Walter F. McClean Woodbridge, VA Gar-Field High School College/College Plans: The College of William and Mary   I’ve bounced around a little bit in these past 18 years. Living in northern Virginia, then living five years in Germany before returning stateside, my family eventually found its way right back to northern Virginia. Throughout high school, I have been participating in the International Baccalaureate Program, which I casually refer to as “AP on Steroids.” Besides copious amounts of homework, I was active in Model United Nations, theater, and academic team. Outside of school, I earned my Eagle Scout Award, am active in my church youth group, and have taken up fencing. I plan on studying economics and government in college, hopefully pursuing a double major, which would lay a nice foundation for graduate school and beyond. I plan to work in politics though I still have not made the decision to focus on national or international politics.
	Ian M. McKinley Sandy, UT Skyline High School College/College Plans: Brigham Young University   Since his birth, Ian has been an international traveler. During the first ten years of his life, he lived in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Tokyo, New Jersey, and Singapore. He’s a multi-talented student and loves most every subject (with the possible exception of P.E.). He has taken 12 Advanced Placement tests in many categories over his high school experience, with outstanding results. He has long loved reading, cooking, and gardening, and his favorite cuisine, both to cook and to eat, is Thai. Through service, he has influenced many lives as a Skyline High Service Scholar, president of the Skyline Key Club, and vice president of Operation Smile. He will attend Brigham Young University, where he plans to pursue a joint degree in mathematics and music performance. For postgraduate studies, he plans to get a degree in finance and rekindle his love for overseas travel.
	Candace A. Mitchell Gainesville, FL Phillips Academy College/College Plans: Duke University, Columbia University, or Brown University   Candace Mitchell is a 2005 Level I Winner for writing in the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Recognition and Talent Search. She has won the Goodhue Prize, the Charles Snow Burns Poetry Prize, and the Library of Congress Literary Letters Contest Award; in addition, she has won third place in the English Teachers of Alachua County Fiction Contest and won first place in the English Teachers of Alachua County Holocaust Essay Contest. She was a semi-finalist in the Ayn Rand Essay Contest. Candace acknowledges her mother, Cecelia Mitchell, for providing guidance, support, and courage in her artistic pursuits. She has always been interested in writing, but was encouraged to find her voice after reading Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye.
	Anish Mitra Lincoln, NE Lincoln East High School College/College Plans: Stanford University   Anish Mitra is an 18-year-old high school senior at East High School. He participates in forensics and won the 2004 Harvard National Extemporaneous Speaking Award, as well as placing fifth in the U.S. in extemporaneous speaking at the 2004 National Forensic League’s National Tournament. Anish Mitra is also an accomplished bassist and has played with the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra for the last three years. Anish has won several bass playing accolades, including a top five finish at the 2001 International Society of Bassists 14-and-under Solo Competition, the 2002 Emerson Full Tuition Scholarship to Interlochen Arts Academy Summer Camp in Michigan, and first place at the 2004 American String Teachers Association 19-and-under String Bass National Solo Competition. Anish volunteers actively teaching young bassists at music camps and serves as president of YouthInspire, a youth-run volunteer foundation. In his spare time Anish enjoys reading, running, and listening to music.
	Matthew Mudd Kodiak, AK Home School College/College Plans: Harvard College   I am a self-motivated, often self-taught student, and I currently hail from an area where grizzly bears constitute the local majority. My major accomplishments include rounding up wild horses, surviving eastern Oregon wildfires and a boat fire in Alaskan waters, and living on a secluded island for three months while seeing no one other than my immediate family. My other various accomplishments include serving as vice president of the local Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapter, Who’s Who 2003-2004 and 2004-2005, National Honor Roll inductee, and many other things. As I gaze around my room where I am preparing this revealing document, I am reminded of time spent with friends touring Turkey, chilling out in Florida, cruising Rhode Island, walking the beaches of Kodiak, and road-tripping with my best friend Bill. If my epitaph could read one thing, I would like it to say: “If nothing else, he was a good friend.”
	Tracy A. Mumford Portland, OR St. Mary’s Academy College/College Plans: Hamilton College   Tracy has spent the last four years living life. She enjoys staircases, long division, ice cream, the line-item veto, irregularly conjugated French verbs, lawn gnomes, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, gerrymandering, short stories by Canadian authors, Easter eggs, public transit, technical theatre, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Guster, New Zealand poetry, polydactyl cats, Marion berry pie, Greek islands, De Jonge v. Oregon, fire escapes, the Willamette River, orange suits and shoes, Texas airports, Virginia Woolf, gold pens, Jackie Chan, mitosis, minivans, soundboards, the rain, blue hair, coffee shops, pterodactyls, cartwheels, alphaketogluterate, midnight walks to the bus stop, and her friends. Next year, Tracy will be working in the South Pacific to warm up before heading off for school on the frigid East Coast.
	Theresa L. Myers Portland, OR St. Mary’s Academy College/College Plans: Carnegie Mellon University   Theresa, besides working hard enough to become valedictorian, is involved in a plethora of activities. She enjoys running in circles after balls (read: playing soccer and lacrosse), spending time in windowless rooms (participating in theater), adding sugar to the diet of senior citizens (organizing birthday parties at a low-income assisted-living center), and vicariously reliving the horror of imminent middle school (mentoring a fifth grader). To ensure that she has no time for a job, she volunteers—as a tutor to children in transitional housing, as a meal server at a homeless shelter, and as a student leader at Outdoor School. She also pursues such quaint hobbies as eating, sleeping, and acquiring every possible lung-related disease (currently, she has whooping cough; she’s working on catching influenza next). In ten years, she plans to be living in a foreign country, to have been scuba diving, and to possess some sort of degree.
	Arvind R. Nagarajan Novi, MI Detroit Country Day School College/College Plans: Yale University   I am determined to make a difference in the world of children through leadership and dedication. The young ones begging for sustenance in the shadows of the beautiful Taj Mahal is a haunting memory for me. Consequently, my volunteer and paid positions have involved helping children. I teach tennis on a volunteer basis at the Boys and Girls Clubs in Detroit and USTA community outreach programs since I am a nationally ranked tennis player, having played competitive tennis for nine years. At Balavihar, I teach children about Indian history, religion, and culture. I am deeply concerned about environmental degradation. Next month I begin a research project on green roofs. Having been captain of the varsity tennis team for two years and class board treasurer for four years, I hope to lead efforts in sustainable business development to eradicate poverty among children and preserve nature.
	Suguna P. Narayan Broomfield, CO Thornton High School College/College Plans: University of Colorado at Boulder   My family is from India, where education is the top priority for children, so I have grown up to be a fairly studious person. I am a bookworm, and I spend a good deal of my spare time reading; however, I also love to be active in my community. I have become involved with many volunteer groups, and I enjoy the work greatly. I am a creative person as well, and I am involved with many different arts groups in my school and community. I play the alto saxophone in my school’s marching and concert bands. I take classical Indian dance lessons as well as classical Indian vocal music lessons. I was part of a community drama group that performed plays for Indian cultural festivals for many years. My goal in life is seeing the world.
	Charles G. Nathanson Hamden, CT Hamden High School College/College Plans: Harvard College   Charles has several interests both inside and outside the classroom. One of his principal interests is mathematics; he started taking math courses at Yale University at age 14 and is currently completing a course designed for college senior math majors. Charles has also gained national recognition for his performance on several math competitions. At his high school, Charles is captain of the debate team and the math team, president of the chess club, a member of the cross-country team, and a contributor to the school newspaper. He also teaches AP Calculus and AP Physics, experiences he finds consistently rewarding. Outside of school, Charles is a serious student of the violin. He especially enjoys playing unaccompanied Bach. He has participated in the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, is concertmaster of his school orchestra, and is president of the Greater New Haven Youth Orchestra.
	Mark Norsworthy RAF Lakenheath, GBR Lakenheath High School College/College Plans: Massachusetts Institute of Technology   I am an “Air Force brat” who has never lived in the United States, yet I am just as American as anyone living in the USA. I was born and raised on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and moved to England when I was 16. I enjoy traveling, and have visited 14 countries and 12 world capitals. I love math and science, and I was the Department of Defense Dependent Schools Europe representative to the Research Science Institute at MIT for 2004. I also love history, government, and politics, and I was a United States Senate Youth Program delegate this year. As a Model United Nations delegate, I have attended conferences in several countries, most notably Russia. I am a black belt in Okinawan karate, play the piano, and have a varsity letter in track. 18 years overseas has given me a wide range of experiences to build upon as I move into college life.
	Julia Ogilvie Honolulu, HI Punahou School College/College Plans: Hunter College   Julia Ogilvie is from Honolulu, Hawaii, and is a recent graduate of Punahou School. She placed third in the 2004 National Shakespeare Competition, and has received two awards from the Hawaii State Theater council in acting. She was honored to win first place at the Hawaii State Speech Tournament in Storytelling. Julia is also a 2005 State Winner in the National Society of Arts and Letters Comedy Competition. Julia will study at Hunter College in New York City.
	Courtney E. Otto Louisville, KY Kentucky Country Day School College/College Plans: Dartmouth College   Simply put, I love to talk. My love for language (and, okay, speaking my mind) has largely shaped who I have become over the last 18 years. I wrote my first "book" at age eight and am still an avid reader and writer; my attraction to public speaking led me to participate in forensics throughout high school, where I dealt with my (somewhat inexplicable) fear of audiences in the final rounds at CFL and NFL Nationals last year. I've taken French for the last seven years, and have ranked in the top ten in the nation in the National French Contest for the last four; I want to attain fluency in this language in college so that I can more easily pursue a career in international relations or diplomacy. On a less serious note, I love thunderstorms, being with friends, fits of inexplicable laughter, and sappy movies—I’m big on happy endings.
	Shaily Pandey Richmond, VA Maggie L. Walker Governor's School College/College Plans: Duke University   From age eight, I imagined myself becoming a doctor; however during high school, I have discovered another passion—government. I have found a balance between the two fields, as I am the state coordinator of the Virginia Student/Parent Mock Election program and captain of the policy debate team. I also spend my summers volunteering and doing research at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medical Center. Community service is an activity that I genuinely love to do. From volunteering at the library, to coordinating the school’s shadowing program, I spend a lot of time giving back to my community. I gather satisfaction by knowing that I am helping others. In the future, I hope to merge both of my interests—medicine and government—and help draft health policy.
	Taylor M. Papallo Conyers, GA Salem High School College/College Plans: Boston University   Like the Energizer Bunny, I never stop. Between extracurricular commitments—Beta Club president, 4-H, National Honor Society vice president, Academic Team captain, Math Team, English Honor Society—rigorous schoolwork, pursuing pastimes like reading and writing, and maintaining a social life and family time, sleep is a rarity. Yet despite the bags under my eyes, I wouldn’t change a thing. My diligence and determination have certainly proven worthwhile, as my accomplishments include becoming a National Merit Scholar, a Master 4-Her in Dairy Quiz Bowl, serving as my school’s STAR student, being selected to participate in the 2003 Georgia Governor’s Honors Program, and contributing as a member of the two-time region-winning Rockdale 4-H Envirothon team. In the future, I plan to major in English (and possibly minor in Italian), eventually receive graduate degrees in English, and teach at the collegiate level, sharing my passion for words with ensuing generations of scholars.
	Arnaldo E. Pereira-Diaz Ponce, PR Colegio Ponceno College/College Plans: Massachusetts Institute of Technology   Arnaldo's interests include computers, mathematics, videogames, Japanese animation, and music. He loves to go to the movies with friends, or just hang out. Arnaldo is an Eagle Scout and an active member of his troop. Arnaldo values friendship and loyalty above all. He is a risk taker, unafraid of trying new things. He is creative, smart, and funny. Arnaldo has attended summer programs and taken classes for credit at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and Harvard College, and has participated in many math competitions and Olympiads at the regional, state, national and international levels. Arnaldo will start his college studies in chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, next fall, and plans to study law after that. He has an older sister, Marian, an older brother, Amado, and a younger sister, Kathy.
	Natasha Platt Wilmington, DE Concord High School College/College Plans: Harvard College   I am both an artist and a scholar. My academic interests are far ranging, yet all my intellectual discoveries converge into a single focus—artistic expression. My paintings were nationally recognized three years in a row, and as a result my work was displayed in the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, DC. I am a fashion designer with my own couture business. I do the designing, pattern making, and sewing myself, and my commissions have ranged from a spiked trench coat to a silk concert blouse. I also play the flute competitively, and I volunteer after school, helping inner city girls with their homework. I love to explore different cultures and experience different types of music and food. As I finish high school, I am eagerly anticipating the future and all the things I am going to experience.
	Rachel Pollack Oklahoma City, OK Classen School of Advanced Studies College/College Plans: Harvard College or Stanford University   I am a student and a teacher. To the disbelief of some, I have actually enjoyed my two years in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. IB has taught me to think critically, question everything, and avoid procrastination! In addition to high school classes, I have taken several college courses concurrently at a local university and through summer programs. When I’m not learning, I’m often teaching. Last fall, I started a tutoring business at my school, through which I employ other high school students as well as tutor five to six hours a week. I also teach Hebrew School to fifth graders. Outside of official teaching positions, I stay involved in sharing knowledge in some way—writing newspaper articles, presenting Model United Nations resolutions, lobbying state legislators with the Young Democrats, or discussing philosophy with my brother.
	Gordon Powers East Kingston, NH Phillips Exeter Academy College/College Plans: Harvard College   Everyone has an obstacle to overcome in his life, and I am no exception. I was born with a moderate hearing loss and a speech disorder, both of which have greatly impacted my life. However, I accept them as part of who I am and do not let them prevent me from achieving my goals. Academically, I have always excelled in mathematics, but I have discovered that my true passion lies in biological science. I will be pursuing biology as my college major, but am unsure of my career plans at this time. Outside of classes, I am actively involved in a number of organizations, but my most important extracurricular activity is the Sign Language Club that I co-founded. This organization allows me to share my knowledge of sign language with others, and I hope that my peers have become more sensitive of individuals with physical differences in the process.
	Noah Putterman Raleigh, NC William G. Enloe High School College/College Plans: Northwestern University   The son of Yankee transplants, Noah has had the incredible opportunity to perform with the North Carolina Theatre, the state's premier professional regional theater, since a very young age, and has held leading roles in the productions of their youth program, Kids on Broadway. This past September, Noah had the pleasure of working with Broadway veterans Terrence Mann and Matthew Bennett in their original rock-musical version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, in which he starred as “The Friar.” Noah has also been very active in his drama department at school. The only student on the Carolina Arts Festival’s board of directors, Noah has been asked to direct their next summer production.
	Jessica Amanda Qualls Queens, NY Benjamin N. Cardozo High School College/College Plans: Cornell University   The qualities that make distinguish me from my peers are my unparalleled thought processes, my extensive enthusiasm for the things I learn, my genuine love for the connection of mankind, and my artistic personality and capabilities. It is easy to be a follower, but it takes courage, strength, authenticity, and a sense of self to become a leader. It is this aspect of my character that I uphold and try to instill in others. In college I will study fine arts and political science. I will become both a constitutional lawyer and a freelance artist. One day I will become a U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice and open several art studios for underprivileged youth. My thorough faith in the human race stems from my desire to love and share myself with others. My passion and initiative are boundless. I will guide myself through life rather than wading along, letting life pass me by. My thinking could be summed up by a quote from Lord Alfred Tennyson's Ulysses, "How dull it is to pause, to make an end, to rust unburnished, not to shine in use! As though to breathe were life!"
	Stephen J. Ramey Florence, SC West Florence High School College/College Plans: Furman University   Athletics, service, and family have been three important aspects of my life during high school. During the spring, I always played varsity or junior varsity soccer; in the fall, I competed with my traveling soccer team; then in the winter, I coached or participated in church basketball. Some of the service activities that were most rewarding during this time were working as a junior counselor at asthma camp, coaching a 12-and-under basketball team, going on mission trips such as the one to New York to help the homeless, and raising funds to take needy children shopping for clothes and toys at Christmas. I also enjoyed trips with my family to spend time with my brother, my sister-in-law, and my nephew in Florida and to visit my sister when she was doing mission work in Venezuela.
	Kathryn Austin Hua Ray Washington, DC Sidwell Friends School College/College Plans: New York University   Planning on attending NYU in the coming fall, after having taken a gap year after high school. Traveled to Vietnam in the fall, where I taught English to primary school children, and to Peru in the spring, working with children and then for a conservation foundation in the rainforest. Very glad that I took the year off, but ready to go back to school now.
	Joseph M. Reardon Liberty, MO The Pembroke Hill School College/College Plans: Duke University   Joe Reardon from Liberty, Missouri, is an Angier B. Duke Scholar studying Biology and Global Health. He is a graduate of the Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City, Missouri. Joe has studied with Duke and the Organization for Tropical Studies in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. In the laboratory of Professor Jen-Tsan Ashley Chi at the Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, he has collaborated on investigations of the role of microRNA in sickle cell disease and malaria. He is also a clinical phlebotomist. Joe is Chair of Health and Safety Services for Duke Red Cross, where he directs a growing program providing CPR, First Aid, and AED training in English and Spanish on Duke's campus and in the Durham community. Joe works with Proyecto Puentes de Salud, a project coordinated by the UNC School of Medicine aimed at better understanding risk factors for chronic disease such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression in Juventino Rosas, Guanajuato, central Mexico. He is passionately involved with the Catholic community at Duke, where he is a pianist and Director of Service and Social Justice for the Duke Catholic Student Center. Joe is preparing for a future in medicine and likely public health. He is very interested in emergency medicine and global health inequalities.
	Kimberly Elise Reinhold Hilo, HI Saint Joseph’s High School College/College Plans: Massachusetts Institute of Technology   I enjoy dancing, writing, playing music, and teaching children to swim, but my passion is science. I have taken ten science courses at my school and online, and I am captain of the Math League and Science Bowl teams. Science fair projects are an academic priority and an extracurricular joy for me. I love discovery. Even late nights with a cup of coffee, a headache, an unfinished computer program, and a deadline bring me a sort of satisfaction. I like to think that I am contributing to our understanding of the world. For the past four years, I have been researching novel approaches to artificial intelligence. I spent a summer working in a lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I have been to international science competitions. These experiences have taught me how many incredible opportunities exist beyond my small hometown. One just has to seek them.
	Logan Richman Tower City, ND Maple Valley High School College/College Plans: Concordia College   I’m a people-person at heart. I believe that happiness isn’t measured by the trinkets and accolades thrown your way, but by the people with whom you share your time. Because of that, I choose to take part in many different activities. My involvement has allowed me to wear numerous hats: class president, student council president, Students Against Drunk Driving president, trumpet player, singer, actor, scientist, golfer, basketball statistician, football statistician, reporter, farmer, volunteer, and friend. Although each of my hats has its own merit, I prize my friend hat above the others. Each activity I undertake brings a challenge and a sense of pride, but having friends at my side compounds the enjoyment. I keep busy with extracurricular programs and volunteer work, but in my free time, I am an avid water-skier and ping-pong player—though not simultaneously. I also work on my family’s small grain and row-crop farm in the summer.
	Christopher J. Rigell Oak Ridge, TN Oak Ridge High School College/College Plans: Vanderbilt University   Although I was not born in the United States, I consider myself first and foremost an American. I was born in Seoul, South Korea, and came to the U.S. at the age of three months. I became a citizen of the United States of America when I was two years old. I feel great honor and pride when I think of all the freedoms and rights that were bestowed upon me when I received my citizenship. I currently live in Tennessee, a beautiful state with friendly people. I play violin, piano, basketball, and golf. In my free time I enjoy watching sports events. On weekends I earn money playing in a string quartet. My two main interests are science and music.
	Rachel Rosenstein-Sisson Sherman Oaks, CA Marlborough School College/College Plans: New York University   From childhood, Rachel was a visual artist, experimenting with all types of media. More recently, her artwork has evolved from the functional and practical, such as fashion, package design, and furniture design, to non-functional sculptural pieces that serve as social commentary. She was a founding member of Teens of Contemporary Art at Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, and was a curator for a city-wide show of student art and music. Rachel has also participated in non-art related activities, which have provided inspiration for her art. She volunteered at Amnesty International, protesting the murder of women in Juarez, Mexico, and researching sex-trafficking. Rachel was co-captain of her school's varsity cross-country team, winning the league championship for the first time in the school's history. Believing that art is influenced by and influences the culture at large, Rachel wishes to continue her studies in studio art, and may pursue a career in medicine.
	Shahin Rothermel Aiken, SC Aiken High School College/College Plans: New York University   My two greatest loves are traveling and learning about new cultures. I speak Farsi (Persian) and German, and I have been an exchange student for a summer in Germany. I like to play sports; I was the captain of the crosscountry and track teams at my school, I swam for a summer league for eight years, and I love playing ultimate frisbee. I also work as a lifeguard in the summer. Another passion of mine is writing websites. I won the South Carolina Thinkquest Website Design Contest, and I have designed websites for my school, the Aiken Running Club, the Aiken Robotics Team, and the Girls Against Bullying Program. I want to major in international relations, attend law school, and become an international lawyer for a humanitarian organization or an international diplomat.
	Bethany N. Roy Cape Elizabeth, ME Cape Elizabeth High School College/College Plans: Yale College   I spend a lot of my time outside of school participating in clubs such as Operation Smile, the volunteer club, debate team, student council, math team, and the National Honor Society. I also play on the tennis team, and I’m an emergency medical technician assistant. Growing up in Maine, I have always loved the ocean and the outdoors. Sailing, hiking, skiing, and camping are some of my hobbies. I am known for always laughing and for having a good sense of humor, and I try not to take myself too seriously. In my free time, I enjoy napping on my lawn, writing, night swimming, singing (even though I have a horrible voice), and playing barefoot tennis. In the future, I’m thinking of majoring in biotechnology or possibly Latin American Studies.
	Claire E. Santoro St. Louis, MO University City High School College/College Plans: Brown University   One of the hardest assignments I have ever received came on a college application: “Write about the activity or experience that has meant the most to you.” How could I choose? Like almost every high school student, I fill my days with many things, each one immensely important to me. I could have written about arguing as a mock trial attorney and earning a place in the state championship trial. I even considered writing about the elementary school kids I mentor in science; I could even have written about the triumphs and challenges of playing soccer and field hockey for teams with much-less-than-perfect records. Finally, though, I decided to write about helping create “Tapping Gravity,” a tap dance and juggling performance group. That experience, I believe, provides the most complete picture of me—my willingness to accept challenges, my dedication, and my wholehearted sense of fun.
	Christian Bleakly Schlegel Wyomissing, PA Wyomissing Area High School College/College Plans: Princeton University   Princeton University
	Nicholas Schluterman Fort Smith, AR Southside High School College/College Plans: University of Arkansas (for now)   In tenth grade, I promised myself that for the next few years, I would not allow grades to interfere with learning. The thirst for knowledge has driven my life throughout high school. Along the way, I have met a variety of wise people in the most unexpected places, and I am most grateful to them for teaching me and broadening my horizons. In the past few years, I have searched high and low-from advanced placement to general classes, from National Science Bowl to the Southside drum line, from cathedrals to trailer parks—and I have found no person and no situation from which I could learn nothing new. My journey now seems to be leading me to a simple campus in Fayetteville. From there I plan to resume my lifelong campaign, through science, teaching, and politics, which hopefully will take me to dazzling new worlds filled with the wisest of people.

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