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Azatuhi is going to be a senior at Lynn English High School in Lynn, Massachusetts. She is deeply involved in leading her school's Model UN team and Latin team, as well as running track. Concerned about the environment and the well-being of other humans, she works at the Food not Bombs soup kitchen, has worked with recycling centers and cleaned rivers, and also enjoys having philosophical conversations with others. Azatuhi is interested in a career in international relations and economics, because it would make her a participant in "global evolution" and bring her to an "understanding of the world and its people."

Haewan, from Hunter College High in New York, NY, is a practiced scholar in the maths and sciences, and is also concerned about global warming and the current Arctic Oil issues. He has gained many insights into nature, values, and himself as a Boy Scout, and is also involved with his school's orchestra and chamber groups. One of his heroes is Mother Teresa for her completely selfless service done "without expectations of anything in return other than self satisfaction." With his strong interests in the environment and politics, Haewan is interested in International Policy and Foreign Relations because he would like to pursue a career in which he would be "attempting to right the wrongs of society."

Always open and honest to everyone, Sumeet instills confidence and happiness in others by showing her genuine compassion and care for them. Despite having to overcome the difficulties of immigrating to America only one year ago, she retains her fresh and optimistic view on life. Sumeet loves math, psychology, and economics. She hopes to become an honest lawyer and make a difference in other people's lives. She enjoys writing poetry and debating over interesting topics, but often delights in simple pleasures as sitting in the shade of a tree to think or listening to Indian music as well. She admires Mother Teresa for her unconditional love for mankind, and strives to copy such concern through her activities, such as peer counseling for new students

Hailing from the Bronx, NY, Frankie attends Stuyvesant High School and occasionally hangs out in Central Park. He has strong interests in the sciences such as biology and chemistry, and volunteers every week at the Chinatown Health Clinic. Deeply reflective about human courage and spirituality, Frankie looks up to Mahatma Gandhi, Hellen Keller, and Chiune Sugihara, who risked his life to aid Jewish refugees in World War II. Frankie is currently thinking about becoming either an English teacher or a pediatrician - an English teacher because he loves literature and is a writer, or a pediatrician because he likes helping the less fortunate.

As a resident of Roslindale, MA, and as an upcoming senior at Boston Latin School, Rogette is concerned about the pollution of the Charles River. She sees science as a tool which helps her gain knowledge and enrich her understanding of the world. Rogette plays the violin with her school's string ensemble, has run track, and is involved in many activities related with biomedical sciences and medicine. Rogette is aspires to cultivate her altruism and dedication, and hopes to become a missionary doctor to Haiti in order to heal others while spreading the Gospel. She is also involved in Foundation Ministry at a Roxbury church.

Huma is a vibrant, determined young woman who will be a senior at Edison High School in New Jersey. Her interest in science has only grown as she has become more exposed to the challenges and discoveries within the field, and has led her to pursue psychiatry as a career to better understand psychology and medicine. She delights in combining American and Pakistani traditions in holidays such as Thanksgiving, where at her family table turkey and spicy curry sit hand in hand. Her desire to help others is exhibited best through her work with an elderly blind woman, to whom she reads once a week on her own initiative. Huma is also a member of the student council, studies both Latin and Spanish, and works eight hours a week as a cashier at her father's store. The importance of religion, compassion, and service in Huma's life are self-evident through her activities, be it work in the community, meditation, or nightly religious school.

"There is nothing better in the world than spending time with the ones you love," writes Nancy in her application. Such a statement from this rising senior at Loyola School in New York is not only impressive but indicative of her desire to be accepting, open-minded, and generous. Nancy is active in music chorus and speech at her school, often participating in speech tournaments that last all Saturday. Her heroes are Rosa Parks, Mother Teresa, and Martin Luther King Jr., but she counts her mother as the most altruistic person she knows. Her musical tastes include rock, alternative, and pop, and she enjoys volleyball, track and basketball. Though she has dreamed of becoming everything from a doctor to a teacher to a scientist, the common theme running through her many aspirations is the goal to make a difference by helping other people; right now, she wishes to explore a career in international law.

Despite moving from one low-income, violent environ to the next in the Bay Area during his life, Immanuel has resisted succumbing to the harsh realities of life for the urban poor. A senior at Berkeley High School this fall, he has concentrating on making positive contributions whenever he can, no matter how small they might seem. His concern for the achievement gap between racial and economic communities has led him to tutor disadvantaged students at his high school and participate in a student-advocacy group that targets at-risk ninth grade students. He is also concerned by oil-drilling in wildlife sanctuaries and the tendency for low-income neighborhoods to be disproportionately polluted. Immanuel admires anyone who continues to do his or her best in the face of adversity. He enjoys reading and spending time with his friends, and is at present interested in scientific discovery, particularly bioengineering.

Five years ago, Zekarias arrived in the United States from Eritrea, where he was born into a farming family. But living in America has not diminished his concern for and desire to help not fellow Eritreans who are still struggling. He follows news from Eritrea closely, and is also interested in issues impacting Africa as a whole-the AIDS crisis and , for example. Zekarias runs cross-country and track and field at Cambridge Rindge and Latin, where he will be a junior this fall. But he counts reading as his most important extracurricular activity, because he realizes that the language barrier is one that can and must be overcome so that he can further his academic goals. He loves Eritrean music, and sees his entire family as his heroes. He aspires to be an engineer or lawyer.

Minh is a man of the globe: born in Paris, he moved to Andorra and then to the United States ten years ago. A senior at Gabrielino High School this fall, Minh is concerned by urban runoff after rain that cannot be absorbed into the ground due to excessive paved areas. Minh has studied Vovinam martial arts, is an avid mountain biker (ask him about his 100-mile bike trek with two friends, or his admiration for Lance Armstrong), runs cross-country at his school, and in addition holds down a job at Carl's Jr. Though still unsure of his professional aspirations, he is leaning towards earning a law degree and venturing into foreign relations or criminal analysis.

Of both Korean and Hispanic descent, Jina has spent much of her life gradually growing in understanding of her heritage, culture, and family history. Jina will be a senior at Oakton High School, where she is involved in the orchestra as a violinist, plays in the International Drum Club where she learned to play Korean drums, competes in the regional science fair, and participates in several academic honor societies. She unequivocally admires her mother for her devotion to both her husband and family. To donate her hair to a non-profit organization that makes wigs for cancer patients, Jina is growing her hair out and may repeat this donation throughout her life. Her parents' fights against cancer have given Jina a deep desire to help combat the disease as an oncologist.

One of the most powerful experiences in Sophia's life was her two-week long mission trip last summer to Mexico, where she was impacted in both spirit and perspective. She returned with a new determination to succeed not for personal glory and advancement, but to utilize what gifts she has with responsibility for the benefits of others. A senior at John Jay High School in the fall, Sophia is on the volleyball team, studies the piano, serves as president of her class and student tutor, and works as an editor on the yearbook and newsmagazine. Though she admires Martin Luther King Jr. for his courage and integrity, her hero is her mother for her perseverance and dedication. Sophia wants to divide her time between research and foreign missions in her chosen career field of medicine.

John, a member of the Pottawatomie Tribe, will be a senior this fall at Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, a two-year residential school. Choosing to enter OSSM meant that John had to sacrifice high school athletics, his old friends, and a comfortable daily life at home with his family. Yet the challenge has pushed John to a greater level of intellectual pursuit and determination. He admires his brother for setting standards for him, and exercises or spends time with friends to rejuvenate his spirit. A Boy Scout since 5th grade, John has steadily risen in the ranks of leadership and has gained a deep respect for nature and desire to help preserve the environment. To this end, he hopes to enter some field of engineering or research to design processes that will reduce the harmful impact of human industry on the environment while simultaneously improving industrial technology and efficiency.

Ijah attends Riverdale Country School and lives in the Bronx, NY. Ijah is an accomplished athlete in lacrosse, fencing, and soccer. His other activities include the piano and playing (and winning) in chess tournaments. He has solid interests in science and medicine; having worked with the Wildlife Conservation Society and with DNA at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, he hopes to become either a scientist or a physician. Along with being involved in minority issues, Ijah is a reflective young man whose prayer life is very important to him.

Shirlasia will be a senior at Phillips Academy in Andover this fall, having applied three years ago at the request of a teacher. Such an opportunity has had a great impact on her life, allowing her to pursue her education as a way out of the difficult world that she knew before. She participates in several service activities at school, the most meaningful of which is Bread and Roses, a soup kitchen. She admires Oprah Winfrey and Maya Angelou, and counts her family's support as one of her greatest blessings. As mathematics is her favorite subject in school, Shirlasia hopes to enter a career related to math, though she is also very interested in the biological sciences and engineering.

Melissa's enthusiasm and dedication shine in the things she does in her hometown of Westfield, MA and the Macduffie school in Springfield, MA. Concerned about depletion of rainforests and coral reefs, she helped begin the S.A.N.E. environmental club (Students Against Nature's Exploitation) and has raised money to preserve rainforests and written newsletters spreading environmental awareness to others. Melissa is also involved in dancing and writing tutoring, and she enjoys playing ping-pong, basketball, and with her pet frog Gilly. Strongly committed to helping others, she hopes to pursue a service career, be it in medicine, psychology, or teaching.

Mohammad is a thoughtful young man from Rowland Heights, CA, who attends John A. Rowland high school. He is the founder and president of the Muslim Students' Association (MSA) at his school, and as such he has led food drives and increased awareness about the Muslim and Arabic culture. Mohammad sees science as a means to learn why and how things around him function as they do. He has taken medical courses in the past and will become a Certified Medical Assistant, and has worked in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at St. Medical Center. He hopes to become a doctor in the OB/GYN field because it is an inspirational area which "deals with the beginning of life, the beginning of new generations.

Joshua attends Regis high school in New York, NY. Fascinated with science and the environment, he appreciates the importance of the natural environment in his life in New York, and has also worked in a doctor's office at NYU Medical Center. Joshua has played soccer and chess, and is also involved with the literary and science fiction publications at his school. He also plays chess and enjoys drawing, painting, and sketching as a hobby. With so many academic and extracurricular interests, Joshua remains open-minded to careers ranging from law, to business, and the humanities. He also appreciates compassion and altruism in the people surrounding his life, such as his pastor and history teacher.

Sonia hails from Springfield, Virginia, and attends Thomas Jefferson Science and Tech high school. She is a mentor with the Hispanic Alliance, and has also been involved in soccer and track with her school. Sonia is concerned with pollution and waste, and sees awareness as the key to ensuring the safety of future generations. As a member of the Biology and Medical Societies, Sonia has always been fascinated with how the human body works. Always seeing and appreciating the kindness in people around her, Sonia hopes to become a doctor in order to help people and go home at the end of the day and know she touched someone's life. One of her dreams is to go to a third-world country and help those who otherwise would never receive such care.