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Jennifer Abolencia is 16 years old and lives in Encino. She is concerned with the destruction of the rainforest in South America and people’s attitude toward wasting paper. She wants to be a lawyer to protect people from being taken advantage of. She likes playing tennis, running for the track and field team and traveling every summer to Guatemala. Jennifer likes learning about how things work and how they apply to our lives. She has been heavily involved with her school’s environmental activities, such as recycling and adopt-the-rainforest.

Chitua exhibits great intellectual curiosity and rigor. An Advanced Placement Environmental Science class first piqued her interest in the environment, which has fed her concern about problems such as littering. Furthermore, she is enthusiastic about science labs and has already conducted research. However, Chitua is rounded in much more than academics. She believes in the strong personal foundations that supportive families and education about drugs, violence, and future opportunities can provide teens. Chitua's concern for others is manifested in her hopes of becoming a doctor.

Ya-Ling is a very mature, self-assured young woman with great intelligence and creativity. Having lived in the United States for only four years, English is not her native language. However, she has worked hard to improve her language skills, and now expresses herself beautifully, as shown by her success in speech competitions and by the rich imagery of her poetry. Ya-Ling has displayed her intellectual prowess through her grades and the many math and science competitions she has been involved with. She has also volunteered much of her time at her local YMCA and in tutoring fellow classmates. Ya-Ling hopes to pursue a career in both programming and genetics, which she sees as a crucial tool for restoring forests and saving endangered species. Her optimistic and uplifting personality lights the way for others.

Arietta Fleming-Davies is going to be a senior at Bonita Vista School in Chula Vista, CA. Arietta has taken an interest to the environment from her participation in the Science Fair during the past four years and feels that it is important that her scientific research has a positive impact on the local environment. In her high school, Arietta has also participated in Academic League, band, where she plays the flute and varsity swimming. Her heroine is Amy Van Dyken, the Olympic swimmer, because she did not give up when people told her she would not make it.

An insightful young man, Bryan concerns himself with environmental and societal concerns in his own community, the San Fernando Valley. He is particularly concerned with government proposals to sell local land that encompasses endangered species, as well as traces of Native American civilization. Bryan would love to encourage more activism among his fellow Valley residents. His independence has been cultivated by his parents, who allow him freedom, and The Catcher in the Rye, which has taught him "to follow [his] heart, rather than a hypocritical society." serving others.

Teresa is an avid reader who enjoys writing poetry and short stories. Aside from creative writing, Teresa is considering law as a future career. She is especially interested in social justice and in defending the rights of the downtrodden. Teresa has always been fascinated with the living, breathing world. Once an aspiring veterinarian, she has turned her focus to protecting the habitats of living things. She is concerned with pollution and the decimation of the rainforests, and has led several beach clean-ups, park clean-ups, and adoptions of wild animals. Teresa, a disciplined scholar and captain of her school’s varsity cross-country team, inspires all with her intelligence and dedication.

Dylan appreciates science as a tool by which to piece together a comprehensive human understanding of the world. Excited by the cultivation of knowledge, he aspires to conduct research, perhaps as a university professor, in the field of molecular biology. His proximity to the redwood forests of northern California has fed his love of the environment. Dylan's heroes include Albert Einstein, physicist Richard Feynman, and his grandfather, a man of great altruism.

Hometown: Glendale, CA Professional Aspirations: Medicine and Writing

Golda Philip is going to be a senior at Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale, Ca. She believes that within the mysteries of science and our environment lie the keys to healthier and more efficient lives. She also has great concern for helping to change the "sweeping apathy in youth" to a greater regard for issues which affect those outsides their own spheres of involvement. In her school, Golda takes part in the ASB, SPIRIT (Student Problem Identification and Resolving It Together), and she also plays volleyball. Her heroes are Golda Meir and Albert Scweitzer because of their courage, goodness and determination.

Hometown: San Diego, Ca
Professional Aspirations: Orthopedist

Hamed Safarloo is going to be a senior at Samuel Gompers Secondary School in San Diego, California. Hamed believes that advancing the study of science is important, but that we need to keep our environment, the Earth, in great shape. He follows the proverb by Bahar, "Set pace to toil, never question its perception, for the gain is eternal, far from deception", because he feels its simple message has allowed him to live a less stressful life. Hamed enjoys playing basketball and soccer and has taken karate for the past two years. He admires his parents for doing so much for him and also Bruce Lee for his dedication to the martial arts. hardships. Teal aims to combine her love for children and her passion for music by working as a pediatric oncologist with a specialty in music therapy.

Philip Song is 17 years old and lives in the LA area. He is involved in many service activities, such as the Humanitas Community Service Organization and Loaves and Fishes Food Shelter. Philip also serves his community by volunteering at convalescent centers and tutoring at an elementary school. He enjoys swimming for his school team and being a member of Christian club both at church and school. He aspires to become a medical researcher and help find cure for AIDS and other diseases. He has a strong desire to find ways to improve our environment and help others in need.

In Latin his name means merciful. In Greek it means soldier. Quite suitably, Myles is a compassionate human being who has the determination and work ethic of any self-respecting military man. While being a consummate scholar, Myles finds time in his schedule to play the saxophone in his school band, to play baseball, and to lead an active spiritual life. Myles is concerned with the growing number of endangered species and with the deforestation of rain forests. He plans to be an electrical engineer and president of his own construction company.

Grace hopes to combine her enthusiasm for science with her desire to impact the lives of others by becoming a doctor. Her respect for and love of nature are rooted in her early childhood in Virginia. The environmental problems of acid rain and smog most concern her. Grace has gained determination and insight from having overcome personal obstacles such as racial prejudice. She expresses herself beautifully through artwork and poetry. computers. An avid fan of science fiction and computers, Chang plans to pursue a career in Computer Science and Economics.

Lisa would like to become a physician, working either in pediatrics or geriatrics. Lisa's environmental concerns include Selenium pollution and the loss of rainforests. She has provided leadership to her high school science club and the concert choir. Lisa rejuvenates her spirit by playing with her brother Raymond. Her hobbies include coordinating student dances and participating in drama.

Meng has been interested in the environment ever since she joined her school’s Environmental Club in 9th grade. A natural leader, Meng, who is now president of the club, quickly got other club members to write letters to Congress in order to express their concerns on the environment. Specifically, she is concerned with ground water contamination in her community of Alhambra. She has always loved science more than any other field, and is currently considering psychobiology as a major. However, Meng also has an artistic side. She is happiest when she creates a work of art, whether it be sketching a drawing, writing a poem, or composing a musical theme on her guitar or piano. Meng is a passionate, articulate, and personable individual who is never afraid of using her quick wit and intelligence to seek out new challenges. Meng will be attending Stanford University as a freshman in fall of 2000.