Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship Anna Rasulova Tashkent International School - Tashkent, Uzbekistan Anna is an outstanding international student from Central Asia who considers her native country to be "Planet Earth." Anna is her school's Student Council President, an award-winning debater, and Afghan refugee volunteer. Anna lives in a culture where at present women are not allowed to participate as members of the government, and she hopes to help bring about changes there someday, perhaps becoming her country's President or delegate in Parliament. Anna has traveled quite a bit and considers her native country to be "Planet Earth." She will be attending Brown University in the United States. Anna has written about her experience in our winter "Scholar's Journal." Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship Katherine Van Schaik Spring Valley High School - Columbia, South Carolina Katie is a "leader among leaders . . . who works simply for the sake of learning." She was a first place winner in the Intel International Science and Engineering Affair of 2003 and published her environmental research in STATS Magazine. She wants to make a difference in the world through research leading to the elimination of dangerous products in the environment. She also is a dedicated volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, where she works alongside her grandfather every summer. She envisions a day when each Habitat family opening the door to a new home will also have a new computer ready to "open the minds of the new young residents." Katie eloquently spoke of her goals to our members at the Scholar's Day celebration on May 1 in Washington, D.C. Robert P. Sheppard Leadership Award Folasade Odeniyi William W. Bodine High School - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Folasade is the first recipient of a new scholarship for NSHSS members established in honor of our late colleague Robert Sheppard. She writes that "I feel that as a citizen of the world that it is my responsibility to help those who can't help themselves, to speak out for those, whose voices have been ignored." Folasade is the first recipient of a new scholarship for NSHSS members established in honor of our late colleague Robert Sheppard. This award recognizes a student who demonstrates outstanding initiative in community service. Folasade was selected for her work with the Larry Mohr project to help the homeless and her effort to mobilize interest and aid for the AIDS pandemic in Africa. She writes that "I feel that as a citizen of the world that it is my responsibility to help those who can't help themselves, to speak out for those whose voices have been ignored." We were pleased to be able present this award to Folasade on Scholar's Day in Washington, D.C. on May 1. National Scholar Award Dana Ataya Magnificat High School - Bay Village, Ohio "Everything begins with a dream. I am ready to live mine." A member of the Junior Council on World Affairs, Dana has been inspired to serve those in need on an international level, through majoring in international relations and attending medical school. She firmly believes that she can help change the world: "Everything begins with a dream. I am ready to live mine." National Scholar Award Elizabeth Belanfante Mount Vernon High School - Mount Vernon, New York "Devoting my time to helping children is one of the greatest gifts I could ever give to my community and to myself." A recipient of the University of Rochester Humanities/Social Sciences Award, Elizabeth plans to become a pediatrician, changing the world "one small person at a time." She believes that "devoting my time to helping children is one of the greatest gifts I could ever give to my community and to myself." National Scholar Award Ronald Berkowsky Winslow Senior High School - Sicklerville, New Jersey "All I wish for my future is that I am somehow blessed with the ability and courage to touch the life of one neighbor, one friend." Ronald is a champion fencer as well as a scholar, planning to attend the University of Pennsylvania. Realizing that it doesn't take a legendary hero to make a difference he writes, "All I wish for my future is that I am somehow blessed with the ability and courage to touch the life of one neighbor, one friend." NSHSS was pleased to be able to present Ronald's scholarship to him personally on May 1 at the Scholar's Day celebration in Washington, D.C. National Scholar Award Kristi Hector Cedar Grove High School - Decatur, Georgia "My dream is to work with a team of pharmacists who test new drugs and minimize major side effects." Uncovering a "world of fascinating information" in her sophomore chemistry class, Kristi decided early on to pursue a career in pharmacy and to become involved in testing new drugs and counseling patients on the use and side effects of medication. She hopes to help develop programs that promote daily healthy living for patients to better manage the impact of their long term use of medication. She plans to major in chemistry at Georgia Tech this fall and also hopes to continue her involvement as a Girl Scout at the college level. National Scholar Award Lenora Higginbotham Pickering High School - Leesville, Louisiana "Whatever I decide to do in life, it will definitely involve keeping dreams alive." Described by a teacher as "the most complete student" she has ever taught, Lenora is an award-winning pianist and Student Council President. On the verge of a life-changing leap from rural Louisiana to Yale University, Lenora plans to major in biology and knows that "whatever I decide to do in life, it will definitely involve keeping dreams alive." National Scholar Award Lauren Lessor Smiley, Texas - Home school "Scientific advances are obviously not the only way to make a difference in the world. Often the effect a person has on the lives of individuals is every bit as important as what they might do on a grander scale." Lauren is a remarkable student, entering her high school program at age 12 and completing most of her graduation requirements through work at the university level. She will attend Texas A&M University to study biochemistry and plans to enter the field of biomedical research. Also a dedicated community volunteer, Lauren realizes that "Scientific advances are obviously not the only way to make a difference in the world. Often the effect a person has on the lives of individuals is every bit as important as what they might do on a grander scale." National Scholar Award Steve Nguyen Mt. Pleasant High School - San Jose, California "It feels great to accomplish something of use for the people around me." Steve plans to major in computer science at Stanford, learning to help develop tools and programs to truly benefit society. Steve has for years used his computer expertise to help others. He has been instrumental in helping people communicate and work more efficiently by teaching children at camp, helping monks at his Buddhist temple digitize their religious materials, and creating website for various clubs at his school. He writes that "it feels great to accomplish something of use for the people around me." National Scholar Award Ian Tapu Kahuku High School - Hauula, Hawaii "My unique Polynesian-American synergy has embedded within me the fundamental skills for lifelong learning and successÑdedication, commitment to service, and hard work." Ian is a first generation college student in his Polynesian-American family and has been accepted into the prestigious Reicschauer Scholars Program at Stanford. He is an Eagle Scout, Study Body President, and co-founder of the Law and Politics Society on his campus. Ian plans to major in international relations and political science before pursuing a law degree. His passion for communication and fascinating with foreign policy should lead him to his ultimate goal - to become a U.S. ambassador to Japan. National Scholar Award Jeremy Velasquez Fort Stockton High School - Fort Stockton, Texas "There are no such things as obstacles, but rather challenges.'" Jeremy has received a Texas Scholars Top Volunteer Award. A scholar-athlete, he also is a dedicated mentor to younger children and an officer in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Fascinated by advances in biotechnology, he plans to be involved in stem-cell research and therapeutic cloning. He was inspired about the possibilities of contributing to society on a global scale through such research after attending the National Youth Leadership forum on medicine. He believes that there is no limit to what we can achieve because "there are no such things as obstacles, but rather challenges." National Scholar Award Anthony Zampella St. Joseph's High School - Plainfield, New Jersey "In the end, at our final judgment, we will not be recognized for the amount of money we have earned or the fancy lifestyle we live, but the perseverance we have shown and the service we have done." Anthony is an Eagle Scout who plans to study mechanical engineering and to earn a teaching certificate in math at Villanova University. He chose Villanova in part because of the university's commitment to community service, including the largest annual student-run Special Olympics event in the U.S. He was honored by his local Rotary Club with a Citizenship Award, where he said in his acceptance speech that "in the end, at our final judgment, we will not be recognized for the amount of money we have earned or the fancy lifestyle we live, but the perseverance we have shown and the service we have done."