If you would like to be considered for the monthly Member Showcase, please click here: http://www.nshss.org/showcase/memshowfrm.htm Mariah Arispe San Antonio, Texas Providence High School Worthy of note Awards: Telluride Scholarship Nominee (one of 5 Juniors chosen from my class); National Hispanic Institute (NHI): Lorenzo De Zavala Youth Legislative Session Graduate; accepted into the College World Series Summer Leadership Program; National Honor Society; honor roll status all 3 years of high school in advanced (AP/Dual Credit) curriculum; ranked in top 10% of class in a private, college prep school; Who's Who Among High School Students. Leadership: San Antonio Children's Chorus, Member of Youth Chorale (most senior choir/must audition yearly to be part of this city wide choir); member of HYLO, Hispanic Youth Leadership Organization, affiliate of the National Hispanic Institute; lead role in a locally produced musical comedy movie to debut in late March/early April at a local film theatre; Providence High School Ensemble Show Choir and Marian Choristers (Varsity choir) Member; Providence High School Ambassador. Service: Volunteer last 4 years for "Project Sing," a choral outreach program for children in an impoverished section of San Antonio; summer volunteer, Humane Society of San Antonio; Big Brothers/Big Sisters volunteer; Inner City Development volunteer (a community center that reaches out to an economically challenged section of our community; the program has received the following awards: U.S. President's Volunteer Action Award; MALDEF Community Leadership Award; Mayor's Award for Youth Volunteerism; San Antonio. 16 de Septiembre Commission for Community Involvement in the Hispanic Community; The Woodsman of the World Award for Community Involvement. About me I am a hard worker who is self motivated and highly organized. I enjoy involving myself in different and new things like choir, academic teams, and the Hispanic Youth Leadership Organization. Because I have been given much, much is and will be expected of me. The challenge to give back to those who do not have a voice overwhelms me at times, but I know I am up to that challenge. How I hope to make a difference I hope through my thoughts and actions, I will continue to make a difference in the world by simply caring for others and trying my personal best to put them before me. Whatever career path I may choose, I will make a difference by touching people's lives. That is what is most important to me. I try to remember that it is the small things in life that count and make an unforgettable impact. One concrete thing I want to change is the fact that there is an incredible amount of violence in every corner of our world. I am not sure how I could change this except by starting with myself and solving problems in a nonviolent way. When I die, I would want my gravestone to say that I was a person of nonviolence, a person with a loving, giving heart that tried my best in all I did and gave my all to everyone I met. My future My immediate plans for future education are to first graduate from Providence High School. I plan to graduate at the top of my class, number five at the very least. After high school, I will then begin undergraduate work on a full time basis for four years, then pursue graduate studies. My first choice for a major is in the field of Communications, more specifically television and radio. I see myself as a radio producer, radio host, or a television journalist and want to learn more about how to use these media to make our world a better place. Philosophy My philosophy in a nut shell is that we all should try our best at everything, from school, to work, to taking care of people. Life is a matter of finding where one's deepest passions and the world's deepest needs intersect, and then living out of that intersection. Geraldine Ann Chi Chantilly, Virginia Chantilly High School Worthy of note Awards: National Scholars Honor Society; The Outstanding Students Honor Society; Carroll Boards Honor Society; Alpha Phi Omega; Who's Who Among American High School Students. Leadership: National Honor Society; Student Council; Read and Lead. Service: Circle K; Kite and Key; Social Policy and Practice; Madison House; Chantilly community service. About me I am very dedicated to the cause of social justice. How I hope to make a difference I would like to make a difference in the world through social change. My future My plans for the future include attending The University of Virginia, majoring in sociology, and minoring in government along with social policy and practice. Philosophy "Life is full of meaning--just look around you." Cornelius Finley North Mesquite High School Mesquite, Texas Worthy of note Awards: South Dallas Business Professional Scholarship; Professionalism Award from Eastfield College; North Mesquite's Top 12 Seniors Scholarship; Leadership Award from Kirkwood Temple C.M.E. Church; National Honor Roll. Leadership: Vice President of the Christian Youth Fellowship; Treasurer of the Business Professionals of America; Class Representative for the National Honor Society; Vice President for the 100 Fellows and Achievement Matters Program; Vice-Chairman of Senior Board Committee. Service: Volunteer work with Special Olympics; Adopt an Angel; Villa at Mountain View Nursing Home; Sharing Life Foundation; Pleasant Oaks Recreational Center. About me People should know that I am a previous juvenile delinquent, but I have regained my former reputation as an intelligent and ambitious young man. I plan to contribute to the betterment of society and in my community by governing myself as a humanitarian. How I hope to make a difference I hope to make a difference by reaching out to juvenile offenders so that they may realize that juvenile delinquency isn't the road to success, but the road to distress. I also plan to build more recreational centers and educational institutions that will send a constructive and practical message to individuals who need guidance and attention. Due to the fact that I have experienced being homeless, I plan to create more jobs, shelters, and opportunities for the needy. My future I will be attending Morehouse College in the fall in Atlanta, Georgia. My plans are to become a lawyer, then a judge who assists juvenile offenders in their transformation and ultimately be appointed to the Supreme Court. Or I may also receive my Master's and Doctorate degrees in English and become a catalyst for positive reform as a college professor. Philosophy What has a man if he has no integrity, credibility, and sense of obligation to progress mentally? Michael George Keating Cape May Court House, New Jersey Middle Township High School Worthy of note Awards: Academic Achievement Awards 2001-2004, Excellence awards in C/P U.S. History, C/P World History, C/P English, C/P Physics, Algebra II, C/P Physics, Academic Achievement Awards for 3.384 GPA and higher 2001-2004. Leadership: Nominee for National Youth Leadership Forum; top 15 % of my senior class, 4.010 GPA to date; starter for the varsity soccer team, (first year newcomer); Cape-Atlantic league honorable mention all-star and newcomer of the year award; area All-Star Second Team soccer FB, 3rd year FBLA member; 3rd year Bible club member. Service: Participated in the Big Band Bash for senior citizens; March of Dimes Walk America; Nuns Beach Annual Surf Contest staff member; Christmas Gift Exchange for Kids; Quicksilver Surf Camp counselor; Christian Surfers US Youth Group; and have won awards as a member of the Eastern Surfing Association and the National Scholastic Surf Association. About me Trustworthiness describes my individual character. Things that are important in my life are, family, God, honesty, academic achievement, surfing, and being a good friend, being someone that young students and their parents can look up too. I live in a resort area and have been working every summer since I was thirteen years old. Currently I am employed as a server and expediter at a local golf club. I go to church, and enjoy visits with my grandparents as much as they do! How I hope to make a difference I hope to show others that by living in a diversified society, we can learn to accept one another as we are, and learn from one another's cultures, thus helping to make America a better place for all. My future I plan to continue to work hard academically until I receive my Master's in Business Marketing and Management. With persistence and confidence, I will use this degree to enrich the community with new business ideas and help enrich the lives of others. Also I will prove that an honest man can be a successful one. My Philosophy An honest man has nothing to fear. Jodi-Kaye Wade Blanche Ely High School Lauderdale Lakes, Florida Worthy of note Awards: 1st Place in Poetry Category for "Critical to Our Future Florida Everglades" Contest and "Save the Sea Turtle" Contest; 1st Place in Blanche Ely High School Science and Pre-Engineering Fair;2002-2003 and 2003-2004; Named Florida Super Teen 2005 and Outstanding Students of America; Selected for the United States Achievement Academy All-American Scholar Program; Broward County Fair Poster Contest-1st Place in Category. Leadership: President and Founder of Teen Trendsetter Reading Mentors; President of SADD (Student Against Destructive Decisions); Best Buddies; Beccas Closet; Vice President of DFYIT (Drug Free Youth In Town) and Spanish Club; Member of NHS (National Honor Society), NAS (National Achievers Society), and Key Club; FL SADD (Student Against Destructive Decisions) Student Advisory Board Member. Service: Teen Trendsetter Reading Mentors and Best Buddies; DFYIT (Drug Free Youth In Town) and NAS (National Achievers Society); Kids In Distress- 5K Walk and Humane Society of Broward County Walk; Kiwanis Club of Lauderdale Lakes/West Sunrise; Blanche Ely High School Student Council. About me People should know that everything I do is because of personal motivation. I love serving my community and helping others. I have played the Alto Saxophone for 6 years, and participated in the Blanche Ely marching band for 2 years. How I hope to make a difference My philosophy in life is to help others. Volunteering is a big part of my life. With global medicine I can incorporate my essence for life. Volunteering is a way that I can change the world. One should always focus on the youth because they will be the leaders of tomorrow. When the youth are empowered, they will generate the energy needed to make the change in their communities and eventually the world. Being a professional, a role model, and a volunteer provides one with great advantages to create change. It is my intention to create a comfortable atmosphere and provide vital information to help people to better their lives and others around them. My future I would like to pursue a career in medicine to become a medical doctor, specializing in OB/GYN, ER Physician, or Trauma Surgeon. Afterwards, I would like to use some of the money from my profession to help with global health. I would eventually like to open up a clinic/facility to provide discount health care and housing for people in need. A way to achieve my career goal is to attend a four-year university. I plan to pursue a double major in biochemistry and health administration and a minor in business. Philosophy "When you carry out acts of kindness, you get a wonderful feeling inside. It is as though something inside your body responds and says, yes, this is how I ought to feel." - Harold Kushner "There is a wonderful, mystical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life -- happiness, freedom, and peace of mind -- are always attained by giving them to someone else." - Author Unknown