August 31, 2009 To: The 2009 Candidates Re: 2009 Carpe Diem Foundation Scholarships The 2009 scholarship competition was an exciting and inspiring experience for those of us at the Carpe Diem Foundation of Illinois. We were able to communicate with and get to know many of the most dedicated and motivated students from across the Country. This was a tremendously positive experience for us and we hope it was for you, too. We offer our congratulations to the winners, and also, to everyone who applied for the scholarships. We could not be more proud of you. The future of humanity will be in good hands, because, with or without scholarships, you will find a way to seize the day. To say that your outstanding qualifications made the selection process demanding and difficult would be a great understatement. It was a superhuman task to choose the winners. There was very little differentiation between the Scholarship Recipients and the rest of the Carpe Diem Society membership. However, we did select nineteen winners of the 2009 Carpe Diem Scholarship Program. The names and biographies of the winners follow this letter. We encourage everyone who did not win a monetary award to reapply next year. This is only the ninth year of our foundation's existence, and our limited budget prevented us from awarding as many scholarships as we would have liked. However, we hope that through fundraising, we will be in a position to award a greater number of scholarships in the future. When you reapply, please indicate on the first page of the application that you achieved recognition as a Humanitarian, Semifinalist or Finalist in the 2009 Competition. We wish you the best of luck in all of your pursuits. Carpe Diem!                                 Sincerely, Gordon V. Levine, Executive Director THE 2009 CARPE DIEM SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS Jeff Alstott Lauren Bolden Jonathan Braun Nell Cohen Zuzu Feder Emily Gardner Michelle Hammer Amy Hess Robert Jackson Adam Joines Christopher Kaltenbach Erika Kleibrink Steve McQuoun Jean Miller Kathleen Quandt Lauren Schlosser Ethan Sokol Summer Steenberg Sarah Varadian   Name Jeff Alstott Major Life Science College Indiana University Career Goal Research Scientist Favorite Service Activity Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scout Parents' Employment Mom - Special Education Dad - Manager/Professor Recommender's Comments "He is currently pursuing a triple major in Cognitive Science, biology and history and has excelled at all three....his class performance has been "off scale." As president of the Student Organization for Cognitive Science, Jeff has developed a number of exciting initiatives. He has created a series pf student-professor dinner events in which students find out more about what professors are actively researching and visa versa. These have turned out to be extremely popular events, and valuable in increasing the intellectual vitality of Indiana University....He has more or less single-handedly resuscitated our student organization, and for this I am very grateful....In short, I can honestly say that I have not come across a more impressive undergraduate student during my 16 years at Indiana University. He is earnestly dedicated to cognitive science, biology, and history. Jeff is an outstanding scholar and leader." Essay Excerpt "My central intellectual goal is to understand consciousness, the ticking of the human mind. While this is a meritorious aim academically, the study of the mind will also lead to two revolutionary applications. First is artificial intelligence, which could help every aspect of life. The second is neural prosthetics, which would allow people to maintain their quality of mental life even while their brains and bodies age. These interrelated advances would change the world, increasing the standard of living beyond compare and extending the time we have to enjoy it....I plan to complete an MBA between my undergraduate and graduate studies. This education will give me what I find many scientists lack: management skills....I plan to devote my life to understanding consciousness, but if that knowledge is not used to improve lives, the time will have been wasted." Name Lauren Michele Bolden Major Engineering College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Career Goal Nuclear Engineering Favorite Service Activity Teaching Assistant/Mentoring Parents' Employment Mom - Fiduciary for the disabled Dad - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Recommender's Comments "Lauren and I first met at the Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) meeting last fall. . . .She has volunteered to help outside of meetings at every opportunity. For example, Pantene Beautiful Lengths is a CAC program that distributes free wigs to cancer patients. Lauren designed the posters and fliers, posted them in the community, and promoted the program at RPI's winter carnival. Plus Lauren did a great job as Captain for Relay for Life. Outside of CAC, Lauren has been involved in many service efforts. She has worked to implement legislation fighting human trafficking and founded a family mentoring program now used by the Salvation Army." "Lauren Boldon is an amazing person. She is very diligent, efficient, has an extraordinary balance of time, prompt with her assignments, and a most thorough grasp of basic physics. She works very difficult physics problems with no apparent effort. . . . There is no doubt that not only will she excel in the Nuclear Engineering Program, but she also possesses the acumen, personality, drive, knowledge, desire, foresight, and personal relationship skills that will make her a leader and a spokesperson in this field." Essay Excerpt "The United States is the world leader in political and social freedom, while being the largest energy consumer. This consumption creates the greatest threat to our country's freedom by making us dependent upon Middle Eastern countries who do not share our beliefs in freedom or democracy. Therefore, we owe it to our forefathers to find ways to produce sustainable energy, allowing us to regain our independence. Nuclear engineering is the key to unlocking a future that is not dependent upon the Middle East or on fossils fuels. Not only does nuclear fission produce 10 times more energy than chemical reactions, but it produces enough energy to satisfy public demand. I am studying nuclear engineering, working on research related to nuclear propulsion and nuclear fission processes in hopes of designing safer next-generation nuclear reactors." Name Jonathan Martin Braun Major Music Education College DePaul University Career Goal Secondary Music and Teacher Favorite Service Activity Camp Counselor Parents' Employment Mom - Medical Technologist Dad - City Worker Recommender's Comments "Music is a real passion in Jonathan's life. He is constantly practicing, seeking for new ways to learn and improve, and most importantly, looking for ways to share his talent. I suppose this is what leads him to want to pursue music education in college and as a career. He is so dynamic - I see this as a perfect fit for him! He is so motivated too! I could go on and on with the activities that he pursues in the musical arena, but it would require another page. The real theme is that he has a real desire to share his music and connect with people through music. Connecting with people is another area in which Jonathan excels. Not just with peers and faculty does he interact exceptionally well, but with young children too. "Mr. Jonathan" is what the young four and five year olds of the Chicago Park District summer camp program refer to him. Patience, creativity and energy have enabled him to be a popular and effective camp counselor for the past two summers earning high reviews from parents and staff of the program." "Jon is a natural leader. He is friendly, out-going, conscientious and excellent at organizing and supervising other musicians. During the weeks of rehearsal prior to a concert, he assists me in conducting sectional rehearsals. I rely on him to see that the other accompanists know their pieces and to communicate any problems they may be experiencing to me. Jon is very approachable and is always willing to help his peers prepare for concerts and auditions. Recently, Jon went along with another student to serve as an accompanist for the students' college vocal audition." Essay Excerpt "Teaching is one of the most important jobs in a society, and a job that I would love to have. . . . Some of the greatest teachers I have ever had were great simply because they loved what they did, and this is why I would like to teach; I am extremely passionate about music. . . . I would love to become a teacher so I can share my knowledge and hopefully inspire students to feel the same way about music. . . . For the past two years, I have worked as a summer camp counselor for the Chicago Park District. . . . Being a counselor or teacher teaches the teacher many things. I have faced challenges and have overcome them. In addition to all the knowledge and experience I have gained, I also have many dear memories from my experiences as a counselor." Name Nell Shaw Cohen Major Music Composition College New England Conservatory Career Goal Composer Favorite Service Activity Music Collaboration and Coaching Parents' Employment Mom - Health Education Writer Dad - Editor and Producer of Health Education Films and Website Recommender's Comments "Nell stands out as one of the most creative, vibrant, and intellectually engaged students I have encountered in a decade of teaching, including one year teaching interdisciplinary Liberal Arts at New England Conservatory; seven years teaching English, Cultural Studies, and Environmental Studies at the University of Washington while completing my M.A. and Ph.D. in English; and two years teaching private clarinet lessons while earning my B.A. in Music. Both in and outside of the classroom, Nell combines intense scholarly passion with creative energy to produce sophisticated written works, inventive musical compositions, and culturally engaged communities. It is a rare student who possesses the intellectual, artistic, and social maturity to achieve all of these goals - especially as a college freshman - but Nell excels at each of these endeavors, producing work more typical of a master's student." "Nell has always been an initiator and volunteer: creating and managing websites for Young Performers Theater, where she acted in over 100 performances, and for Dance Mission Studios, an arts center where she was a member of a hip hop dance troupe. She won a regional high school business plan competition for her proposal for a web design company serving arts and nonprofit organizations, and has created websites for musicians, religious, and community organizations." Essay Excerpt "I believe that music is a powerful tool for communicating ideas. A composer may select, reassemble, and bring new meaning to familiar and unfamiliar subjects from the vast entirety of human endeavor, both within and beyond music, from the present through the length of history and the breadth of geography. It's this power that often motivates me to dream of new musical projects. . . . I wish to use my musical work as a way to continually explore a larger cultural context, and sharing what I find most resonant with other people in a way that is gripping and meaningful." Name Zuzu Feder Major Writing and Literature College Montana State University Career Goal Journalist Favorite Service Activity Girl Scout Gold Award, coordinating theater activities for children Parents' Employment Mom - Educator Dad - Writer / Therapist Recommender's Comments "ZuZu served as a counselor for the Girl Scout Day Camp, of which I am the director. I was able to observe firsthand her work with younger girls as well as with her peers. She displayed remarkable leadership -- so much so that I assigned to her the job of coordinating the camp's theatrical performance for the final day. This task she accomplished with grace and skill, no easy feat when coordinating more than 100 six-to-eight-year-old Brownies." "ZuZu never ceases to amaze me....She cares deeply about other people and about the world. She will surely continue to make the world a better place, and anything we can do to help her on her way would be a service to all of us." "If there is any young woman who truly tries to live the Girl Scout Promise 'to serve (her) country (and) to help people at all times,' it is ZuZu Feder." Essay Excerpt "In June I completed the work to earn my Girl Scout Gold Award. My final project was a free theatre camp for kids called 'Summer ACTS'....I edited a version of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, being careful to preserve the beauty of the original language. We studied all the aspects of putting on a production, such as learning lines, designing costumes and sets, installing lights, and organizing props, and I taught them how these elements work together to create the overall 'look' of a show. I was able to share my love of theatre with them and help them discover for themselves the magic of drama. Directing them in the final performance for their families and the community was one of the proudest moments of my life." Name Emily Abigail Gardner Major Sociology/Public Health College Emory University Career Goal Public Health Educator Favorite Service Activity Counselor, Girl Scouts Parents' Employment Mom - Tax Specialist Dad - Epidemiologist Recommender's Comments "Emily immediately came to my attention with the excellent quality of her written work. After grading her first exam, I sought her out so as to identify this outstanding young woman. . . . Each fall, I teach a special 'off-campus' course titled 'Social Problems.'. . . We visit long term care facilities for impaired older adults, maximum security prisons, hospital emergency rooms, drug rehabilitation centers, and shelters for abandoned children among other sites. At each appointment, Emily Gardner was simply outstanding. She kept her wits about her throughout and remained sensitive to the needs of both our hosts and other students enrolled in the course. . . . Emily was a role model. Her passion for service combined with an energetic life of the mind combine to make her a perfect candidate for the Carpe Diem Scholarship." Essay Excerpt "As my studies have progressed, I have found that my interests have focused more on the way education can be used to improve human health and prevent unfortunate health outcomes. This is one of the reasons I intend to go to public health school after I graduate from college and obtain a Master's of Public Health degree (MPH). I want to be adequately equipped to make a real difference in the ability of women and girls to have access to the health resources they need, as well as influence the health education and preventive services they are offered. This, for me, is especially focuses on the area of sex education in the United States, which I feel, in its current form, is not serving the interests of girls and women (or boys and men) in either social education or in the prevention of negative outcomes." Name Michelle Hammer Major International Relations College Georgetown University Career Goal Public Health Favorite Service Activity March of Dimes Parents' Employment Mom - Sales Manager Dad - Project Manager Recommender's Comments "I have known Michelle for the past five years through her volunteer work with the Greater Kansas City Asthma and Allergy Foundation (KCAA). Michelle took her responsibility as a Junior Board member seriously. Throughout the years, Michelle has volunteered to baby sit youngsters so that their parents could attend the Asthma Family Education Day. Single-handedly, Michelle was able to calm ten five year olds by staying quiet no matter what happens and always having a positive attitude." "Michelle continued to be involved at the SuperKids Asthma Camp and became a head Counselor. She was accountable for teaching the students about their asthma, supervising them in the pool, and playing a variety of games with them. She was also involved in helping to plan the Orchid Ball, which is AAFA's yearly black-tie fundraising event. Michelle can easily switch from getting down on the floor and playing a game with children, to meeting professional athletes that attended the Orchid Ball." "No matter what situation Michelle is in, she demonstrates leadership qualities and excellent communication skills. Michelle is unquestionably an exceptional candidate for the Carpe Diem Scholarship." Essay Excerpt "[My] scientific enthusiasm does not end with my formal education; I have expanded my interests in public health to my community. Five years ago, I was selected as one of three teens in the metropolitan area to become a Junior Board member of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation. I have helped facilitate a summer camp for children with asthma each year, acting as a role model and sharing my personal experiences with the disease. Although teaching a third-grader about the buildup of "stuff" inside their lungs that causes their wheezing and chest pains does not compare to studying the transformation of immunologic cells in the bronchioles that causes asthma, my experiences with the Foundation have provided me with an outlet for my scientific knowledge to benefit the community." "Through my academic and community accomplishments, I have proven myself a catalyst for change in my school and local area. As I move forward in my educational career, I hope to continue the ambitious tradition of leadership and altruism I have created for myself. I envision utilizing my college training in the field of international health as well as my experiences working for national health organizations to improve the quality of life and health care for people across the globe." Name Amy Elizabeth Hess Major Music College Oberlin College and Conservatory Career Goal Performer and Teacher Favorite Service Activity Girl Scouts, Church Parents' Employment Mom - Violin Teacher Dad - Physician Recommender's Comments "A remarkable young woman - honor student, gifted violinist, and a poised and effective leader - Amy demonstrates creativity, intelligence, discipline, and enthusiasm for every endeavor she undertakes. Her community service project for the Girl Scout Gold Award demonstrates her perception of needs in her community and her creativity in planning and implementing a program to help ameliorate those needs. Her project was part of a larger effort by the Manheim Township School District in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to improve the academic performance of a selected group of students by offering music lessons. Amy's project consisted of teaching a six-week violin class for a group of third-graders at Brecht Elementary School. She prepared and taught lessons following the Suzuki Method, which emphasizes praise and encouragement of each child's efforts. Amy's music lessons offered these students new skills that would not only allow them to join music ensembles in Manheim Township elementary, middle, and high schools but also provided an endeavor in which discipline and persistence results in success - an experience they could transfer to other areas of their lives." Essay Excerpt "Girl Scouts has been a part of my life since kindergarten. . . . We spent many enjoyable years camping, earning badges, and doing community services. . . . I found a safe place to be myself. I was not afraid to voice my ideas and opinions during meetings and to try new roles in the group. I grew a lot as an individual during my Cadette and Senior years, and I never would have done so without the warm and welcoming troop I joined. In that troop I earned Interest Projects, performed community service, and achieved the Silver and Gold Awards. For my Gold Award project, I taught after-school group violin lessons to third graders. Through working with them, I learned that I can pass on my intangible passion and excitement for music to others." Name Robert Jackson Major Biology/Chemistry College University of Kansas Career Goal Doctor Favorite Service Activity Boy Scouts, Eagle Scout Parents' Employment Mom - Teacher Dad - Nurse Recommender's Comments "Robb is a leader and a doer. If I have a time-consuming, difficult task in Student Council, Robb is the young man I want to enlist. He has had tremendous success in instituting new and innovative projects for Hiawatha High, taking on projects others have abandoned because they were too difficult. Robb is a hard worker, regardless of the task. He gives his free time to work at the general store in the small community where he lives. This has been a huge commitment for Robb, one he has taken on with tenacity and good nature. In addition, he has utilized his vast knowledge and expertise in technology to help others, never complaining about the extra chore. He is a very likeable young man who is excellent with the public and exhibits a business-like demeanor that is pleasing to both adults and his peers. This is typical behavior for Robb, one of a quiet, non- assuming giving of himself for the benefit of others. Robb's "people skills" are outstanding, making him a popular figure among his peers and the faculty. I anticipate that Robb will be a successful student at the university of his choice, and that he will become a credit to the medical profession." Essay Excerpt "I hope to participate in a study abroad program in China to learn Eastern and herbal medicine to complement what I learn from a traditional Western medical school. After medical school, I will spend two years specializing in anesthetics, and then I will participate in a residency for three years learning the general procedures for the operating and emergency rooms." "Later in life I would like to participate in many volunteer activities, such as being a Boy Scout leader. . . . Besides making a difference in my own community, I hope to have the time to volunteer in less fortunate areas of the world. There is no shortage of places in need of medical expertise, and as a doctor I will have the resources and the skills to be able to make a difference in my own community and in other communities as well." Name Adam Joines Major Political Science College University of Notre Dame Career Goal Government Service Favorite Service Activity Social Justice, Eagle Scout Parents' Employment Mom - CPA / Firefighter / Paramedic Dad - Financial Officer Recommender's Comments "Adam is not only the first one to take initiative, he empowers and encourages others to do the same. He inspires all of us to be better leaders, through his example. One of his finest moments was being a leader at Camp Keep. This is an Energy Camp in which Adam served as a camp counselor, and instructor. He also was a Patrol leader for Boy Scouts for a year. In this position, he is the person that is in charge of all the younger scouts. He also is the liaison between the adult leaders and younger scouts." "Adam's character is so admirable. My heart swells with pride as I think of the so many ways in which I have witnessed his compassion through the years. I have had the opportunity to go on two mission trips with Adam. He also has two more planned this summer. He spent a week, one summer on a Lakota reservation in South Dakota, and a week on a Cherokee reservation in North Carolina. On each reservation Adam helped with home repair, and put on a camp for the Indian Children. Adam treated everyone with compassion and dignity. He was able to touch these families, and change their lives forever. Locally, he helps the Salvation Army cook and serve lunch for 150 homeless people, and rings bells for them at Christmas time. Adam is a hard worker, and one of the most honest people I know. His life is filled with love and purpose, and we all are better people for his presence in our life." Essay Excerpt "I went to St. Vincent DePaul's Children's Center, and it was one of the best weeks of my life, as I learned how vital good influences are in a child's development. After I came home, I didn't want to leave the peace and social justice issues I worked through in Chicago; I wanted to bring it all full circle and into my own suburban community. With that notion, I started the Justice League, a program designed to teach teens about peace and justice in their world. With topics ranging from hunger to gender bias, we covered many different bases, and everyone who attended excitedly told me how my program gave them insights into their duties in the world, and how they should act on them. This was powerful inspiration, and I discovered that Peacebuilders along with Justice League taught me the importance of spreading what I know so that everyone may benefit. They taught me about social justice, but more importantly about my duty to spread knowledge to the world." Name Christopher Kaltenbach Major Chemical Engineering College Notre Dame Career Goal Government Technology Policy Favorite Service Activity Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout Parents' Employment Mom - PTA President, Community Activist Dad - Engineer Recommender's Comments "Christopher is a young man of great integrity and passion. Christopher's strong sense of right and wrong, and his inability to sit idly by as injustice is occurring has thrust him into some difficult situations. But he never backs down from the truth. I am convinced that he will change the world for the better, and nothing will stop him!...I watched CJ mature from an energetic, caring youngster to an incredibly talented and compassionate young man. He was both a friend and mentor to the younger boys all the way through....Although a top student, CJ drops everything when someone is in need - whether that someone is a buddy, a homeless child, or a victim of Hurricane Katrina....CJ persevered, spent hundreds of hours, and persuaded people in several Massachusetts cities to help him. He ended up sending over $10,000 in needed supplies." Essay Excerpt "Some scouting moments forever change me. I still clearly remember the whirling helicopters as a serene Virginia field erupted into a scene from MASH. Thousands of scouts, including twenty of my boys and all my adult leaders, exhibited serious signs of dehydration form the oppressive heat. A two-mile hike along the sun-drenched gravel road stretched before us. Finally, the youngest scout asked the question I dreaded: 'CJ, are they, are we, going to die?'...Guys, I have no intention of dying. Let's just do our best...why don't we sing?' Laughter rang out. All knew that singing was not my forte....I performed no life-saving miracles. On my honor, I simply did my best....and my best was enough." "As I look to my future, my goal is to create effective technology policies for children. I fear that the rapid expansion of technology will create larger have and have-not zones. The role of technology and how our government regulates that technology will have an ever-increasing role in the lives of our children. The possibilities for good are enormous, but so too are the pitfalls....Albert Schweitzer once commented, 'I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.'" Name Erika Ashleigh Kleibrink Major Landscape Architecture College Cornell University Career Goal Environmentalist Favorite Service Activity Environmental Club, Girl Scouts Parents' Employment Mom - Not-for-Profit Fundraiser Dad - Insurance Sales Recommender's Comments "She is an outstanding person, a goal-oriented and talented student who is engaged and involved in her community as a capable artist, writer, speaker and thinker. Notably Erika is an avid environmentalist; she once served as vice-president of her class while serving as president of the Environment Club. This was just the beginning. She is a three-time 1st place and one-time grand prize winner of the Annual Falls Church Calendar Art Contest, has had a gallery showing of her artworks, has received bronze, silver, gold and leadership awards in Girl Scouts, has been a Mustang Ambassador and she has designed two community gardens as Watershed Stewardship team leader and designed rain flow and butterfly school gardens for green efficiency and beautification. Not too long ago Erika felt so strongly about the educational need concerning environmental affairs that she designed, organized, coordinated and created a beautiful garden devoted to a retired teacher. She's not only very good at such community pursuits, but she's also curious, humorous, independent and amiable. Erika is a disciplined learner, an enthusiastic and continuously engaged reader and writer, who loves learning and its relevant application." Essay Excerpt "I have been in Girl Scouts for 12 years now. I completed my Silver Award by designing a garden for a local park that celebrates out town's Victorian era heritage. I researched plans that were in use during the 1890s and also met our local Arborist's criteria: native plants, non-invasive, shade-tolerant, and low maintenance. I also raised money to buy some of the plants and recruited volunteers to help the town's landscaping crew with planting. . . . As president of my high school's Environmental Club for the past two years, I planned and led an effort in my Junior Year to design and plant a garden for butterflies and other pollinators beside the school. . . . I wrote and asked for donations from the Garden Club and our local environmental group, and we asked students and parents to sponsor a plant in honor of someone. We raised enough to also buy a bench and plaque inscribed in honor of a long-time English teacher and environmentalist who had just been diagnosed with brain cancer shortly after retiring. Now, in the spring of my senior year, I am enjoying watching my garden shake off winter and come to life." Name Steven McQuown Major Theater College Northwestern University Career Goal Open & Run a Theater Favorite Service Activity Renovation of School Theater Parents' Employment Mom - University Special Events Coordinator Dad - Tax Consultant Recommender's Comments "As Steve's teacher for three years I can confidently say that he is one of the best "overall package" students I have ever had in class." "I have been fortunate to direct three of Steve's ten theatrical productions here at Homewood-Flossmoor. As an actor I have seen Steve's talent, but more importantly his drive, his passion, and his leadership skills. . . . He not only performs, but spends time helping to build sets, and sew costumes as well. He is dedicated and dependable - both characteristics that he brings to everything that he does. He works diligently at every challenge posed of him and is a wonderful addition to our program." "I feel that it is the gift of the educator to recognize a special student. Whenever I think of Steve I think, "that kid is going places". Steve is truly special to me and he will be deeply missed not only by myself, but also by other faculty and students alike." Essay Excerpt "It would be unwise to commit to the arts, had I not tried other things. I have played goalie on a traveling soccer team, attended camp at the Illinois Math and Science Academy, and spent summers in Japan and Guatemala. However, nothing has energized me like theater and music. The hours I have spent before audiences have given me confidence in myself - helping me discover who I am and what I can achieve." ". . . Through years of hard work and exploration, I have made that passion into a plan for my life. I plan to major in theater and participate in the Musical Theater Certificate Program at Northwestern University. I feel this training will allow me to make a successful living; I know that it will allow me to follow my dream - that's what really matters." Name Jean Miller Major Nursing College Wheaton College Career Goal Pediatric Nursing Favorite Service Activity Tutoring Young Adults Parents' Employment Mom - Homemaker, Missionary Teacher Dad - USAID Recommender's Comments "During our Week Without Walls, Jean traveled with a group to work in Sri Lanka with victims of the tsunami. Previously she worked with a group in the Philippines. She has also traveled with church ministry groups to help needy people in South Africa and Ecuador." "She is definitely intellectually bright, one of the best students in my long teaching experience, altruistic and dedicated to improving the quality of human life." Essay Excerpt "My community service work in Egypt inspires my desire to be a nurse. The Sisters of Charity (Mother Teresa's order) established a refuge house in the city dump, a section of Cairo where garbage collectors and their families live. The nuns take in malnourished babies in order to build up their health so that by the time they can walk they return to their families." "I grew up around poverty. For me, nursing encompasses my desire to help others physically, and my faith stimulates my desire to help others heal emotionally. I see people as valued by God and therefore feel it is my responsibility to care for them." "I hope to be able to serve people practically and show them God's love through my actions. I hope that as a nurse I will be able to change people's lives." Name Kathleen Quandt Major English / Education College University of Notre Dame Career Goal Teacher / Writer Favorite Service Activity Girl Scout Troop Leader, Volunteer Swim Coach, After School Tutor Program Parents' Employment Mom - School Social Worker Dad - Social Worker & Exec. Director of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York Recommender's Comments "Katie Rose is a mature, compassionate and idealistic young woman who truly lives out the values that she has been taught. Whether coaching a swim team, leading a scout troop, or tutoring a struggling child, Katie Rose has shown a special commitment to young people. It seems both logical and fitting that Katie Rose has expressed an interest in teaching, and she has already demonstrated the commitment and social conscience that would make her a fine educator. Passion, energy and a deeply rooted desire to be of service to others are all prerequisites for this vocation, and I am happy to see evidence of all these traits in Katie Rose Quandt. While no goal is beyond Katie Rose's reach, if she does indeed fulfill her dream of teaching, she will not only educate but certainly inspire her students. She is such a real pleasure to work with, and she reminds me how meaningful and rewarding teaching can be." Essay Excerpt "I decided to create and lead a troop for five mentally challenged and autistic teenage girls in my school....Over the past two years, the girls have earned eight modified Girl Scout badges! As the meetings have flown by, I've come to know and love each of the girls in my troop. Their excitement with each new activity keeps me loving every moment...." "Although I received the Gold Award last summer, I decided to continue the troop this year. Leading the troop has been one of the best experiences of my life, and a wonderful way to help others and give back to the community." Name Lauren Schlosser Major Animal Science College University of Missouri Career Goal Veterinarian Favorite Service Activity Genetics Lab Research Parents' Employment Mom - Project Manager Dad - Cartographer Recommender's Comments "As a member of the University of Missouri's Horse Farm Volunteer organization Lauren has donated 2-3 hours a week and has taken charge of the daily care and management of our 22 horse breeding herd during her shifts. . . .I do rely on her attendance and assistance as if she was a paid employee. She has proved to be very punctual and responsible. . . . Lauren is very observant in her duties and often notices small problems or inconsistencies before they become a larger issue. Lauren is not only very trustworthy in her responsibilities, but has additionally shown to be a wonderful team player. . . . Lauren has been charged with training new volunteers and teaching them about proper horse care. It takes a special student to be able to diplomatically train their peers, and Lauren has done this very well. Lauren is always cheerful while doing even the less desirable jobs. She is a mature young lady who treats all of her class mates with respect and courtesy. Her positive attitude is infectious and drives those around her to do their best." Essay Excerpt "[W]hen I volunteered at Missouri Wildlife Refuge, I found a true match for my spirit and natural talents. Nursing animals back to health and doing all the tasks necessary to get them back to the wild turned out to be an epiphany for me. That was when I decided I wanted to become a veterinarian. Today, I am completing my junior year in college with a major in Animal Science. I have been accepted into the University of Missouri Pre-Veterinary Medicine Scholars Program. . . . Many around me have already dropped out of the program because it is so challenging but I intend to meet my original goal to be a veterinarian." Name Ethan Sokol Major Biochemistry College Harvey Mudd College Career Goal Research Scientist Favorite Service Activity Pharmacology Research Assistant / Boy Scout Leader Parents' Employment Mom - Volunteer Dad - Public Health Physician Recommender's Comments "Ethan Sokol is without a doubt one of the most remarkable and truly impressive young men I have encountered in my thirty-six year career as a public school teacher and administrator. Ethan's record of scholastic achievement is nothing short of remarkable: he is among the most accomplished high school students in the nation. ... [He] has consistently taken and succeeded at the most challenging courses placing him at the top of his class. Ethan's academic achievement tells only part of the story of this truly remarkable and wonderful young man." "...The work that Ethan put into the Student Issues Conference spanned months of evaluating student needs and contacting the appropriate speakers and most importantly pulling it all together in the most impressive program that I have ever seen." "The program that Ethan helped to design presented timely and sensitive topics such as gang violence, drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, gay and lesbian issues as well as teen suicide and other destructive behaviors. The format that was chosen for the conference included theater, health care professionals and firsthand experience speakers." "Like Ethan, many bright and talented students achieve great success scholastically and leave their mark on the classroom, but Ethan has left his mark on an entire faculty and student body. I am thoroughly impressed by Ethan's perseverance, leadership and character in presenting a Student Issues Conference that has clearly made a difference in people's lives." Essay Excerpt "In the eleventh grade, my classes included AP Chemistry, Advanced Physics and Applied Linear Algebra. One day, I came home and couldn't discern in exactly which class I had learned the subject material. I found a commonality between chemistry, physics and mathematics. It was this that I found truly exciting. At this point, I knew that I wanted to attend a college that would give me a broad base in all sciences, because they are all related." "Harvey Mudd is a college where I will gain a strong education in the sciences, in addition to learning the impact that science has on the world. As the founding trustees of Harvey Mudd said, 'Technology divorced from humanity is worse than no technology at all.' After attending graduate school, I want to enter a research career, where I can work to help the greater good. Through research, I feel that I can impact the world around me." Name Summer Steenberg Major Sociology/Anthropology, Mathematics College Pacific University Career Goal Veterans Affairs Favorite Service Activity Coach, Tutor, Farm Aide Parents' Employment Mom - Student, Youth Group Volunteer Dad - Manager, Public Utility Recommender's Comments "Miss Steenberg has decided to double-major in Mathematics and in Social Anthropology and plans to minor in Spanish and German. She is an exceptional student....Miss Steenberg has been a very active participant in University service learning pursuits such as tutoring Spanish-speaking students in High School, acting as an ambassador for the University, and working with our organic farm, B-Street....She has exceptional leadership ability and a serious commitment to community service....She plans to carry out research at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany in order to work with troops as they begin to reintegrate back into their civilian lives after serving in Iraq and Afganistan....Finally, I would like to add that Miss Steenberg is a delightful person. She has a wonderful sense of humor, she is poised and extremely capable." Essay Excerpt "Several members of my extended family are veterans, current or retired. I have witnessed first hand the pride and pain service can bring into a household. These men and women give years of service to our country, they deserve the rest of their lives back. The military breaks down and re-socializes civilians into soldiers. They serve for a given time and return, still soldiers. We, as the American public, expect soldiers to readjust on their own. This is not how it works....Ultimately, I want to create a nationalized program that reintegrates soldiers into society." Name Sarah Varadian Major Education / Communications College Stonehill College Career Goal Teacher Favorite Service Activity Funding Girls' Schools in Afghanistan Parents' Employment Mom - Hospice Nurse Dad - Health Care Consultant Recommender's Comments "I have rarely seen so young an individual as passionate as Sarah in giving her time to the needs of those less fortunate. As a close friend and neighbor of her family, I have known Sarah since her birth. I have watched her grow into the gifted young woman she is today, committed to caring for disadvantaged individuals in the community and beyond." "She has sponsored the opening and ongoing support of two girls' schools in Afghanistan through CARE, provided Christmas gifts for two years to an orphanage in Armenia through the Armenian Relief Society, and provided diagnostic testing for malaria and typhoid through Science With a Mission, Inc., for several villages in Africa, actually saving many lives." Essay Excerpt "After September 11, when news about Afghanistan was prominent, I learned that the girls there were being denied an education. Maybe because I attended an all-girls school, this really affected me. I knew I would do everything I could to help. The fact that I've been blessed with the opportunity for education is something I never take for granted. Education allows individuals the ability to expand their minds, care for their families, and become contributing members of their communities." "I've raised thousands of dollars so far. The first year I was able to sponsor the opening of two girls' schools in Afghanistan through CARE. . . . With the support of my community and my family, I've been able to change many children's lives and this knowledge humbles me. . . . I hope to be able to open the minds and hearts of my future students and to influence them to realize that community is a global concept and that they too have the power to make a difference. It is my hope that the tradition of service will be passed down to them and live forever in their hearts as it does in mine."