The high school students featured on these next pages are truly amazing! They entered our annual Super Teens contest (nextSTEPmag.com/SuperTeens) and wowed us with their extracurricular activities, accomplishments and plans for the future. We hope you are inspired by their stories and are moved to get involved in your community. To read about winners nationwide, see nextSTEPmag.com/SuperTeens. Congratulations to all of the applicants, and especially the amazing winners!

In addition to serving as president of his class and student council, Evan Ames also leads his class academically. The junior at Moultonborough Academy in Moultonborough, N.H. is the public relations coordinator of his school’s chapter of the National Honor Society and is treasurer of Latin Club and the Moultonborough Academy Band. Evan also helps out with youth Sunday school. After living on a small farm, Evan hopes to use his experiences in veterinary school and specialize in equine medicine.

Rebecca Lyn Beagle, a sophomore at Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington, Vt., attended a leadership conference to develop her leadership skills. Rebecca says this helped her when she took initiative to assist a fellow student who was injured, quickly finding her medical attention. Rebecca performs well both academically and on the track team. After learning about forensic science at a CSI camp at SUNY Cobleskill in New York, Rebecca hopes to pursue a career in science. She also peer tutors and is a dance youth instructor.

“Bubbly enthusiasm” and “persistently positive” are two phrases used to describe Sarah Blackadar, a senior at Moultonborough Academy in Moultonborough, N.H. Of the three sports she plays, Sarah enjoys skiing the most because of her role as captain. She is also involved in French club, paper recycling club and prom committee, and volunteers at the local community center and nursing home. To express her creative side, she has been involved in drama and theater productions and even formed a band. Sarah was voted by faculty and peers as the DAR Good Citizen.

Ashley Marie Brandt, a senior at Watertown High School in Watertown, Conn., leads an active and balanced life. As captain of her high school's field hockey team, she has gained valuable experience in leading and motivating others. Meanwhile, she has performed competitively in academics, has consistently been on the honor roll and is part of the National Honor Society and World Language Honor Society. She also volunteers at her church's vacation bible school and works a part time job to save money for college. Ashley plans on pursuing a business degree.

Friends and teachers describe Lauren Eno, a junior at Mill River Union High School in East Dorset, Vt., as caring, positive and intelligent. While maintaining a competitive grade point average, Lauren is a member of Key Club, Upward Bound and yearbook club. Participating in Upward Bound and at Smokey House, a local farm and youth work program, has helped her develop confidence, knowledge and skills for college. As an environmentally conscious person, Lauren hopes to study Amazon rainforest ecology at college.

Carrie Lacey, a junior at Rutland High School in Rutland, Vt., is the first and only female on her school’s football team. She is also a member of engineering club and the color guard team, and was named Student of the Quarter at her vocational school. One of her most rewarding experiences was traveling to Europe at the end of her sophomore year. In everything she does, Carrie tries to serve as a positive role model for her younger siblings. She plans to pursue a culinary career and open her own restaurant.

In addition to her responsibilities at Ellington High School, Laura Lakenbach also takes an emergency medical technician course at a local college. This junior from Ellington, Conn. is a member of the Ellington Rescue Post 512 with other medically trained high school students who assist local ambulance teams. She plans to continue her passion for medicine by attending medical school. Laura also has led an effort to plan a food drive and serves as a big sister/mentor to fellow students.

Not many people can say they started their own magazine at the age of 13. By combining her passion for creative writing, graphic design and her Jewish heritage, Leah Larson, a junior at Bais Chomesh High School from Sharon, Mass. did just that. Despite others’ doubts, Leah worked to create Yaldah Magazine (Yaldahmagazine.com), “for Jewish girls, by Jewish girls.”  During public speaking engagements, she encourages others to continue “dreaming and reaching from goal to goal.” Leah hopes to continue expanding the magazine.