As a year-round athlete, Michael Gordon is committed to soccer, basketball and track teams—and has had success at the state level. The senior at Ellington High School in Ellington, Conn., shares his sports knowledge by coaching youth soccer and basketball. Michael balances his athletic commitments with Advanced Placement and honors classes, Peer Advocates, National Honor Society and a job. Michael admires his mother and aunt for their determination and success.

April Hier, a junior at Fair Haven Union High School from Bomoseen, Vt., is on the cheerleading team, prom committee and yearbook committee. She is also involved with Upward Bound and the Field and Forest Club. April says that her cheerleading coach has inspired her to meet her potential while pursuing the interests she is passionate about. April is focused on school and preparing for college, and she is also committed to guiding her younger sister through difficult times and being a role model for her.

Cecelia In Lee, a sophomore at Westborough High School in Westborough, Mass., is excited by challenges. One of those challenges is maintaining a busy schedule with her involvement in student council, Darfur Student Alliance, Walk for Hunger and Best Buddies. Cecelia also volunteers to clean rivers, and she works with senior citizens at the Westborough Health Care Center. She is on her way to starting a new philanthropic group at her high school to raise money and awareness for different causes. Cecelia hopes to become a lawyer to help fight injustices.

Courtney Mazur, a senior at Falmouth High School in Falmouth, Maine, is proud of contributing to the creation of robots on her school’s FIRST robotics team—and contributing to the club’s energy level, too. She is part of the video yearbook, jazz band, the school musical, and she is student council president. Courtney stays active by playing field hockey, going Nordic skiing and completing bike trips across Maine to benefit charities. A mission trip to Honduras that setup health clinics inspired Courtney to pursue a degree in biomedical engineering.

Amanda McAndrew meets challenges and obstacles with determination to overcome them. The senior from Portland High School in Portland, Conn., has learned to change undesirable outcomes by pushing herself to always be better. These attributes make her a positive role model for many people, from children in the preschool program she volunteers at, to the students she tutors, to her older sister. Amanda is involved with producing her school’s yearbook and newspaper. She shows her musical side through being involved with the symphonic and marching bands.

Kean McDermott is passionate about politics, and he hopes to pursue a career in the field. The junior from Morse High School in Bath, Maine, already has gained some experience as the student member of the Bath City Planning Board, his involvement in Model UN and canvassing for the presidential election. Kean is also on the debate, cross-country, swim and tennis teams, and was class president. He volunteers for a tutoring program and competes in triathlons.

Alexander Palermo, a sophomore at Franklin High School in Franklin, N.H., is the class treasurer, a volunteer at teen court and president of the recycling club. Alexander’s participation in a committee at his high school helped him learn how to be a part of a team and to respect the opinions of others, even when he disagrees. He works as a recreation aid with the elderly at the Merrimack County Nursing Home and is an office aid at his school. Eventually, Alexander hopes to get a nursing degree and work in a children’s hospital.

Not many high school students have already published a book, but Megean Welzenbach from Wolfeboro, N.H., has done just that. The senior from Moultonborough Academy plans to complete the trilogy with two more books—and complete a musical she is composing. Megean’s other creative outlets include piano, guitar, singing and writing songs. Meagan is also part of the editorial board of a new regional magazine and is president of the National Honor Society at her school.