Sammy Said

Zebulon B. Vance High

 

 

College: UNC Chapel Hill

Parents: Ziad and Summer Said

Highlight: Volunteers at the Islamic Society of Greater Charlotte’s Sunday School.

Sammy’s words: “Teenage years can be rough, which is why I wanted to give the best guidance I had to these students, in order for them to become respectful and outgoing young adults.”

Anna Paschall

Highland School of Technology

 

 

College: N.C. State University

Parents: Nancy and Tim Paschall

Highlight: Created a program for youth at the Schiele Museum called SLEUTHS (Students Learning, Exploring and Understanding Through Hands-on Science) and a science club at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Anna’s words: “I am passionate about science and sharing science with underprivileged children. ... The kids have a blast without realizing they are learning!”

Shruti Hemant Patel

Olympic Biotechnology School

 

 

College: UNC Chapel Hill

Parents: Priti and Hemant Patel

Highlight: Each year, her dance group, Nrityam, holds a performance to benefit area charities.

Shruti’s words: “Dance has always interested me. Even before I started formal classes, I loved watching people perform on stage. ... Dance transformed me from a shy wallflower into an outgoing and confident woman.”

Hannah Love

A. L. Brown High

 

 

College: UNC Chapel Hill

Parents: Lori and Jim Love

Highlight: Received the Girl Scout Gold Award for creating a project that collected more than 3,500 books for Kannapolis City Schools.

Hannah’s words: “Throughout my life, I have held two things in the highest regard: equality and education. ... Equality cannot be reached without education, and education means little if it is not provided as an equal opportunity.”

Nanami Liberty Miyazaki

St. Stephens High

 

 

College: Wake Forest University

Parents: Yasuhide and Satoko Miyazaki

Highlight: During freshman year, Nanami was diagnosed with scoliosis and had to recover from extensive surgery.

Nanami’s words: “When I woke up after the four-hour surgery, the fatigue hit me like a ton of bricks. The nurses and doctors’ warm smiles always comforted and motivated me. ... That was the week my dream completely changed. I no longer strived to become a graphic designer, but a neurosurgeon. ... I will keep on working hard until I reach my dream, serving others with pride and joy.”

Kelechukwu “KC” Emezie

Marvin Ridge High

 

 

College: California Institute of Technology

Parents: Henry and Anthonia Emezie

Highlight: Grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, where he learned to value education.

Kelechukwu’s words: “In a country rife with crime and poverty, I was unable to freely access knowledge. ... Knowledge became a treasure that I had to seek after if I wanted success. … Here in the United States, my experiences as a child now serve as a motivation for my future.”

Neha Kukreja

Providence Day

 

 

College: UNC Chapel Hill as Morehead Scholar

Parents: Neeta and Atul Kukreja

Highlight: Fused her love of tap dancing with her Indian heritage, and danced to raise funds for implementation of child labor laws in rural India.

Neha’s words: “I introduced my new style of tapping to tabla drums to the stage. … The fact that dance, my passion, could be used to make a difference in the world is one of the most gratifying feelings I’ve ever experienced.”

Daniel Austin Abel

South Pointe High

 

 

College: University of Virginia

Parent: Beth Abel

Highlight: Aspiring engineer or theoretical physicist, and has built everything from a wooden ping-pong-ball cannon to a rat-trap car.

Daniel’s words: “I want to bring some innovation to America so that I can show we haven’t lost our American ingenuity. I want to create incredible, breathtaking structures that become landmarks of the 21st century.”

Amanda Hu

Providence High

 

 

College: University of Pennsylvania

Parents: Xio and Wei Hu

Highlight: Director of Providence’s Peer Mentor Program.

Amanda’s words: “When I first helped explain calculus, French grammar and DNA replication, I was strangely satisfied. For some reason, I was excited to break down a theory and to solve extra problems to help someone.”

Megan Elycia Luke

Hickory Grove Christian

 

 

College: Meredith College and N.C. State University

Parents: Michael and Susan Luke

Highlight: Seeks to complete chemistry and chemical engineering degrees in a five-year dual program.

Megan’s words: “The desires to excel, set a good example, be a role model for others, and help those less fortunate than myself have always motivated me. ... There is nothing more gratifying than knowing that I have helped someone who desperately needed assistance.”